Final chance thread before sending out apps - brutally honest and painfully detailed

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey guys, I’ve done a few chance threads before but I don’t think I was being completely honest with myself or you guys. If I want accurate chances, I’ve got to put it all out there, because some of my schools don’t allow score choice. So here are all the scores, all the details, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Weighted GPA: 97.3/100. I don’t know my unweighted GPA as the school does not release them. I have an extremely rigorous courseload, the most rigorous courseload of anyone else in my grade.

Rank: 12/106. This puts me one slot away from top 10%. This might be a killer. I struggle a bit in school because I have a really hard time paying attention in class, I’m actually undergoing official testing for attention issues right now. I believe I’m a lot smarter than my grades show, but it’s just been impossible for me to come out on top in the high school system. I know there is no way for colleges to know this, and I can’t really write it on my application without sounding like I’m making excuses so I’m just gonna have to hope for the best.

I always liked to pretend the June 6 SAT never happened because I was thrown off a lot by the Collegeboard mix up, but I can’t ignore it any longer. I have no choice but to send it to Penn and Tufts (no score choice allowed!) I’ve taken 3 SATs, but I am only going to send the last 2 to schools that allow score choice.
SAT scores:

June 2015 - 700 CR 630 M 640 W for a 1970 Composite pukes
October 2015 - 750 CR 680 M 750 W for a 2180 Composite
December 2015 - 710 CR 750 M 800 W for a 2260 Composite

So that brings me to a 2300 superscore. I’m not sure if they are going to look at it badly because the 2300 is only my superscore and not a single sitting, but my guidance counselor told me that it is looked at basically the same as getting a 2300 single sitting so I’ve been treating it as such. Hopefully my colleges do, too.

My subject tests are just flat out atrocious. I took a few early on and did really bad so I rushed to take more in November, but then I did bad on those too lol.

October 2013 - 600 Bio M
June 2014 - 610 World History
November 2015 - 620 Math II (Yikes) 670 Physics 690 Math I

I have some ACTs as well but I didn’t really send them out unless I had to

June 2015 - 29 - I had to pee SO bad during this test omg. I couldn’t focus long enough to finish the test and I bubbled in “b” for 16 questions. I don’t know how I got a 29 I honestly expected like a 17.
September 2015 - 32

So I sent all scores to Penn and Tufts, I sent my two good SAT Is, Math I, and Physics to Princeton and Columbia, and I sent just my two good SAT Is to Vanderbilt because Vandy doesn’t require or “recommend” subject tests.

APs - World History (3), Music Theory (3), US History (4), Physics I (4), English Lang & Comp (5), Environmental sci (5)

My ECs are very good, at least I think so. My essays are stellar. My GC said my rec letters were “beautiful” but who knows

ECs:

Robotics team (9-12), Captain (12) Head programming developer (12)
Worked to create school partnership with the nonprofit organization Girls Who Code to encourage middle school girls to explore computer science. - wrote my essay about this
Self-taught JavaScript, HTML & CSS
Math team (9-12). Among the top 5 scorers from my school. Captain (12)
Music: School chorus. 6 years of classical/operatic vocal training. Soprano 1. Invited to All-County chorus 7 times. Perfect score on Level VI NYSSMA (for non-New Yorkers, NYSSMA a vocal festival where you sing for judges and are given a score out of 100. Level VI is the hardest level.) President of Tri-M Music Honor Society.
Cast of theater productions (9-12). Lead roles.
Member of National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society.
Virtual Tutoring (11-12). 30+ volunteer hours.
Hospital volunteer (11). 50 Hours
Attended a math class for gifted and talented students (10).
Work experience: summer camp counselor (9,10) Worked as a cashier at two different stores (10-11), Cantor at my local church (12)
Varsity tennis (9-12). MVP Award (11)
JV Softball (9-11), Captain (11). Varsity Softball (12)

I have published research in the computer science field and it was presented at a conference.
I also organized and created an anti-bullying mural in the middle school all on my own.

Awards: Nothing major. National Merit Commended, AP Scholar with Distinction, and I was given a fancy title from my gifted math class as a talented scholar or something. A Honor Roll, Scholar Athlete. 50 Hours award for volunteering 50 hours at the hospital.

I already got into my safeties and matches, so this thread is for my reaches: UPenn, Tufts, Vanderbilt, Columbia, and Princeton. I’m a girl applying for CS, which hopefully will help me a bit, not sure if it counts as a “hook” though. Other than that, I have no hooks. I am applying for financial aid. I know I have a lot of weaknesses, especially my rank and my subject tests. I honestly have already prepared myself for rejection. At least I’m very hyped up about one of my safety schools, so I know I’ll be happy no matter what happens.

Be brutally honest, I can take it :wink:

2

The Ivies are all crapshoots for anyone, but your stats are competitive. You are, however, in good shape for Vandy and Tufts. Good luck.

3

Thank you @londondad! I appreciate anyone who reads this giant long post

4

I’m starting to second guess what I said about my ECs being “very good” after reading everyone else’s chance threads today

Also - should I send my 32 ACT to Princeton Columbia and Vandy? I didn’t want to because of the fee but would it help if I did?

5

Your ECs seem compelling.

6

2260 is much better than a 32. Send the SAT. Your subject test scores are weak for these schools.

7

I know that my subject tests are horrendous. Is it an automatic rejection?

8

I think your SAT 2 scores are going to hurt you at these schools. I’m sorry to say that but you asked for brutal honesty. I hope you are finding a way to be happy about the schools where you have been accepted. Being a female applying to CS - along with stellar essays - helps you.

9

Yes I know I asked for brutal honesty and I appreciate it very much @suzy100

10

I mean… Youve basically already classifies all of these as reaches yourself… Hard to be much more specific because admission so subjective at those schools. Princeton is a high reach, penn is a reach, vandy and tufts are lowe reaches. My bet is you get into either tufts or vandy (although you could get rejected at both… Just too subjectivd to really tell), waitlisted or rejected at penn, and rejected at princeton… You have a stong app, but without any hooks, its hard to be optimistic

11

Your SAT Subject test scores are awful, but everything else looks pretty good. I’m sure you’ll get into a top 20 school somewhere!

12

Good Resume you have built up there
Penn- reach
Tufts- high match
Vanderbilt- high match, they love high test scores and your 2300 is great
Princeton- reach
Columbia- reach
Id say you will get into one of tufts/vanderbilt :slight_smile:

13

Your SAT 2 scores are going to hurt you a lot at all of these places. Other than that, your academics, ECs, etc. are honestly, amazing. Could you retake your SAT 2 tests in January? If you score more than 700/750 on two of them, I’d say that you can get into most of the places that you’ve listed

14

Since the SAT IIs are optional for all your schools, then you don’t have to send them. They are really low, and could hurt your chances a lot. I’m pretty sure you can use score choice (or not send anything) for the SAT IIs, since they are optional to begin with. But, you absolutely have to send in your three sittings for the SAT. (You don’t have to send in the ACT, because your SAT is better.)

Overall, here’s what I think:

UPenn-Reach
Tufts- High Match/Low Reach
Vanderbilt- High Match
Princeton- Reach
Columbia- Reach

15

I begged my parents after opening my scores to let me retake subject tests but they said no. Thanks all for your input. My parents also told me that I won’t be allowed to look into Vanderbilt because it’s too far from home, but I’m going to try my best to change that.

I already sent my subject tests to Princeton, Columbia, Penn and Tufts, since they said it was recommended unless of a “financial hardship” so I didn’t really want to get involved in that.

16

I just texted my parents to ask if I could use my Christmas money to sign up for one last round of subject tests. They are probably going to say no. Let’s all pray. If they say yes, will these schools accept the January test, or is it too late? And what can I use to study? I’ve never studied for them before. I have a difficult time studying, but I’ll try my best if it will give me a chance

17

Get a decent review book and skim the material, then work through some practice tests. Look at your errors to see if there is a general area of weakness. If there is not, then analyze each error to find why you missed it, and then take another practice test. Go back and review as necessary. Watch Khan Academy videos if the review book doesn’t explain a concept well, or look through your old textbook from the corresponding course if possible. Good luck!

18

Thank you! I’ve laid out a very compelling argument to my mom but she is giving me sass. Maybe if I keep throwing out really good logic she’ll see why it’s worth it. Everybody keep your fingers crossed for me.

Update: She sent me something that I think she thinks is an emoticon. It looks like this: “Zx”. I have no idea what this means. If any of you are fluent in mom terminology, please explain.

19

Do your parents not care about your college choice? They’re denying you the opportunity to take your SAT Subject Tests again… and instead forcing you to use your CHRISTMAS MONEY? What the… does anyone else see something really wrong here? Parents should be SUPPORTIVE, especially with regards to college.

20

Lol. I got a yes, albeit a very angry one.