harvard shoo-in?! (ha, i wish)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>thank you so much in advance – i really, really appreciate this! I’m thinking about early action (right now, Yale, if possible), but based on my junior year grades (2 B+), should I wait to apply regular so my senior year grades show all As? also, any suggestions for improvement or safety schools would be great =) </p>

<p>STATS:
Rising senior
School type: competitive suburban public school
GPA. 3.86 (5 B+, 1 B, rest all A's in all three years)
Top 10 percentish; all honors and APs whenever possible
Math: 740
Writing: 790
CR: 730
SAT I: 2260 (superscore), 2250 (no superscore)
SAT 2s Math - 750 Math II - 700 US (will retake in november, along with lit for first time),
APs : US History (5), European History (5), Psychology (5), Biology (5), Calculus BC (3)</p>

<p>EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:
Published writer for nationally distributed, award-winning health magazine (also my job; published several articles, appeared on TV, written pamphlet – 10, 11, 12)
School newspaper (News Editor, Copyeditor – 10, 11, 12)
Literary magazine (Editor-in-Chief – 9, 10, 11, 12)
Student Government (Senior Class President, Junior Class Vice President – 10, 11, 12))
Model UN (some Delegate Awards – 10, 11, 12)
Amnesty International (President, Secretary – 10, 11, 12)
Cross Country (9, 10, 11)
Yearbook (10, 11, 12)</p>

<p>AWARDS AND HONORS:
AP Scholar with Distinction
Commended Student
National Honor Society
NCTE Writing Awards Nominee (will find out results in October)
Winner of national short story contest (name disclosed for privacy reasons, but it’s not that prestigious)
Published in various local and regional newspapers and magazines (freelance journalist…have own column in local magazine)</p>

<p>WORK AND VOLUNTEER WORK:
Health Magazine (mentioned above)
Volunteer at local hospital, community center etc. (10, 11, 12)
All my freelance writing for local papers and magazines (10, 11, 12)</p>

<p>INTERESTED SCHOOLS:</p>

<p>Harvard
Yale
Princeton
UPenn
Brown
Dartmouth
Columbia
Northwestern
Georgetown
University of Chicago
Stanford
Tufts
Duke
Cornell
Johns Hopkins
Wash U in St. Louis</p>

2

<p>I would say if you apply to every school you listed, you will get into at least 3-4.</p>

3

<p>how did u get a job as a published writer for such a renowned magazine? I don’t know of many magazines that would hire a high school student.</p>

4

<p>Most likely acceptances at Georgetown, UChicago, Tufts, WashU, Johns Hopkins, and Duke.</p>

5

<p>Are you planning on applying to all 16 schools on your list, or are they just schools you’re interested in? Though you have a shot at some of them, you may jeopardize your chances if you indeed plan on applying to all of them. You could spend time applying to few less, and making each application great.
Your list is also eerily similar to the top 15 schools on U.S. news rankings (all ivies and top non-ivy schools), which makes me wonder whether you’re interested in the schools for their pure prestige or for actual fit. But if these are truly the schools you’re set on, I don’t mean to dissuade you.
Overall, your GPA may hinder you, but your SAT’s are pretty good. Aim for 750+ on the SAT IIs you will be taking/re-taking. Your EC’s are great and probably the best part of your app, especially if your majoring in english, journalism, or something like that. Keep in mind, a good deal of your schools of interest are unpredictable w/ admissions even for good students like you. So here’s my take:</p>

<p>Harvard, Yale, Princeton,Dartmouth, Stanford-Reach (They are for mostly everyone)
UPenn, Brown, Columbia, Duke-Reach/Low Reach
Northwestern, UChicago, Cornell-Slight reach
Prestigious matches/safeties to look at: vanderbilt, emory, UVA, Boston College, Rice</p>

<p>A lot will ride on your essays and recs. because many applicants will have similar/better stats. Since you seem to be an accomplished writer use this to your advantage and write kick-ass essays…good luck to you :)</p>

<p>If you can chance me back:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/962989-chance-nervous-rising-senior-please.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/962989-chance-nervous-rising-senior-please.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>thank you very much for all the great advice! i know my list does seem to be all the prestigious schools, but i haven’t had a chance to visit any colleges yet, so right now that’s the most updated version.</p>

7

<p>HYP are unlikely with current stats. Penn or Duke ED would be a reach but probably your best shot at a top school.</p>

8

<p>If your position as a writer is really as prestigious as it sounds, then it can be considered a hook (although maybe not for HYP). You seem to have dedicated a lot of effort to writing. I believe Duke, Penn, Cornell, etc. are low reaches/high matches, and anything under would be matches.</p>