Do I Have a Shot?

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
1

<p>GPA: Uncertain how ND calculates it... letter grades are below
SAT I: 2100 (640CR, 720W, 740M); 2100 (600CR, 720W, 780M) - retaking
SAT II: Math IIC - 800, Physics - 630 (NOT retaking), Biology - (taking)
APs: World Hist. 3, Calc BC 5 (AB Subscore 5), Phys Mech. 3, Phys E&M 3, Eng. Lang. 3
Class Rank: Top 10%</p>

<p>California
Male/Asian (ouch?)
Major: Biomedical Engineering</p>

<p>ECs:
Puzzle Club - Pres. & Founder (11th-12th)
Math Club - (9th-12th)
Marching Band - (9th-12th)
Business Club - (10th)
Local Chinese School Student Council Communication's Committee Chairman - 10th-11th
Trumpet - (4th-12th)
Piano - (1st-9th) MMTA Finalist/Honors Concerts - Finished program
Drawing - (6th-8th) Minnesota State-fair 1st place
Web Design - Both for Profit and Non-profit (9th-12th) - ie. my school's teachers, PTSA, band/orchestra/choir/colorguard, the Perinatal council, a local Chinese school, a local recycling program</p>

<p>Volunteer:
Web Design (mentioned above)
Thrift Store - 10th-11th Summer
City Museum - 9th-10th Summer & a little during 9th school year</p>

<p>Work Experience:
State Fair Boat Show - Just a day giving directions, explaining the show
Internship - 11th-12th Summer; R&D Material Testing work (Bio/Chem/Mech./Materials Engineering related); Testing fibers to help cure a sinus disease</p>

<p>Course Load (courses with a "/" are one semester of each course):
9th -
H Global/Health
Eng
Bio
Span 1
Marching Band/Symphonic Band
H Geometry
PE</p>

<p>Summer -
H Alg. II</p>

<p>10th -
Span 2
Phys
Marching Band/Wind Symphony
H Eng
Chem
H Pre Calc
AP World Hist.</p>

<p>Summer:
H US Hist.</p>

<p>11th -
AP Phys Mech./AP Phys E&M
Marching Band/Wind Symphony
AP Calc BC
AP Eng Lang
CS
Span 3</p>

<p>12th -
AP Bio
Marching Band/Wind Ensemble II (tryout band)
AP Gov./AP Macro Econ
AP Eng Lit.
AP Stat
AP CS</p>

<p>Solid Essays. Decent Recs.
Almost increasing GPA trend (just messed up with one B in AP Phys 2nd semes)
Reason for poor start (not sure if I'll mention this in my essay), but moved from Minnesota to CA at beginning of 9th grade... had to make new friends, get used to the place while balancing school work at the same time</p>

<p>From these first few weeks, Senior year grades are looking solid. Projected: 4 A's, 2 B's? (In Gov + Lit)</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I think you are a great candidate, and getting a 2150 or so on those SATs will make it even better. Being Asian actually won’t hurt you here, as they are a minority at ND (imagine that!). How are the EC’s?</p>

3

<p>vc08, sorry I’m not understanding your question. My ECs’ are listed near the top. </p>

<p>And a further comment - I will NOT be applying EA (don’t think I can make the deadline)</p>

<p>Oh wow I actually forgot to put the grades - sorry here they are:</p>

<p>My GPA is actually quite weak though, despite what the stats show. I think it’s because Band/Health/etc. are non-academic courses or something. According to some rough calculations I only got around a 3.6 UW and 3.85 W @_@</p>

<p>// 9th
English A-/A
Spanish I A-/B
H Geometry B+/B
Marching Band/Symphonic Band A/A
PE A/A
Biology A-/B+
H Global Studies/Health A-/A-</p>

<p>// Summer 9th-10th @ local CC
H Algebra II A</p>

<p>// 10th
H Eng. B/B+
Spanish II B+/A-
H PreCalc. B+/A
Marching Band/Symphonic Band A/A
Physics A/A
Chemistry A/A
AP World History C+/B-</p>

<p>// Summer 10th-11th @ local CC
H US History A</p>

<p>// 11th
AP Phys. C A/B
Marching Band/Wind Ensemble II A/A
AP Calc. BC A/A
AP Eng. Lang. B-/B-
Comp. Sci. A+/A
Spanish 3 A-/A</p>

<p>// 12th
AP Biology
AP Statistics
AP Gov./Macro Econ.
AP English Lit.
AP Comp. Sci.
Marching Band/Wind Ensemble II</p>

4

<p>I wouldn’t say a “great” candidate, but one that would probably be a little below the ND average. You have a chance, but I would estimate that chance at about 30%.</p>

5

<p>Haha, lol at missing those ECs. They are alright, nothing two spectacular, but not really weak either. I would emphasize the web design, if I were you, because it is something fairly unusual.</p>

<p>Grades are stable, but aren’t your hook. Overall, I’d say you’re a slight reach, bc nothing really stands out a ton, but, that being said, you’re definitely in the mix! Best of luck!</p>

6

<p>I’m not seeing sports or church related activities–which is more typical for the ND profile. Are you sure you’d like the school? It’s pretty full of the student-athlete-churchy kids. </p>

<p>I’m also looking at your grades and scores in humanities and wondering if ND is a fit for you–the history, English, language, philosophy and theology requirements are significant–do you want to do that?</p>

7

<p>One of the first things that ND looks at is your class rank; they tell you that when and if you go on their admissions tour. Their prize applicant is at around the top 3-4%. I was in the top 3.6% of my HS class and was deferred EA, and accepted regular decision.
Sorry, but top 10% is pushing it at ND. You have some good EC’s and your SAT’s are good, but I’m just not seeing something that really makes you stand apart.
I agree with the 30% chance of acceptance.</p>