Doth I Stand Amongst the Elite-eth?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I know y'all must be sick and tired of the "chancemeforhypscolumbiabrowncornelldartmouthetc" posts but hear me out. I genuinely don't know if I am considered competitive for these schools. Do I have to have won a national competition, a distinguished award, or the like to stand a chance? Started a business, written a book, etc? I posted this before as your run-of-the-mill chance me thread with minimal replies so I decided to try a different approach, which was what you just read. Here goes:</p>

<p>I am a rising senior (girl) at a specialized public high school in Brooklyn, NY. My dad works at a deli store and makes around $20000 a year and my mom is a housewife, so we're not exactly rich. I'm Yemeni, so racially I classify myself as "other." My school doesn't rank whatsoever but I'd say I'm near the top 10%. My stats:</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0, weighted (my school doesn't provide us with the unweighted)</p>

<p>SAT:2300</p>

<p>SAT 2's: U.S. History-800, World History-770, Literature-770, Spanish-710</p>

<p>APs: US History-5, World History-5,Spanish-5, US Gov-5, English Composition-5 (I'm an AP Scholar with Distinction.)</p>

<p>My ec's: Editor of school newspaper, secretary of UNICEF club, member of Big Siblings. During the summer of my freshman year, I volunteered at a local Islamic community center as an Arabic teacher for young children. The next summer, I volunteered at my dad's store because he needed the extra help. This summer, I'm volunteering at a local public library. </p>

<p>Senior Year: I'll be taking AP Statistics, AP Comparitive Government, AP Literature, Forensics, Civil Law, Ethics, and Criminal Law.</p>

<p>So what are my chances for the Ivies? Or NYU? Or Barnard? I'm looking closely at these schools but I really have no idea how competitive I am in regard to other applicants.</p>

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<p>Generally, how are your grades? Weighted GPAs are so hard to gauge since they areso variant based on each school:</p>

<p>You ECs, SATs, and rank put you with the 70% that qualify to go to the ivy league. Unfortunately, only 10% of those people actually get in. You are in the group that has little, but small, chance of getting into an Ivy League. But yes, for your sake, we will call you “competitive” since you do have a chance (being non-competitive IMO means that you might as well not apply)</p>

<p>Your essay is going to be really important in a deciding factor. Don’t get all “humanitarian of the world,” “boo-hoo look at these poor people,” in your essay, since tbh based on your father’s income you aren’t in a good position financially at all. If I were you, I would write and essay of a particular day of volunteering at the deli. Not anyway, but a certain day, like a day you met and interesting person or a day when the deli is opened on a day like Christmas. Something to make you stand out. </p>

<p>If I were you find 3 IVys you particularly like and apply to those. NYU looks like a good shot, but idk much about Barnard. If you were to apply ED to say Columbia, you may have an okay shot based on your stats.</p>

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<p>Thanks, that’s sound advice. My grades are definitely better than most of my peers’ and I’ve also had an upward trend since freshman year. For my essay, I definitely wasn’t going to write a humanitarian-type essay. A particular day at the deli seems like great advice actually, I’ll definitely think long and hard about that.</p>

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<p>Also, would my chances ED for Columbia be higher than RD? I heard only shoe-ins apply early.</p>

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<p>Applying ED generally makes your chances better at every school. Obviously, your SAT scores are really good, and it sounds like you have great grades. Those two things matter the most. I’d say you have a great shot at Barnard and NYU. You don’t really have that many ECs though, which I think will hurt you with Ivies.</p>

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<p>Yeah I figured my extracurriculars weren’t that extensive. But hey, quality over quantity, no?</p>

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<p>Quality of quantity for sure. Also, because your family’s income is 20k colleges will know that you were somewhat limited (low income family = hook) with what ECs you could afford too. </p>

<p>Essays are considered very important. If you’re thinking about writing about a day at work (in the deli, library, etc) one of my favorite college essay standards might serve as a good role model/example of how not to be cliche. Obviously you don’t want to mimic it or anything, but it’s an example of a unique take on a common topic. “Adventures as Donut Boy” is a great essay to look at for good examples.</p>

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<p>Thanks, Lagging, I’ll check that out for sure. About those hooks, I just realized that I actually have a few: low-income, my ethnicity, and ( I forgot to mention this before) first generation. Would those counterbalance any shortcomings I have on my application (besides the essay)?</p>

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<p>Bump wooohoo yay.</p>

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<p>You’re ECs seem spotty and are lacking a central focus (passion) which won’t be too good for the Ivys. Only 8 AP courses might be a problem when many other applicants have upwards of 10-15 APs. The numbers and hooks are excellent, just the ECs and course rigor. I think you can get into NYU without a problem. The Ivys are high reaches. Not too sure about Barnard, but if it’s selectivity is similar to Columbia then it too is a high reach. If there is a single Ivy or top 20 school you absolutely love then apply ED or EA.</p>

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<p>I know it doesn’t seem like much but I’m taking the most challenging courseload available at my school (budget cuts, anyone?). My counselor (to whom I am very close) will certainly mention that on her recommendation. I realize that my ec’s are lacking but I was hoping they would convey a general interest in the humanities area, where I excel academically as well. I’m indecisive about my major anyway.</p>

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<p>You are definitely competitive, but the schools are obviously reaches. Your pretty much in to NYU and Barnard, but NYU fin aid sucks, i wouldn’t apply. Your ECs are kinda weak, but your family and school situation will be considered. Your ethnicity is not a Hook by the way, you are Asian.</p>

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<p>I know the Ivies are pretty much always reaches but I just want to know if I stand a chance. And oy, don’t get me started on NYU financial aid. My brother graduated from there 2 years ago and he’s still paying off his loans. </p>

<p>And, true, Yemen is located in Southwest Asia, but I’m Arabic. I could either be Asian (since my country is in Asia) or White (since Arabs are considered Middle Eastern, which is considered white). I consider myself neither, so I put “other.”</p>

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<p>As one of the responders said you are competetive, if not qualified, i dare say, for IVYs. Columbia appears to be a good ED choice. Not HYPSM, so less pressure. I would also look into your arabic classes as an essay topic. Obviously you have to be prolific enough to be able to teach.</p>

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<p>Columbia, with an admit rate of 7.4% this year, is not “less pressure” than the acronymic HYPSM. Also ranked “most rigorous” college by Newsweek/Daily Beast. So, no, not “less pressure.” But do not apply ED to Columbia unless it is your absolute top choice, as ED means you are obligated to attend. ED will not increase your chances of admissions, as it is for those who under any circumstances would be the very top candidates for admission, ED and RD.</p>

<p>For comparative purposes, go to each school’s CC forum and look at the posted ED and/or RD results; all those who post results also post stats.</p>

<p>It is not ethical to “chance” you, since no one can. However, why not apply where you want and see what happens? But please get a list of matches, and safeties (financial aid and admission safeties). You cannot pin all your hopes on upper tier schools, even though you have every right to dream big, as long as you think smart, re: admissions.</p>

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<p>It’s hard to determine especially without a class rank. Your scores are exceptional; however, your extracurriculars are dull. They are what every other student has. If you can write some awesome essays to show your passions/personality, you will have a shot for the Ivies :)</p>

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<p>Thanks everybody :slight_smile: I really appreciate your advice. My essays have to be killer, I suppose. </p>

<p>And swingtime, I know only the admissions officers can tell me whether I’m in or not, but it’s still nice to hear others’ opinions. Nothing anybody says can stop me from applying to the schools I like anyway. And I have looked at the RD/ED admissions results threads for a few schools but they aren’t very telling. In fact, they only reinforce the idea that this is one big crapshoot.</p>