<ul>
<li> GPA (uw): 3.8, rank: 17/430 (taking the IB diploma program at a competitive high school ranked first in state); it’ll probably be a 3.9 when I apply to college though</li>
<li> Calc3 and physics II honors (E&M, optics) at a highly selective engineering university next year</li>
<li> Female, 14 years old when applying to college, Chinese-Canadian student living in US w/ friends (father is in China, mother in Canada); never lived with both parents at same time</li>
<li> Trilingual (French, English, Chinese; fluent in all three)</li>
<li> SAT I: 2400, SAT II physics: 800 (haven’t taken the rest yet), ACT: 34; AP BC Calc: 5, Physics C mech: 5, APUSH: 3 (ugh); AP English lit (predicted): 5; going to take IB exams this summer and next year</li>
<li> Pretty good impressions on teachers (English, physics, and math) and counselor</li>
<li> EC: won state piano competitions; participate in after-school orchestra for 3 years (going on 4th); formed a music club at school with 18 active members; NHS president, environmental club treasurer this year, vice-president next year; French club president; music club founder and president; rocket club captain; held 3 fundraisers (total amount raised: $3500) and numerous trash pick ups; volunteered 480 hours on high-elevation mountains by doing trial work; have been to one competitive summer program, ranked 4th academically</li>
<li> Won numerous school awards, including small scholarships to local universities</li>
<li> Going to do a state charity project this summer</li>
<li> Colleges: University of British-Columbia, McGill, University of Toronto (fat chance), Duke, Cornell, U Penn, and Harvard (really, really, really obese chance)</li>
<li> My school sends 6 or so to top tier schools (Stanford, Yale, Columbia etc.) each year
How small are my chances? Should I shoot down or am I where I’m supposed to be? </li>
</ul>
<p>who are you kidding saying my EC's are better hah. Your's are just as good and your SAT is amazing. I believe you should get into Harvard if not all the rest. I just took the SAT II Physics and i thought it was so hard so good job :)</p>
<p>Thanks!! I really studied for them though, so I guess I was just lucky... XD
My school hadn't sent anyone to Harvard in 5 years, so I'm probably unlikely as well.</p>
<p>I think you should apply to several highly competitive colleges. Your chances, I think, are very good. As you will have seen, though, if you've read much on these forums, even highly qualified students like you don't always get into the top schools, and you can't really predict which ones you will get into. Don't let your lack of confidence or humility cause you to apply to just one or two reach schools: that is not the best strategy. In other words, consider adding Yale, Princeton, and Dartmouth to your list, and perhaps a couple a little bit less selective, like Chicago, Northwestern, Rice, etc.</p>
<p>Yeah, I skipped a bunch of years in elementary school because I was pretty good at English, and US mathematics was way too easy back then. I had a rough time catching up in 7th grade, but I'm alive. :)</p>
<p>One thought: if you're only 14, you might want to contemplate some smaller schools like some of the LACs, where you might get some more personal attention.</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice again, Hunt.
I was considering Amherst (sp?) as well, but I wasn't very sure. </p>
<p>I'm not really sure if my age matters, because physically I don't really differ from my peers, and I'd like to believe that I'm as mature (I think). However, would it help me in my acceptances?</p>
<p>Your focus on music in your ECs is a great hook, and will definitely help. Superb SATI score (no duh!) and SATII scores so far! Your summer charity project also sounds like a brilliant idea.</p>
<p>You'll be a competitive applicant, I can tell you that. I suggest you apply to some more top tier schools, just in case you change your mind to attend one of them. Of course, you are probably thinking only of attending one of those schools you have listed, but it's worth a try at the Ivy-tier schools ;)</p>
<p>Well, I’ve been focusing on environmental stuff (hence forth the fundraisers, trash pick-ups, environmental club, and trail work on mountains), but I was only hoping to add music as a side not. Does music really seem like my strength? Because then I’d shift my apps more to the musical side, I suppose.</p>