Do I have any chance?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm not really sure about this whole college application thing.
I am a white, female, junior about to be a senior at a public TX school.
What should I do over the summer and next year to improve my chances of getting into a good college?</p>

<p>*top 10%
*GPA UW: 3.75---Will probably raise to a 3.8 this sem.(rawr...precal)
W: 4.21
*APs: 1 soph, 2 junior, 6 senior (have taken every Pre-AP and AP opportunity)
*3 yrs spanish
*10 Honors classes and 10 AP + 1 dual credit this summer.
*TAKS commended
*AP tests: 3 on AP World History, took AP Eng. Lang. and APUSH this year, taking AP Psych, AP Calc. AB, AP Eng. Lit., AP Biology, and AP Gov. next year
*Taking SAT and ACT next month.
*National Honor Society (2 yrs)
*Spanish Club (2 yrs)
*Key Club (3 yrs)
*Choir officer (1 yr)
*Choir member in HS (4 yrs)
*Texas Girls Choir w/ leadership postition each yr (6 yrs)
*Choir Section Leader (2 yrs)
*HOSA (1 yr)
*National Catholic Youth Choir (1 yr)
*Church Youth Group
*Church choir 6 yrs
*Volunteer at church
*High ranking and awards in solo&ensemble and all-state
*Will volunteer at hospital starting this summer.</p>

<p>I'm probably forgetting some things.</p>

<p>My #1 choice would be Dartmouth, but that seems unlikely.
Other schools I'm interested in are:
NYU
Columbia
U Wash-Seattle
U of Seattle
Johns Hopkins
Cornell
U of Chicago</p>

<p>If I have to stay in TX (which I do NOT want to do), I would be interested in:
UT
Baylor
Rice
A&M</p>

<p>Do I have a chance at any of these schools? What should I do to help improve my chances of being accepted? Are there any other schools that you would suggest? (I'm going for premed)</p>

<p>Oh yeah...Just a random question. Many people in my extended family have attended Yale and donated millions to the school. Would that be considered
at all if I applied?</p>

<p>Blah. I really wish I would have cared about school before this semester. :(</p>

<p>Any response is appreciated! Thanks! :)</p>

2

<p>If you can somehow get that GPA up to around 3.85 UW you should be fine. Just pick something that you're really passionate about, and keep on talking about it in your application and your interview. About the Yale thing, how far are they from your immediate family? Either way, I think it would help a bit there.</p>

3

<p>My mom's side of the family has had about 100 go through Yale, the most recent being my granfather, my mom's cousin and uncle, and 2 of my mom's grandfathers. One of her grandfathers was a professor there. Medicine I believe. All of the above mentioned attended Yale Medical School. They aren't very close to my immediate family, but it's something.</p>

4

<p>Oh WOW... apply to Yale. Just out of curiosity... have you not taken an SAT I or II?</p>

5

<p>I'm taking SAT I next month and uh...this really sucks...I my GC at school is terrible and I just found out about SAT IIs TODAY! ugh! I guess I have to take them in October, but dartmouth ED deadline is Nov. 1 and they require 2 SAT IIs. :(</p>

6

<p>Wow... you should have did a little research. Just get 700+ on all sections and you'll be fine.</p>

7

<p>You could get into the majority of those colleges with a good SAT score, but probably not Columbia or Dartmouth.</p>

8

<p>Would I have any chance at Dartmouth if I raised my GPA higher than a 3.8?</p>

9

<p>Looking at the Decision Threads of Darthmouth: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=123530&page=4&pp=15&highlight=Official+decision%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=123530&page=4&pp=15&highlight=Official+decision&lt;/a>
It looks like it's a pretty big reach for Dartmouth. You'll have a better shot with a 3.85/2200+ SAT I, but it would still be a reach.</p>

10

<p>Ok. I was just playing around with my GPA and I figured that with my classes next year and dual credit Econ this summer I should graduate with a 3.94.</p>

11

<p>Your class rank is more important than GPA. If you're solidly withinn the top 105 you have a shot, much better at D and C if you're top 5%. But frankly Yale is your best bet if your family has given millions. The biggest of the donors should call the development office and let them know you're applying. I the last major gift was not in the last few years, a fresh one would be a good idea. A friend's family gave a chair last year and wouldn't you know, she is the lowest stat acceptee from her school!</p>

12

<p>Unfortunately, you are not a legacy at Yale. You really need to go read the Yale admitted threads from EA and RD, same for Dart and Columbia. There is also a thread on rejected legacies. If your immediate family had attended Yale and donated, you would have a slightly better chance. If they donated in the 10's of millions, you might even have a good chance. That said, you have a shot at Dart if your SAT and SAT II scores come in solidly above 700.</p>

13

<p>...bump...</p>

14

<p>hey don't have to be immediate family if they give millions, a grandparent or uncle is just fine. As long as they are not trying to get relatives in every year.</p>

15

<p>I agree with the above poster. You chances will be better than the average applicant at Yale, but do not expect a surefly acceptance from them. They are tending to care less about legacies.</p>