Duke, Notre Dame, BC, Stanford, UCs...

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi I'm a rising senior and like a lot of other people, I'm freaking out about applying to college. I was just wondering if you could tell me if I have any business applying to any of the schools that I'll list below. I'm also looking for some safety and match schools, so if you have any recommendations, I would appreciate them greatly. I also wouldn't mind reach recommendations either, it just seems that those are way easier to find, especially on this website. Pretty much, if you have suggestions on altering my college list, please feel free to tell me :P Thanks!</p>

<p>Schools I'm considering so far:
Stanford
Notre Dame
Duke
UNC Chapel Hill
Boston College
George Washington U
UC Berkeley
UCLA
UC San Diego
UC Santa Barbara
USC
Cal Poly SLO</p>

<p>I go to a pretty big public school in California with about 2000-2500 students. It's pretty average in academics, but I've tried to take the toughest courseload I can. </p>

<p>Alright, here's the boring stuff:</p>

<p>GPA
W: 4.7-4.8 (I haven't seen my transcript with last semesters grades, but I'm assuming it stayed in the same area.)
UW: 4.0</p>

<p>Scores
-ACT Composite: 34 Writing: 11
-SAT II: Bio-750, U.S.-760, Math II-780
-I'm taking the SAT I in October.</p>

<p>-APs: I'll have taken 11 by the time I graduate. Ive taken 6 so far and gotten two 4s and four 5s. </p>

<p>ECs
-4 years of Varsity Tennis: several team and league awards, captain next year
-4 years of Key Club: officer position every year, president next year (I'm really devoted to this club. It's the biggest club on campus with about 300 kids involved, and we have created and organized some pretty big community service events for my school and throughout the city)
-Founder of Political Awareness Club
-3 years of NHS and CSF (I don't care about these at all. They're pretty much just things for graduation.)
-So I haven't solved world hunger and I don't have a billion ECs, but I've tried to make a difference in what I have joined. I know it's nothing compared to some of the amazing opportunities that some have had here, so I'm kind of freakin out.</p>

<p>Volunteer Work
-180 hours at a summer camp
-100+ hours with the hospital I used to attend
-Tutoring service with my school. It's twice a week and I work with groups of 3-5 underclassmen.
-200+ hours with Key Club activity</p>

<p>Work Experience
-3 summers at a summer camp</p>

<p>Thank you so much for reading this! I'd appreciate any feedback. :)</p>

2

<p>Class rank? Ethnic background?</p>

<p>Things look pretty good except for Stanford obviously. Don't worry so much about a deficiency in your ECs... they're not bad. There are some absurd lists here on CC but this place warps your perspective I think. While a couple more wouldn't hurt you've demonstrated leadership and initiative in what you have done.</p>

<p>Knowing your class rank would help. ACT/SAT II looks good except for Stanford and Cal-Berkeley. Stanford's admissions seem totally random to me, so I don't how you stack up academically, and Berkeley depends on state residency. Your AP record is great, as is your GPA.</p>

<p>Overall, you're being a bit more downer on your ECs than I think you should be, although with this '09 year I don't want to raise your hopes too much.</p>

<p>I'd appreciate a chance back if you can.</p>

3

<p>Do me a favor and don't take the SAT I; it can only hurt your application. Your ACT is good enough to get you into any college. Seriously, colleges look at a 34 the same as a 35 or 36, so I wouldn't worry about that. The only college you will have trouble getting in is Stanford. The rest look good to me (even Duke).</p>

4

<p>"Seriously, colleges look at a 34 the same as a 35 or 36"</p>

<p>this is misleading, and not the kind of tough-love advice that should be in these threads.</p>

5

<p>Stanford's admissions are random, unpredictable and unfair. Your stats make you a very competitive applicant for sure, but there can be no guarantees. If I were you I'd look into some Ivy League schools.</p>

6

<p>seems good except for stanford and duke</p>

7

<p>Wow you are a very strong applicant. You are in the UC's for shure unless they shrow a curve ball.</p>

8

<p>Thanks for the feedback. Sorry I forgot to put my class rank and my ethnicity. I'm 1/650-700 and I'm white. I know Stanfords a crapshoot and I don't really expect to get in, but my dad will be p*issed if I don't even apply.</p>

9

<p>Might want to look at Holy Cross-near Boston. HC is a smaller version of Notre Dame and Boston College.</p>

10

<p>one word WOW! I doubt you'll have trouble getting in to most of these schools. Have you looked into RPI for a safety? The UC school are probably your safeties right? Please chance me if you get time and good luck even though you probably won't need it?</p>

11

<p>You're probably in at every school except Stanford. You obviously have a good chance but Stanford can be pretty wacky with their acceptances.</p>