Entering junior year-how are my prospects looking?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a bengali male in a public school in Connecticut. Freshman year was a disaster...my GPA was 3.2(I know, UGGH). I had virtually no extracurriculars that year; however, I did do a science project that was a finalist in the statewide science fair; I played varsity tennis(which may not be such an accomplishment considering that there was no JV team and our varsity was pretty much anyone willing to play), and was in the orchestra(still am).</p>

<p>This year, I took
AP US History - B(grade might be changed)
Hns Alg 2 - A
Hns Spanish 3 -A-
Hns Bio - A-
English - B+
Orchestra - A
Health - B+
PE - A
GPA was 3.75 with the APUSH weighting(still don't know how I did on the AP exams). I got a 2040 on the PSATS IIRC(which dont count yet because I am taking them junior year)with scores of 690m,670cr,680w. I took the SATIIs for biology and history, getting 720/690 respectively. The only problem I have with test taking is stupid mistakes; I can't stop myself from racing through the standardized tests. Unfortunately, again, this year, I had virtually no ECs(crap crap crap). I was going to play lacrosse(did tons of work preseason), but got kicked off due to circumstances beyond my control. This basically left my stranded, as by the time this happened, the spring sports season was well on its way. However, Junior year, I am taking these courses:
AP Physics
AP Comp Sci
AP Calculus
AP Comparative Politics
Hns English
Hns Spanish
Orchestra
Gym/Health</p>

<p>I've calculated that I'll be able to get a maximum GPA of 4.5 junior year; I don't think I'll have that much trouble with the AP courses because I truly do enjoy physics, programming and calculus. I know I'll enjoy AP CP as well because the teacher is phenomenally good. I'll also do a lot more extracurriculars: I'll join the honors society, volunteer at the local hospital throughout the year, probably join academic team, definitely join an electronics/computers club, and work my ass before spring to make it onto varsity lacrosse. Maybe it's a bit early to be thinking about college...nah, not possible. Anyways, I'm definitely hoping to major in biophysics in college, or perhaps aerospace engineering. As you've probably noticed, I'm geared more towards math and science, but I still love writing quite a lot: In fact, I'm almost certain I'll have no trouble writing a college essay. I'm looking to get into:
1. M.I.T
2. Yale
3. Stanford
4. Caltech
5. Dartmouth
6. Cornell</p>

<p>Yes, I know...Ivy League overload...and perhaps these colleges may not be a good fit for me. I honestly have no clue if they are; on top of all that, these seem like reach/fit colleges for me. I have no clue what to pursue as far as safeties(or if these are all reaches, what to pursue as far as fits). I hope you guys will help me...I'm rather confused right now.</p>

<p>One last thing: I love competition. I absolutely thrive on competition: real competition where someone's loss is someone elses gain. I do not find any forms of intellectual competitions; any advice?</p>

2

<p>well you can look at each schools (in the US) average SAT scores on the collegeboard website. I don't know about ur chances to get into any Ivy Leagues though. people who go to ivys are really really really really really smart. like almost no Bs. for instance. I have a 3.91 (unweighted-I'm a to-be-senior and I'm an IB student) with a decent SAT score (in my opinion) and a ton of community service and I know I have almost no chance into all of those schools. (except Cornell). maybe the sports might help u. (but not That much). yea... I hope I didn't ruin any dreams or anything. (u should do some research online-like on google or something)</p>

<p>In my opinion, ur SATs are pretty good (not good enough. yet.. for ivy league schools), but yea.. ur GPA would probably hinder you.</p>

<p>this is an example of the statistics of MIT students (from collegeboard) (note the words middle 50%). </p>

<p>Middle 50% of
SAT Reasoning Verbal: 690 - 770
SAT Reasoning Math: 740 - 800
ACT Composite: 31 - 34 </p>

<p>97% in top 10th of graduating class
100% in top quarter of graduating class
100% in top half of graduating class </p>

<p>well good luck!!</p>

3

<p>I don't really care so much about WHERE it is I go to; I simply want the most challenging, intellectually stimulating experience I can find. As I've said before, I haven't really had much that challenges me in the way I am looking for...sure rote memorization for history was hard, but not in the way I like. I am not going to brag, but I would hazard to say that perhaps I am what you would consider really really really really really really really smart...but I've got so many emotional issues right now...it's been incredibly tough to focus freshman & sophomore year; it seems like the harder I try, the harder it gets. Well, It's 2 a.m, I'll mull this over some more and reply to (hopefully more) responses. Thanks regardless, good2shoes!</p>

4

<p>With your gpa and sats, these colleges are all reaches for you. Try your local state college.</p>

<p>If you were cali resident
UCSD - match</p>

<p>oos reach</p>

5

<p>those are all big reaches (they are for everyone). you desperately need matches and safeties.
can you tell us a little bit about what you are looking for in a school? size, location, student body type, etc?</p>

6

<p>I just read on here that being asian is equivalent to -50 or -100 on the sat. And that's on the old SAT. Ouch. Looks like I'm going to have to work my ass off this year and do insane prep for the PSAT and SAT...</p>

7

<p>um no, theyre not going to penalize you for being asian.</p>

8

<p>I sure hope that's the case :( either way, I'll still need to work hard on SAT prep...not to mention find some safety schools/matches.</p>