AP classes taken/taking (Total: 9) : Calc BC, Comp Sci, English Lang, Phys C, Stats, English Lit, Spanish, Comp. US History, Chemistry.
AP Scores:
Calc BC: 5
English Lang: 4
US History: 4
Comp Sci: 4
Physics C Mech: 4
Physics C E&M: 3
Essays: Pretty good from my eyes, but nothing extraordinary.
Recs: I imagine they would be good.
Notable ECs:
Computer Science Internship at UCLA
President of a Volunteer Organization (4 Years)
Captain of DI Team (3 Years) - several awards won, top 7 in state.
Debate Team (3 Years) - awards won
High School Basketball Team (2 Years)
Officer of Engineering Team (2 Years) - awards won, 1st Place CA.
High School Tutoring (4 Years)
Notable Awards:
National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist.
National Honor Society
Thank you very much. Feel free to leave me a link to your chance threads.
Columbia and Cornell are technically reaches for everyone, but with your scores, you should have a very solid chance at both schools. I’d say that your lack of “notable awards” makes Columbia less than 50%, but I think you should at least get into Cornell (~70%).
I’m not too familiar with UCB and UCLA, but your chances should be even higher for those schools than for Cornell.
I would say you are a match for Cornell(60%) and a low reach for Colombia(30%)… What I can say though is that you have taken many classes that pertain to your major which would be a plus point and your GPA is stellar,SAT 2 scores excellent and your ACT Score high too… UCLA(50%) and UCB(55%)… You have a good shot at them all personally…
*Here one girl who applied in my class to Colombia and she does not have nearly as many AP’s or Test scores as you but she did have a 35 ACT with probably 3.8 GPA… She got in for Computer Science E.D. and she taking Calc AB,Physics 1. Not as much as you. That being said perhaps the fact that her dad work there helps… She’s Jewish though… I think your stats are much better overall… If you only were an URM lol…
@lifeishard it is fairly high on my list, but not my top school. I would probably pick schools like stanford, mit, columbia, caltech and maybe UCB over it (if I am lucky enough to get into any of these of couse).
Columbia: Reach for everyone, Low reach for you probably a solid 60% admission/40% rejection
Cornell: Low Reach, possibly match 75% admission/25% rejection
UCB: Match, 85% admission/15% rejection
UCLA: High Match, 90% admission/10% rejection
Your GPA and test scores are stellar. I think your rec’s and essays would be either the slight push you need to get into Columbia or Cornell or your downfall depending on how good they are. Best of luck!
As a Cal resident, your chances for Berkeley and UCLA are excellent. Cornell, will depend on which school you applied to. Some divisions are 10% acceptance rate, some are 40% acceptance rate. Columbia will the most difficult to gain admission.
You took on a rigorous course load and you succeeded in it. Your ECs and Awards aren’t perfect but they do show commitment to the things you do, which is something colleges are looking for. Thinking UCB and UCLA are safe for you. Cornell depends a lot on what you’re majoring in, but in the abstract I’d say it’s a high match for you. And with Columbia it is impossible to say. I really think when you’re talking about Ivies you can never say someone has better than a 50/50 shot. You are definitely a strong applicant though.
I think what has been said in the posts above is spot on. You are a strong applicant. Columbia is a reach for everyone. You will very possibly get into several of these schools. Waiting is hard!
Given that you are a California applicant your test scores alone would probably get you into UCLA. Berkeley is a lot harder, but your EC’s should make you a match. While Cornell and Columbia are everyone’s reaches, state rankings in sport and national merit awards should push you over the line (provided your essays are quality). I actually think that you would have had an above average chance for HYPSM.
UCB, UCLA- Matches
Cornell- Reach
Columbia- High Reach
IMO because you need more notable awards that colleges can use to build a profile that “stands out”. You do have strong stats but, in a state like Cali, kids with strong stats are dime a dozen. Gl!
Honestly, you’re a California applicant, and the UC system is primarily numbers based with a look at the essay to determine whether you are a fit for that specific college. Wish those AP scores were a bit higher for the privates (esp. the physics ones since I know a kid from my school that got into CMU with 5’s on both AP Physics test and similar stats but slightly weaker EC’s). For the privates, your EC’s may look a little scattered, but personally, I think they’re on point within 3 different EC domains. Also, awards are iffy, and I know that you’ll be competing with people that have many more awards (but you still make a compelling applicant)
I’d say:
Columbia (35%)
Cornell (45% to 55%)
UCB (non EECS 75 to 80%, EECS 60 to 65%)
UCLA: match, you’re going to get in
