Estimate for Chances at: Yale, UChicago, Middlebury? Thanks!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Good evening! To cut to the chase, I'm a current junior who's very involved in ECs and is academically passionate, but a bit lacking in GPA and outside activities. This makes me a bit unsure of my actual chances in some schools; any input (and advice on what/how to improve!) would be wonderful.</p>

<p>So, I would like some evaluation on my chances for:</p>

<p>-Yale (and Ivy Leagues in general)
-Middlebury
-UChicago</p>

<p>Testing:</p>

<p>-29 on ACT freshman year
-Taking ACT and SAT junior year at least once each, then again senior year
-Hoping to get at least a 32 on ACT</p>

<p>GPA Unweighted: 3.7</p>

<p>Classes (if everything goes according to plan):</p>

<p>-10 AP (tests) by time of graduation
-3 Honors Classes
-Most likely a 5 on the AP Spanish, French, and Chinese tests
-Nontraditional advancement in English, Spanish, and Math
-Took extra courses (course compacting, online, and over summer)
-Will take total of 8 classes at local university by graduation through Youth Options
-Tested into AP French from Independent study (no previous French)</p>

<p>Student Organizations (strongest area) 2009-2011:</p>

<p>Gay-Straight Alliance (Freshman member, Soph. and Junior Pres.)
Interfaith Club (Soph Pres.)
Political Debate Club (Soph. Member, Junior Co-Pres.)
Earth Society(Soph. member)
Mariachi Band (Junior member)
Yearbook (Freshman editor)
String Choir (Soph/Junior Member)
Book Club (Fresh., Soph., Junior Member)
Math League (Fresh. Member, one has to test in)
Chamber Orchestra (Junior Member)
French Club (Soph. Member, Junior Co-Pres.)
Spanish conversation club (Junior Member)
Principal's Student Advisory Council (Junior Member)
Creative Writing Club (Soph. Member, Junior VP)
Mock Trial (Junior Defense Attorney).</p>

<p>Outside (weakest area?):</p>

<p>-Involved with local PFLAG, attended national lobbying conference in D.C.
-Work with state-wide LGBT youth organization, presenting conferences at workshops, served as youth staff at activist camp
-Volunteer with local PAC
-Planning on heavy campaign volunteering (in 2012 presidential election)
-At least 100 volunteer hours by time of graduation</p>

<p>Various:</p>

<p>-Selected as area rep to conference for rural education in D.C.
-Work with a brand-new, education-focused, student-run nonprofit
-Develop resources with a group for transgender youth
-One of two state reps to national GSA conference
-Viola from 5th grade until graduation, selected for regional Youth Honors Orchestra sophomore year
-Davidson Institute Young Scholar</p>

2

<p>I don’t like chancing, but I can try to find ways you can improve up to the time you apply.</p>

<p>Work on the GPA and ACT, of course. I think you’ll be in range for Middlebury if you can get them up to 3.8+ and 33+. Also, essays and recs are important, so they might give you a push.</p>

<p>A lot of your school ECs seem like joke ECs. I wouldn’t list things like Earth society, book club, math league (unless you compete), Spanish conversation club, etc. They sound like things that have meetings for an hour once every 3 weeks and nothing else. Colleges will see right through that, and it might even make you a less attractive candidate than if you didn’t list those activities.</p>

<p>On the other hand, I think your political-oriented and music ECs both in and out of school look good. I think you should focus on those because it seems like that’s what you’re passionate about. Don’t just be president of a club; do something with your position. For example, you can start an LGBT bullying awareness campaign around your school and in your community.</p>

3

<p>I agree with CORVIDS^</p>

<p>Honestly, being part of a million clubs doesnt do anything. I can literally join every club on campus and list that I was part of it for four years. I’d say the ECs you have are quite normal, and nothing stellar.</p>

4

<p>Very good point; I’ll focus more on my leadership positions and the various campaigns I’ve led. If on an application there’s just a section to flat-out list ECs, should I still list those in which I’ve just been a member? Of course, in essays, they won’t come up.</p>

5

<p>No, I wouldn’t put them on the list. They look like resume padders, so they might leave adcoms with a negative impression of your character (doing things just to impress others). Also, they make your list of ECs less cohesive, so it’s harder to figure out what you’re actually interested in.</p>

6

<p>Any other advice/chances?</p>