<p>Let me just start off with some background info. I am a high school junior in Florida. I expect to have passed 7 AP exams by the end of junior year. I have taken the SAT once and got a 2140 (750/740/650) and expect to take it one or two more times. I got a 31 on the ACT, and have a 3.97 GPA. While I expect that this will be sufficient for many colleges, I want to major in Physics, so I need to get into a prestigious colege for a good education and so that I can get into a good graduate program. I want to apply to UC Berkeley, Caltech, Princeton, and MIT, but I feel like my application is'nt going to be good enough. I am on one sports team (with a leadership position) I will have around 100 community service hours, I am fairly active in my school, and I expect to be an Eagle Scout by the time I apply :). Do I even have a chance? Application to renowned schools is getting more and more competitive, and I don't think I'm any wonderchild. What could I do to make my application more attractive?</p>
<p>You’re not a wonderchild, but you are solid. Before I note and suggest about your shortcomings, I would like to suggest you look at many other schools too. You have listed some of the best schools not just for Physics. Look at great science schools that aren’t as well known. You will definitely love some. </p>
<p>You have a solid academic profile. However, your ECs are pretty generic. Scouts, sports (albeit leadership), etc. You need to stand out. Prove that you’re very interested in physics without saying on your essay “I love physics.” Form or join a science club that could perhaps enroll in team or individual competitions, tutor younger students, or get an internship relating to physics. You want your ECs to show exactly what your interests are. If you have the energy to do more, also get some ECs to show your well-rounded-ness. Lastly, reflect on your life. Do NOT write your essay about your grades or ECs. What is a life lesson you may have learned through a tragic, dramatic, or influential event. </p>
<p>Finally to your schools. I would say they are all reaches for you, with the exception of UCB that isn’t a reach, but is still a little reliant on luck. Again, I suggest finding a few more extraordinary schools without as much prestige in other subjects. What school is especially and uniquely great at physics, but not say, business.Good luck!</p>
<p>Chance me?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1613118-chances-for-brown-u-of-rochester-amherst-and-u-of-michigan-ann-arbor.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1613118-chances-for-brown-u-of-rochester-amherst-and-u-of-michigan-ann-arbor.html#latest</a></p>
<p>retake the tests and aim for a 2200+/32+ at least. also go for more clubs related to your major and get some leadership positions. Do that and you stand a chance. </p>
<p>My thread (chance back please): <a href=“Chances for Vanderbilt, UNC, NYU, UF, and Duke? - Chance Me / Match Me! - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1610985-chances-for-vanderbilt-unc-nyu-uf-and-duke-p1.html</a> </p>
<p>First of all I would like to thank both of you for taking the time to respond to my thread. I apologize for not responding sooner. I retook the SAT and got 800/760/670. I expect to be the president of Science Honor Society at my school and hope to start an internship over the summer. I also applied to the FSU Young Scholars summer program. Secondly, I have three follow up questions for anyone: firstly, will top universities accept Calc 3/Physics credits earned from Dual Enrollment? Secondly, what good Physics schools exist outside of the cliche top 20 (most rankings are consistent with the usual MIT, Princeton, Caltech, ect.)? Lastly, is the Cappex What Are My Chances calculator known for accuracy? Thanks in advance for anyone that responds :)</p>