Distraught URM's Chances O_o

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Well I'm an African-American, with an African Parentage (Parents and entire family are from Ethiopia). Of course I've been living in America my entire life, so you wouldn't be able to distinguish my lineage easily.</p>

<p>I'm only applying to one school early, Johns Hopkins, which of course is ED. It is my dream school, and I am certain that I want to go there.</p>

<p>I am interested in taking Neuroscience for my undergrad major. Computer Science would be my definite second choice though. For me, those two sort of have a lot in relation.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I have not shown as much significance among other students, both grade wise and level wise.</p>

<p>However, I know for a fact that both my essays and letters of recommendation are remarkable.</p>

<p>I was wondering if there were students like me who ended up going to a top institution like Johns Hopkins.</p>

<p>GPA: 88.34 (3.3) UW</p>

<p>SAT I: 600 Math, 550 CR, 600 Writing</p>

<p>SAT II Chem: 500</p>

<p>SAT II Math(IC): 620</p>

<p>SAT II Bio: 500</p>

<p>Rank: My school doesn't rank</p>

<p>Sports: Varsity Tennis 2 years, Athletic-Non Varsity Ultimate Frisbee 2 years (Founder and captain)</p>

<p>Music: Principal Chair for Euphonium, two years in Concert Band. First chair trumpet, two years in Jazz Band.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
- Drama Club, two years (Trumpet 2 in Orchestra Pit among professional musicians)
- Math Club/Team (Did not make the Olympiad or States, but was on Team A for two years)
- Pep Band</p>

<p>Activities outside of school: Shaolin Kung Fu (10th, 11th, and 12th grade)</p>

<p>I am a senior and currently taking 3 AP's:</p>

<p>Literature, Calculus AB, and Computer Science Level A</p>

<p>I am not as elite as I should be, however, I was wondering since I am an URM, have great talent in music, and fantastic, original essay and letters of reccomendation, if I would have any chances of entering these schools.</p>

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<p>(bump) Please can anyone tell me that I still stand a chance?</p>

3

<p>Can someone please seriously respond! In like one day this thread gets thrown back 5 pages.</p>

<p>(BUMP)</p>

<p>Seriously, can anybody chance me for Hopkins?</p>

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<p>Your grades and scores look a little low regardless of urm status. I dunno how much "great" talent in music could help you</p>

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<p>Can someone elaborate a little more? What exactly are my chances? Do I have a chance to begin with?</p>

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<p>Uchih, you definitely have a chance. I agree with supersenior17 in a sense. I wouldn't say your SAT scores are low because they are not. As we all know, John Hopkins is a top tier University so perhaps your scores are a little low. Though it sounds trite, score's aren't everything.</p>

<p>I think you need to write 'killer' essays to give yourself the best opportunity. Stress the importance of music in your life. If you do this, I believe you have a fair chance.</p>

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<p>I think JHU is a reach, even with ED. Your scores and GPA are somewhat low, and your ECs are not outstanding (unless there are some awards in music). Your essays may help you, though.</p>

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<p>I'm using the common app so my essay is about an experience I had playing the euphonium at a particular event rather than on a community that influenced me (hopkins essay question 1). I'm not going to get into the specifics because I don't want anyone to steal the idea. The essay is very good and I'm positive not a single ED hopkins applicant will have a similar one. And yes, it does stress the importance of music in my life.</p>

<p>As for my letters of reccomendation. Basically, my music teacher (who is also my ultimate frisbee coach) definitely wrote unique great things about me and I also had my AP Comp sci teacher, who taught me since 9th grade (math two years, intro to comp sci, and now AP comp sci), who probably wrote things relating to my interest in mathematical logic and computer science. Also, a third recommendation letter comes from one of my lab teachers from freshman and sophomore year who really sees my interest in biological sciences.</p>

<p>Music teacher has a ph.d in the tuba. Lab teacher has a ph.d in biology. Will that help me at all?</p>

<p>Music-wise, I play an instrument called the euphonium, which is the second lowest brass instrument next to the tuba. Not too many people play the euphonium so if I end up cross registering with Peabody. However, I also play trumpet.</p>

<p>I do have two awards in the trumpet and euphonium, but at the end of the year they have a special honor that goes out to the best senior musicians in the school, which is definitely me because I have the most solos and help the concert, jazz, and pep band a lot. The most prestige would come from the award I would get at the end of the year, but by then I would already get the decision back from Hopkins.</p>