Do I have a shot at the top schools? (Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, UChicago, MIT)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello all! I'm a rising senior getting ready to start my applications this summer and was looking for some feedback on my chances at my top schools. Besides all of the ones I listed, I'm applying to UMich and Northwestern as matches. Currently, I'm planning to go into engineering (except for at Uchicago I would do physics) but I'm not exactly sure which specialty yet, I have different engineering plans for different schools.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.98
ACT: 36
SAT: 2240 (700 M 760 CR 780 W)
PSAT: 228
SAT Subject Tests: Math 2 and Chem (just took, predicting around 780-800 on both)</p>

<p>Freshman Schedule -
Honors Geometry
Honors LA9
Physical Science + Biology (block, 2 hours per day)
French 2
World History</p>

<p>Sophomore Schedule -
Honors Algebra 2
Honors LA10
Chemistry
Physics
French 3
APUSH - 5</p>

<p>Junior Schedule (all AP scores predicted) -
AP Language and Composition - 4-5
AP Chemistry - 4- 5
AP Government - 5
Anatomy and Physiology
Honors Pre-Calculus
French 4</p>

<p>Senior Schedule (tentative)
AP Physics
AP Computer Science A
AP Literature
AP Calculus BC
Yearbook (art requirement)
1 semester gym (required) + one semester elective (pathology or philosophy) If I can waive my gym requirement I will either have a free hour or add in AP Psych or some other class.</p>

<p>ECs (current board positions are newly elected, I don't know what's too small to omit so I'll just list everything)
Key Club Executive Board - Vice President currently, next year will be my third year on the board. I was Bulletin Board/Website Editor this year and Sophomore Representative last year.
Earth Advocates (environmental awareness/activism club) Vice President, new to the club this year.
Model UN - Director of Training, was previously an executive board member for junior and sophomore year. Helped start the club with my friend who is the current president our sophomore year.
Freshman Mentor Executive Board - Was a mentor last year, board member this year.
Science Olympiad Board Member - Member of the club since freshman year, on board for next year.
Math Club - Member of the club, participated in competitions like AMC and others but never won any awards.
French Club/FNHS
NHS
Swam JV Freshman and Sophomore year
Hospital Volunteering (every sunday, around 200 hours so far and will accrue more in the summer)
Summer freshman and sophomore year participated in a program taking courses in nanotech, alternative energy, and english at the local community college. Received As in all courses.
This summer attending an engineering/entrepeneurship camp at UMich called SCEEP.
Possible research in healthcare systems managment/information sciences at the local university this summer.</p>

<p>Awards/Honors
AP Scholar (next year)
National Merit Finalist/hopefully Scholar (again, next year)
Scholastic Writing Awards: Silver Key and Honorable Mention both for memoirs
Science Olympiad - 1st Place Thermodynamics freshman year, 2nd place chem lab and 6th place designer genes for junior year
Top Honors (not exactly sure what it's called) on the French National Exam freshman and sophomore year
Key Club Gold Member (3 years)</p>

<p>I know a good portion of my info is incomplete since I'm only a junior but I'm applying early action to several schools so these will be the stats I apply with. I'm Indian, income level of around 100-120K a year, no legacies, so no real hooks there.</p>

<p>Any suggestions on where I might need improvement on my application? Other colleges I should consider? I was also wondering if I should retake the SAT for colleges that require all scores or if it won't matter because of my ACT. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>GPA, W or UW?</p>

3

<p>@2018dad‌ GPA is UW, my school doesn’t weight GPAs if you take more rigorous courses.</p>

4

<p>Northwestern is not by any means a match for you. It is a reach, as it is for everyone. But seriously, what is the point of this thread? Are you just trying to brag? </p>

<p>Yes, take the SAT again. In fact, don’t stop until you get 2400. If you dont, you will never get into college. Even if it means getting left back, do it. That way you can take more AP classes. Keep taking the SAT until you hit 2400. If you don’t, you are going to go to Community College. 2400 is life. If you don’t get it, you will never succeed. Take the SAT again. TAKE IT AGAIN.</p>

5

<p>Cornell might be likely, then the rest are reaches (but reachable for you). </p>

6

<p>You have a good chance to all the schools on your list based on your scores and GPA. You have quality awards and decent ECs but nothing really stand out IMO. Your best chance is Chicago and Cornell. Remember to add matches and safety schools to your list.</p>

7

<p>They are all reaches (pretty much for everyone). Cornell is probably the only one that is not. My advice would be to add some realistic stuff in there. Consider some of the UCs (Cal and UCLA can basically provide you with same education that you get at these schools). Harvey Mudd is also another reach school you can apply to, but you got plenty of reaches in your list already. Btw, NU is not a ‘match’ ( I know a girl who got into MIT and Harvard this year and got rejected from NU, so never look at it as a match). Just send in your ACT. They don’t need to see your SAT when you have a beautiful 36. When you send in your ACT, you don’t have to report your SAT I, even if you are reporting SATII’s to the college. </p>

8

<p>What states are you from? if not from CA, I wouldn’t applying to the UCs.</p>

9

<p>@DrGoogle‌ I am from Michigan, why would you say not to apply to the UCs? I actually was considering Berkeley pretty seriously because of its engineering program.</p>

10

<p>Because it’s harder to get in when OOS and you won’t get good aid</p>

11

<p>Just looking at the acceptance rates, Cornell has about at 15% acceptance rates, then the rest have <9% accept rates. Not saying Cornell is easier, just that it’s more likely. </p>

12

<p>Why would you want to pay OOS price for UCB while UofMichigan is just as good if not better(for undergraduate experience). Silicon Valley hires tons of Michigan grads. I’ve read the recruitment scene at Michigan in awesome.</p>

13

<p>Northwestern is a reach for everybody, but you are at least as competitive as most of the others. Good luck.</p>

14

<p>Classof2018app wrote

</p>

<p>There is a phrase called “yield protection”. If a school thinks you have credentials that you will likely get into a better school, they won’t take you. It happens surprisingly often for top tier students.</p>

15

<p>Im sorry, but your stats look just like everybody else applying. You need to stand out to get in. Your ECs and awards are standard… There’s nothing special. You need more safeties and matches. And I agree, northwestern is a reach.</p>

<p>Don’t take this as me saying you have no shot- you’ll be competitive, but to get in you need something that sets you apart.</p>

16

<p>Cornell: Match
Umichigan: match
Chicago: low reach
HPS: mid-high reaches: nothing special for these schools</p>

17

<p>I should mention for UChicago that one of my parents works at Fermilab and so I qualify for reduced tuition and possibly a full scholarship to the university</p>

18

<p>Chicago is still a reach probably – admit % has been dropping recently and average SAT is higher than most Ivys and Stanford.</p>

19

<p>36 on the Act. Don’t send your sat’s and go for it. You know the odds but you should be confident about this. Remember you have to do a great job on all parts of the process. </p>