generic chances thread (nu, uchi, cornell, among others)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>hi
i'm not really sure how these operate, but let's start</p>

<p>I'm considering applying to Columbia, Brown, Northwestern, Cornell, Emory, UChicago, and Oberlin. Wondering if I should bother. Applying RD.</p>

<p>ACT: 32 (33 E/30 M/28 S/36 R)
33 superscored if that matters (35 E/30 M/31 S/36 R)
PSAT: 189 (lol)
SAT: 2100 (800 CR/680 M/620 W - ouch)*
SAT II: 730 Lit/680 French/660 Math II
APs: 5 in European History, 4 in US History
IB: 4 in Psychology, taking five other IB classes at this point (English HL, Chemistry HL, Math SL, French SL, History HL, which is the most demanding workload my high school offers)
GPA: 4.31 (~3.95 UW)
Class Rank: top 2% in a relatively competitive high school</p>

<ul>
<li>took the sat in december, expecting a slightly better score (2150~2250), but we'll see.</li>
</ul>

<p>ECs are mediocre at best; I've had a lot of anxiety issues in high school and that as well as a lack of communication on my part/my mother's part meant that I didn't participate very often in things. I know that isn't a valid excuse, though. Here you are:
- French Club (9, 10, 11 - Treasurer, 12)
- staff member of my high school's literary magazine
- my high school does this Quiz Bowl-esque activity (12)
- National Honors Society (12)
- Tutoring - French (11-12)
- Volunteer work (far from a substantial amount, though)
- Part of a program in which I talk with diplomats - it's a city-wide thing and I participate occasionally (11-12)
- Helped establish a mock government at the city level (11)</p>

<p>(these are vague, apologies)</p>

<p>Awards:
- Harvard Book Award
- National Achievement Semifinalist
- other than that, not much, just a few local awards</p>

<p>Teacher recommendations should be good, nothing particularly outstanding though (I'm a fairly terrible student). Essays, from what I've heard from others, are solid. I've heard that I'm a great writer, but I have my doubts.</p>

<p>for reference because this might be of some significance:
URM (black male), household income ~$100k, single-parent (parents also never married)
both parents attended college, both received bachelor's degrees
I began playing guitar soon after school started in the fall of this year, and I'm pretty passionate about it at this point.</p>

<p>I really regret going in with no prep. My test scores are fairly unflattering and I feel as if I could have done much better. At this point, I'm wondering if I should bother, especially with Columbia and Brown.</p>

<p>Anyways, thanks for your time.</p>

2

<p>oh, yes, also:</p>

<ul>
<li>AP Scholar award</li>
</ul>

<p>I guess this qualifies as a bump?</p>

3

<p>aaaaaaaah
SAT results came out. Scored a 2190 (770 CR/650 M/770 W). I’m a little disappointed as I thought my math score was stronger, but I thought it was worth mentioning. 2250 superscore, then (800 CR/680 M/770 W), if that matters for any school on my list, which I don’t think it does.</p>

<p>For clarification, I was born in a single-parent household. I myself am not a single parent. So I guess this will be my tenth post, and also my bump. Apologies for being so obnoxious.</p>

4

<p>Of course the Ivies are reaches for everyone, but you definitely have a decent shot, so it’s worth applying. You shouldn’t worry too much about your SAT scores because they’re amazing (but the french & math2 are a little weak). Also, I kind of hate to say this, but being a black male with a 2250 would make you competitive literally everywhere (yes, even HYSP!), and your GPA/rank are impressive as well. The only real weakness I see is in your ECs, and the fact that you come from a single-parent household could cause you trouble with finaid.</p>

<p>I’m not an admissions officer, but I see you getting into Northwestern, Cornell, Emory, and Oberlin, and at least a few of the reaches. Good luck!!</p>