do I have a shot @ upenn/columbia?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I've finished applying to colleges that I'm afraid to mention here cuz I don't want you 2400/4.00 peeps laughing at me lol. But anyway, after prowling on Naviance -- this software that shows how many students got into certain colleges from my school -- I found that I <em>might</em> stand a fighting chance among some of the "lower-tier" ivies. I know brand names aren't everything, but they're honestly pretty hard for me to resist nevertheless. It's late in the game, but do you guys think I could be a competitive applicant at UPenn or Columbia U?</p>

<p>Gender: F
Location: NJ
College Class Year: 2013
High School: Public
High School Type: sends many grads to top schools
Will apply for financial aid: Yes</p>

<p>Academics:</p>

<p>GPA - Unweighted: 3.71
Class Rank: top 25% (my school is crazy competitive)
Class Size: 231</p>

<p>Scores:</p>

<p>SAT I Math: 800/740
SAT I Critical Reading: 650/690 :(
SAT I Writing: 720/800
(two sittings; super-score = 2290)</p>

<p>SAT II Literature: 580 lol, don't judge me. I like to pretend it never happened, but whatever
SAT II Math Level 2 (IIC): 780
SAT II Physics: 650 (retaking)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>work/volunteer with autistic kids, internship at scholastic, amnesty intl (lots of involvement), cross country & track (not recruited), arts (love them), engineering (SWE... doing AMC for the first time this year tho. I know, it's sad!)
Athletic Status - list sport and your level: V cross country, JV track
Volunteer/Service Work: lots @ a special school. worked with a support business before (I was a "secretary" lol). lots of in-school stuff, but that kind of goes with extracurrics in my opinion
Honors and Awards: the usual -- NHS, NFHS, national merit commended. nothing special, sorry to say</p>

<p>Hook: girl in engineering?</p>

<p>Basically, I just really want to graduate from a college and immediately enter into a decent career. I kind of crossed all ivies off my list because I felt they wouldn't be interested in me at all... and I know SAT scores don't mean much, but my new super-score gives me hope :( Oh, and I know UPenn and Columbia are EXTREMELY difficult to get into. It's just that if other people with similar SAT/gpas from my school got in, maybe I have an OK chance? Luckily, I know CCers can be brutally honest. lay it on me :/ could I, should I bother applying?</p>

<p>thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>Your school's own Naviance is the absolute best data you can have, especially when combined with a counselor who can tell you which were athletes, minorities and legacies.</p>

<p>Top 25% makes any ivy really tough unless you go to Lawrenceville. So does a below median CR score and the fact that you're from NJ. </p>

<p>But Naviance trumps all so throw in the apps and see what happens. But since you asked for honesty I'll say that without Naviance I would not have thought these schools could happen. I interview for Penn in the NY/NJ area and have not seen unhooked kids with your stats get in for the last 5 years.</p>

3

<p>In my opinion, it doesn't hurt to ever apply to a college, unless you know for a fact that you will not make it. You are not one of those. You stand a shot!</p>

<p>Your unweighted GPA is a bit low for the averages of UPenn/Columbia, and I'm not sure what your weighted GPA is. If it's above 4.3 for grades 9-11, then it could negate your low unweighted GPA.</p>

<p>Good job on your SAT, it puts you in the running for UPenn/Columbia. It's right around, if not above, the average.</p>

<p>Your extracurriculars are above-average, but not outstanding. Ivy Leagues demand great to outstanding extracurriculars.</p>

<p>But all in all, if other students with about your GPA/SAT got into UPenn/Columbia, then why not give it a shot? You aren't in the highest, grandest tier of competitive applicants, but you are still quite competitive. Apply away. Good luck!</p>

<p>UPenn - reach
Columbia - reach</p>

<p>And could you chance me as well?
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/601962-asian-actor-ivies-stanf-uc-s-usc.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/601962-asian-actor-ivies-stanf-uc-s-usc.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

4

<p>thanks so much for the input. right, my school does not weigh GPA, because all the classes are honors (or IB/AP). we're a public magnet school in north NJ.</p>

<p>anyway, thanks a lot. this was really helpful! I'll give my wishful thinking some consideration then; I'll definitely meet up with my guidance counselor and see what she thinks as well. :)</p>

5

<p>I really think you have a shot. Your ECs are great and so are your SAT scores. I think you should apply, what do you have to loose?</p>

6

<p>I think your literature SAT may be important in case of columbia, even though you're applying to SEAS, because they're putting pressure on humanities (core). </p>

<p>BTW, is it possible that CB won't send some of your scores?</p>

7

<p>I don't know...why wouldn't they?</p>

<p>thanks a lot for the input. it's very insightful!</p>