Do I have a chance?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am currently a junior so I realize I need to start thinking about this now. I have always wanted to apply to Oxford but I realize that due to some personal problems taking a toll on my transcript that this is probably unreasonable at this point. I was thinking of trying for Stanford or one of the UC's (I live in California) and I would love to realistically know what chances, if any, I have at a school like these. I am most likely going onto a science major. </p>

<p>Background:
Normal, public high school. My school is the middle of our district and usually sends kids to the UC/CSU system or middle bracket colleges. I am 17 and a girl, white and not a minority (except half maltese, which doesn't really count). My father did not go to college but my mother did (Syracuse) and I live in a suburb that draws from really rich neighborhoods although I am not poor I am not like most of the kids at my school. I have an autistic brother who is really a big impact on all aspects of my life. </p>

<p>Sophmore schedule: Honors integrated science, French, geometry, Phys. ed., art, english, geography
Junior schedule: Pre-calc, physics, physiology, american lit., french, APUSH, teachers aid</p>

<p>SAT: 1940 (I didn't really have a chance to study, I am planning on retaking)
I am signing up for the subject test in biology and I am not sure on the others I should take
I am signed up for the ACT but haven't taken it yet. my PLAN was predicting around 32</p>

<p>AP/honors
Honors integrated science - A
AP US history (I predict a 4 on the test)
Next year: AP lit and AP calc.</p>

<p>GPA:
Last year 4.0
This year 3.8
Weighted: 3.7 (I had some problems freshman year and ended up with a 3.5)
I have mostly A's but a couple B grades</p>

<p>Community college courses:
Biology
Psychology
Chemistry
More advanced chemistry and astronomy planned for next semester</p>

<p>EC:
Internships (hospital/environmental nonprofit)
Mock Trial team (2 years)
Interact (rotary) club (4 years)
Class band (1 year)
Teens go green club (2 years)
Daraja club (2 years)
Other community service in my town
(I have tutored neighbor kids but I am not sure if this counts)
6 years of french (2 in middle school so does this count?)
French exchange</p>

<p>I can't think of anything else right now. I would appreciate feedback or improvements I should make but I'm not really able to pay for a summer program or anything like that at this point.</p>

2

<p>Your background story is kind of like mine but I would recommend to focus on something that shows YouR passion because you enjoy it,colleges look into that. I would recommend taking the SAT again but try to focus on other important parts of the app…look for a summer internship maybe? Do you know where you want to apply?</p>

3

<p>If you can get a high SAT score, you’ll have a much better chance at Oxford than you would at Stanford. However, realize you will get zero financial aid at Oxford, so your family will need to be able to pay.</p>

<p>Sanford, for an unhooked from CA is near impossible. UCs will be much easier.</p>

4

<p>Wow interesting to know someone else is slightly like me! I am planning on taking the SAT and I am reasonably sure I can get around 2100-2200 and I have an internship for this summer. I honestly have no idea where I would like to apply. I thought about GW or one of the UCs but I haven’t put much thought into it at this point.</p>

5

<p>Oxford is also my dream school someday after I finish undergrad!I think you really do have a chance at the UCs and I didn’t apply to Stanford so I don’t really know…but keep working hard, it will pay off (that I am most certain)</p>

<p>Also, have you heard of Questbridge? You might be a candidate for its match and there are many great schools
[QuestBridge</a> Home](<a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/]QuestBridge”>http://www.questbridge.org/)
Stanford is a partner school so you should definately check it out
Bonne chance!</p>

6

<p>Merci beaucoup. I will take a look! I am a bit skeptical about the UCs because they have a bit of a you-need-a-4.5-its-all-helicopter-parents reputation here.</p>