Do i have a shot at columbia or dartmouth?

<p>Do i actually have a chance in either columbia or dartmouth?</p>

<p>Ethnicitiy and gender: Indian, male
first generation immigrant
live in nj, attend private school</p>

<p>SAT: 2260. 750 math 730 cr 780 writing
GPA: 3.92 UW</p>

<p>Took 8 AP classes: 1 sophmore year, 3 junior year, 4 senior year</p>

<p>didnt do that great on sat2s and aps but they arent terrible</p>

<p>Awards: research paper award (9th grade), cum laude (11th) one of three from my grade, us history award (11th)</p>

<p>Extra curriculars:</p>

<p>tennis 4 years, varsity in 11th grade, most improved player award (11th)</p>

<p>peer tutor in math: 2 years</p>

<p>quizbowl captain,copresident</p>

<p>model un: vice president </p>

<p>habitat for humanity</p>

<p>Volunteering:</p>

<p>100 hours: worked at federally qualified clinic, town library, habitat for humanity restore</p>

<p>Summer:
took alebra 2 class at another school</p>

<p>worked with a clinical pharmacist on a research project at hospital in which I evaluated whether the hospital was correctly using an anticoagulant Argatroban by looking at patient charts and making spreadsheets and graphs. Shadowed clinical pharmacist during diabetis education sessions</p>

<p>shadowed a surgeon and observed surgeries in the operating room.</p>

<p>both i think are mid to high reaches. u have a competitive SAT and GPA but extracurriculars are pretty run-of-the-mill for Indian applicants (except for Model UN), although the research is pretty impressive. good luck!</p>

<p>Check my HS data: </p>

<p>My HS graduating class (2011):
Applicants to Dartmouth: 30; Accepted: 8, Denied: 18, WL/D: 4
Denied GPA’s (Weighted): 4.12, 3.70, 4.31, 3.81, 3.90, 3.09, 4.18, 4.21, 3.92, 3.88, 3.76, 3.91, 3.82, 4.34, 4.18, 3.89, 4.04, 3.99
Accepted GPA’s (Weighted): 3.81, 4.11, 2.76, 3.31, 4.22, 4.09, 3.51, 3.29
Accepted & Attended GPA’s (Weighted): 4.11, 2.76, 3.29</p>

<p>As far as test scores are concerned, I’m sure you’re smart enough to assume that the denied applicants mostly scored in the 98th percentile. I did not add them because unfortunately, many colleges don’t really care.</p>

<p>The average Denied GPA was roughly 4.0, Accepted was a 3.6. </p>

<p>So how does this make sense? How is the average denied GPA higher than the accepted GPA? It’s actually quite simple. Firstly, you need to think of colleges as businesses. Frankly, if there was no money to be had in private education, there wouldn’t be any private universities. These private institutions are looking for students that can uphold the reputation and legacy of the college. The accepted students met this requirement. </p>

<p>Lets look at three of the students in particular that were accepted: 3.81, 4.22, 3.51.
3.81: This student is probably the most innovative kid I’ve ever met. He is currently working independently on various business models that he sells for profit. He’s a champion marksman and hunter, and qualified for training in the Winter olympics of 2010. His parents went to Harvard and Middleburry College.
4.22: This student is the winner of the 2010 debate team finals, has been a finalist in over 60 NFL tournaments at various colleges. She is a forensic genius
3.51: This student is an All-American football player, played four years of Varsity Baseball and basketball. Parents went to Penn State and Dartmouth. </p>

<p>Note that non of these kids chose to go to Dartmouth. 3.81 went to Harvard, 4.22 went to Princeton, and 3.51 went to Ohio State to play Football. </p>

<p>Lets look at the three students that attended: 4.11, 2.76, 3.29
4.11: I don’t know exactly who this was, sorry. But if its who I think it was, he is very, very talented in mathematics, he also figured out a way for our school district to maximize its profit potential and was actually employed by the county his senior year and summer.
2.76: One of my best friends, three years of varsity lacrosse and football, debate team, accomplished tournament fisherman, something like 5,000 hours community service, and held the same job since he was 14 (four years). It should be noted that his parents are heavily involved with Dartmouth. His parents both went to Dartmouth
3.29: This student played two years of varisty volleyball and field hockey. She is an accomplished figure skater. She interned with her congressman her junior summer. Her father is very well known and respected on capitol hill and the executive branch. Her parents went to Dartmouth and St. Michael’s College </p>

<p>So what did you learn? These students are very unique, all of them. Their EC’s are stellar. on top of that, many of their parents are Dartmouth or Ivy Alums. This shows how much legacy has to do with college acceptance. It should also be noted that none of them need financial aid and they all graduated from a public school that is consistently part of the top 25 public schools in the nation. </p>

<p>Goodluck!</p>

<p>Thanks for the very thorough response. By the looks of it my chances are 0% but it wouldnt sit right with me if I did not apply so Im gonna send in my apps for the hell of it.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t say that your chances are zero. You need to make your Resume appealing. Make it sound unique. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to get in contact with some Dartmouth or Columbia Alums. Getting into any top private college, in my opinion, has little to do with grades or test scores, but the desire of the prospect to be in that college community. Let them know you want to be apart of it. Also, never sell yourself short. do these things ASAP. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>oh that reminds me cant believe i forgot to mention this. I have a cousin at dartmouth and he wrote my peer eval… u think thatll do anything? Thanks btw for the responses thusfar</p>