GREAT extracurriculars, gpa, and essays, but my scores suck! I chance back!!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I have a pretty strong app, but my scores are RELATIVELY low for the schools I applied to. </p>

<p>Korean male, CA resident. Low-income. Attending competitive public high school that sends 60 kids to Cal/UCLA each year and 20+ to ivies and ivy caliber schools</p>

<p>GPA</p>

<p>Weighted: 4.64 (5.0 in junior year).
Unweighted: 3.82
Rank: top 10%. School only releases deciles so I don't know where I stand within the top 10%.
ELC (top 4%) - for UCs</p>

<p>Courseload</p>

<p>-4 APs, 1 honors, and 4 college classes this year
-10 APs and 6 college classes by graduation. I will have enough credits by grad to have junior status at Berkeley/UCLA if I choose to enroll there
-Very rigorous courseload</p>

<p>Standardized tests - <em>sigh</em></p>

<p>SAT: 2060
Math: 800
CR: 600
Writing 660 (8 essay)</p>

<p>ACT: 30
English: 35 (10 essay)
Math: 35
Science - 25
Reading - 26</p>

<p>SAT IIs:
World - 760
Math II - 760
Korean - 780
AP scores so far: 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 3. The 3 was a self study.</p>

<p>Extracurricular:</p>

<p>-Work for my dad since freshman year. 20 hrs/week since then and still doing. Have to help out because my dad can't afford to hire anyone else. (wrote a very moving essay on this)
-President of Mu Alpha Theta Charter at my school (for two consecutive years). Mostly a tutoring club. I organize math tutoring sessions. (4 years)
-Vice President of Korean Culture Club (also for two consecutive years). Very much of a community service club. Organize community service activities for members to do. (4 years)
-Peer tutor in school - workshop leader. I teach other peer tutors how to effectively tutor students as well as tutor them myself. (3 years)
-Tutor for special ed kids at local elementary (3 years)
-Paid math tutor in neighborhood (4 years)
-Pacific American Volunteer Association (PAVA) - member for 4 years so far. We perform environmental activities all around LA during weekends.
-Over 500 hrs of comm. service
-Tennis. Good enough to make varsity tennis at our school. (#1 in the city) But had to give up b/c I commute 2 hrs to school everyday and I won't be able to stay in school late due to transportation issues.</p>

<p>Essays:</p>

<p>Possibly the strongest part of my app. Incredible. My counselors thought they were "just amazing." My english teacher from last year is using some of them for an essay writing lecture in her class. Showed my passion for helping others. (tutoring and responsibility at home were my essay topics)</p>

<p>Misc:</p>

<p>Applied for EOP (for UCs)
Used fee waiver for all my apps</p>

<p>I think my extracurriculars, essays, and gpa are great, but I am not too confident about my scores mostly because they are very unbalanced. Do you guys think that my CR score and Reading and Science scores of the ACT will stick out like sore thumbs? I was very hesitant in sending my ACT score because my awful science and reading scores. The reading score, I think, enforces that I have horrible CR skills. And the science score is horrible as well. I only sent in my ACT score because of the high English score that might show that I am better at writing than what my SAT writing score indicates. Oh and if it helps, I only took both tests once (due to test fees) without any prep though there is no way admissions officers will know that.</p>

<p>So what are my chances at: - the parenthesis is the major I applied to.</p>

<p>Berkeley (undeclared - business)
UCLA (bizecon)
Cornell (hotel management)
Dartmouth (math and econ)
Johns Hopkins (math and econ)
U Chicago (math and econ)
WUSTL (math and econ)
Occidental (business)
U Penn (Wharton)
U of Southern California (Marshall business school)</p>

<p>Will appreciate any criticisms (especially regarding my test scores)</p>

<p>Thanks for reading this extremely long post. Please chance me, I will chance you back.</p>

2

<p>There are a lot of reach schools here. While I think Oxy is safe, they often don't offer good aid. Do you have more safety schools?</p>

3

<p>Is my SAT Reasoning and ACT scores really bringing me down that much? =(</p>

<p>I thought I am safe at USC, UCLA, and Berkeley because my UC gpas are very high and above average ACT and SAT scores. </p>

<p>The only thing I can think of that is lacking from my app is my scores and I was hoping that they don't count as much as my other stats. And trust me, my essays are bomb and I am sure I received amazing recs from my teachers and counselor.</p>

4

<p>im in the same boat as you. my ACT is 30</p>

5

<p>You need to look at the common data sets for each of these schools. At most, your CR score does not reach the 25th percentile. As an ORM with no hook, it's a major issue.</p>

<p>Never count on essays to compensate for stats, college admissions does not work that way. You need to add safeties!</p>

<p>Here are the numbers for last year's class at Dartmouth. Keep in mind over 40% of the class has a hook, and it's those students most likely to have lower than median scores.</p>

<p>25th Percentile 75th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading 660 770
SAT Math 670 780
SAT Writing 680 770
SAT Essay
ACT Composite 29 34
ACT Math
ACT English
ACT Writing
C9</p>

<p>The overall class median was 2210: 730CR 740M 740W</p>

6

<p>Oh yeah, my CR score is 610. So its 2070 composite, but I don't that will change anything</p>

<p>Sucks to be ORM =( I have had as much hardship as any URM would have (if they have any).</p>

<p>Oh and both of my parents did not go to college so I am first generation.</p>

<p>I am actually sure I will get into Berkeley, UCLA, and USC. I know a lot about those schools and I am 100% sure I will get into them.</p>

7

<p>uc's and usc definite acceptance. CR is kind of on the low side but i definitely see you getting acceptance into cornell and dartmouth. U Penn is pretty much a gamble- as it is with the other top tier ivies. good luck! and could you chance back in my thread? thanks.</p>

8

<p>Yeah actually everything else in your app looks great except your scores. Even then, your scores will not hurt you at the schools you applied as a math major. 35 math in ACT, 800 and 760 in SAT math and math II respectively is very commendable even at top schools. Excellent GPA and your ECs sounds incredible. I assume that 4.64 is also your fully weighted UC gpa which makes the UC's as your safeties. And having essays of the caliber you stated will certainly distinguish yourself from other applicants. </p>

<p>Your CR scores and reading and science ACT scores are certainly on the low side, but they are unrelated to your major. And I noticed you are a first-gen college student. </p>

<p>Berkeley (undeclared - business) - match
UCLA (bizecon) - match
Cornell (hotel management) - match
Dartmouth (math and econ) - slight reach
Johns Hopkins (math and econ) - match
U Chicago (math and econ) - match
WUSTL (math and econ) - match
Occidental (business) - match
U Penn (Wharton) - slight reach - reach (very competitive to get into Wharton)
U of Southern California (Marshall business school) - match</p>

<p>I have to disagree with hmom5 at your chances in these schools. SATs are not everything. I do think that you stand out as an applicant.</p>

9

<p>Good luck. I am sure you will get into many of them.</p>

10

<p>all of them seem like you re going to get in especially in the uc's and occidental except for Dartmouth because of your sat scores but even at that school it looks like you have a great chance
i don't know about U Penn</p>

<p>Chance me back
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/629350-chance-me-plz.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/629350-chance-me-plz.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

11

<p>Thanks for the detailed input GPAx213. You really boosted up my self-esteem.</p>

<p>yagrammy, sorry but I don't know anything about the schools you are applying to.</p>

<p>Chanced you back wheatbread.</p>

<p>Any opinions? Any criticisms would also be very helpful.</p>

12

<p>Berkeley (undeclared - business) - high match
UCLA (bizecon) - high match
Cornell (hotel management) - reach
Dartmouth (math and econ) - reach
Johns Hopkins (math and econ) - reach
U Chicago (math and econ) - low reach
WUSTL (math and econ) - hih match
Occidental (business) - high match
U Penn (Wharton) - reach
U of Southern California (Marshall business school) - match i THINK, dont know much about this school tho</p>

<p>chance me?
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/626406-i-just-applied-now-i-am-worried.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/626406-i-just-applied-now-i-am-worried.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

13

<p>Please don't let your self esteem get intwined with college acceptances or rejections. Just make sure you have your bases covered with sure safeties. A good read:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/57227-scenario-admissions-disappointment.html?highlight=digmedia%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/57227-scenario-admissions-disappointment.html?highlight=digmedia&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

14

<p>Do your interests in college match your scores, meaning do you indicate interest in areas where math skill predominates? Despite your nasty comment about URMs, you will not necessarily be considered an ORM since you are low income and first generation; this may be an advantage.
I would say a disadvantage at the more worldly schools is your experience seems somewhat narrow as being in your community, working for your dad, invloved in Korean activities; seems a little parochial.
Your record looks good; you are coming across as a little big headed.
Seems like you would be a lock at the top UCs.
good luck.</p>

15

<p>And this:</p>

<p>To all my CC friends. Our family is slowly picking itself up from the devastating blow of college admissions. What we thought would be an exciting and joyous time, has unfortunately turned out to be painful and devastating for all of us. I'm reluctant to post this, but I'd truly like your feedback as to what could have gone wrong. I'll try to explain briefly, but still give you a picture of my s's situation. </p>

<p>My son's second grade teacher said that it was unusual to see a boy who was so intellectually talented not only in mathematics but also in language. Today, a high school senior, he quotes Shakespeare as easily as he writes equations in his physics class. His passion for classical music has brought him joy and wonderful performance opportunities. </p>

<p>This year when he applied to colleges, he selected places where he felt he would be challenged intellectually and that would offer him music opportunities such as good music teachers and fellow students whom he could perform with on a comparable level. His teachers and guidance counselor thought his list commensurate with his love of learning, grades, test scores and course load.</p>

<p>He's one of 12 National Merit Scholars from our very competitive suburban HS, and four of the other winners -his peers- have been accepted at Stanford, Harvard, MIT and Brown. (don't yet know about the others) He's won other types of awards but listing his stats here is not my point.</p>

<p>The results were as follows:</p>

<p>Waitlisted at Oberlin, Swarthmore and Wash U
Rejected at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, U Penn and Columbia</p>

<p>Many other kids at our HS were accepted at Oberlin with lower stats, but he filled in truthfully the question of where else he was applying. Did they wait- list him because they thought they were being used as a back -up school?</p>

<p>He had to check off that he was applying for financial aid because we are not a high income family and have another child in college. Does applying for financial aid when you're an over -represented majority from an over represented geographical area have a negative effect even at need blind schools? </p>

<p>So as not to dwell on disappointment he's looking into applying to the University of Edinburgh for science, as it's not yet past their deadline, and is going to pursue his waitlist status at Swarthmore by sending in his latest accomplishments and additional recommendations. </p>

<p>I'd appreciate any of your thoughts.
Thanks so much.
andi</p>

16

<p>What is high match? Is it better than a match?</p>

<p>Chanced you back.</p>

<p>And hmom5, I already gained admission to all the lower tier UCs because of my ELC status. Again, UC's are my SURE safeties. Only two people in my school have higher UC GPAs than me (in a school where 60+ kids go to UCLA/Berkeley every year) and even my scores are higher than UCLA/Berkeley averages.</p>

<p>You really think I won't get into these schools huh? Don't worry, I will get letters of acceptance come March/April. And I am not the type to get disappointed by rejection letters which I am sure I will get some. Sorry but the link is irrelevant to me.</p>

17

<p>My experiences of working for my dad is complete opposite of parochial. I had to secure business deals, file tax forms, and have various responsibilities that most people my age have never had to deal with. Sorry, if I sounded "big headed," but that was not what I intended. And yes I THOROUGHLY indicated my interest in areas where math skills predominates in the schools I am applying as a math major.</p>

<p>And I don't see how my comment about URM was "nasty". I merely pointed out the fact that I do not like affirmative action.</p>

<p>But thanks okgal and hmom, I appreciate criticisms</p>

18

<p>I have no idea if you'll get in. I do know that UC apps are way up and many who would have gotten in last year will not get in this year. Just wanted to make sure there were safeties.</p>

19

<p>heres how i chance:</p>

<p>high reach - no chance
reach - alomost no chance
low reach - small chance
high match - competitive, but will need amazing essays, recs, etc and prolly a hook
match - 50/50 chance of getting in
low match - more than 50 percent chance, but no garentee
safety - 100% chance ( i only use this for schools with pretty high acceptance rates ALOHNG WITH when the applicant's scores are above/in top 25 percent)</p>

20

<p>Thanks for the concern hmom, but I was notified of acceptance at UC Davis when I was notified of ELC. And subsequently received notifications from other UCs in later weeks.</p>

<p>Okay thanks for clarifying that swirlygirl</p>