Help me choose colleges please!

College Search & Selection
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<p>I'm at the end of Junior year, and I haven't really thought about which colleges I would like to go to. I am thinking UC Berkeley as that is the local college, and it is prestigious and a top-tier school as well. But I really want to expand my views. I am also thinking about UCLA and UCSD, and perhaps a few other UC's. However, I would also love to go to the East and go to a private school (even an ivy league if that's at all possible). </p>

<p>Anyways, here are my stats:</p>

<p>9th grade classes are typical: english, geometry, biology, french I, ect. I didn't get to take honors classes since my small high school doesn't offer it. 4.0</p>

<p>10th grade: English acc, World Hist acc, Alg II/trig, Chemistry H, French II. Got all A's except one B in english second semester. The classes were the most advanced I could take. There weren't any AP's.</p>

<p>11th: English H, APUSH, Anatomy H, Physics, French III, Precal. No H for physics and precal and french since school didn't offer. All A's except B's in English and Anatomy second semester.</p>

<p>12th: AP literature, AP Environmental science, AP Calculus BC, French IV H, Gov/Econ H. (grades hopefully in the A's and B's mostly the former)</p>

<p>EC's:
-Played piano for about 6 years. Have done "piano exams" (CM) for the past 4 and will play in a competition.
-Play piano in church worship band once every two weeks.
-School orchestra for Junior Year.
I know my EC's are very limited (only music) but I don't really know what to do at this point.</p>

<p>Class rank: currently 1 out of 419 but that could change in senior year. I will be in the top 10% though I predict.</p>

<p>SAT I: 730 V, 580 M, 590 W for 1900 total. However, I haven't gotten my scores for the June SAT so they will be higher.</p>

<p>SAT II's: USH-770
(will retake lit and math ii, got 660 on them)</p>

<p>So, what do you think about my chances at Berkeley and LA? Also please reccomend some schools on the East coast that are matches and reaches. Do I have ANY chance at all at ANY ivy league? </p>

<p>Thanks a lot for your time.</p>

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<p>Oh I should also add that I am first-generation immigrant and college student. I am Vietnamese from California.</p>

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<p>Oh also I am low-income.</p>

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<p>You can always edit your original post rather than posting multiple replies ;)</p>

<p>Your SATs are very low and ECs are pretty weak. Your rank is obviously good, but you will have to bring your SAT to at least 700 in each section if you want a shot at top schools.</p>

<p>Make sure you don't focus solely on schools known for their music: They will have a lot of applicants whose ECs are mostly music-related, and you need to stand out from the rest of the applicant pool.</p>

<p>Since you're from Cali and you're high-ranked, I'd say you have a very good chance at the UCs. I'm not so sure about Ivies, but you can at least look into them.</p>

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<p>Yeah I will definetly work to get each SAT I and II up to 700. Is it too late do you think to do some community service this summer? What if I self-study some AP tests? Will that help me, and how will colleges know I do this if I do this senior year?</p>

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<p>Go for the community service (though if it suspiciously shows up the summer before senior year, I hope it's something you're passionate about). I don't think self-studying AP tests is likely to put you at a huge advantage. Instead, spend a lot of time writing so that your essays will be top-notch. Chat with your GC about your college goals (if he/she knows you, your school recs will be better). Do a ton of research, and e-mail the colleges that interest you to get answers you can't find in their viewbook or website.</p>

<p>Also, I hope you have teachers in mind for your teacher recs.</p>

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<p>Most schools require one rec from a teacher and one from a GC? How does it work at most schools? And I heard UC's don't require recs?</p>

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<p>In which subject do you want to major?</p>

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<p>Most schools require 2 teacher recs and a school rec filled out by the GC.</p>

<p>I checked the admission factors for a couple of UCs on collegeboard.com, and I guess you're right...they don't require recs? Strange though, most colleges do.</p>

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<p>UCs don't take recs and they only look at soph and jr. years. You must go to an extremely unusual CA public school to be number one in your class with even a single B. Most CA publics have dozens of perfect A students tied for number one. For Cal and LA, you need higher SAT scores, but they will be more in reach than top privates where you would need MUCH higher SAT scores.</p>

<p>It's not strange that UCs don't want recs. With hundreds of applicants they couldn't possibly read them all. They are highly quantative in who they accept.</p>

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<p>"With hundreds of applicants they couldn't possibly read them all."</p>

<p>Strange, it seems that there are colleges with hundreds of applicants who DO take recs. I assume that they are read, or at least skimmed. </p>

<p>Of course, skipping the recs makes a much more streamlined approach to admissions.</p>

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<p>Yeah I guess it's kind of strange I am number one with one B, but my high school is in an inner-city area with not too many high performing students. Out of the people I asked, I have the higest SAT score out of all of them, so that says a lot about the school. </p>

<p>I don't know what I want to major in yet. It's really unclear at this point. My interests conflict with what I think I am going to major in. On one hand I think I'm stronger in the humanities, such as history and English, but I think a major in a science or engineering would be a better choice for finding a career. So at this point I'm not sure.</p>

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<p>I meant to say hundreds of thousands. Some UC campuses have 25,000 plus undergrads. Lots of state schools admit not reading recs unless the applicant is borderline. This myth of adcoms taking hours to get to know the real you is just that, a myth.</p>

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<p>Your SATs are not that low, I think you have a chance at the UCs. I mean don't get me wrong, you would be much better off with higher SAT scores, but oh well. I would say no to the Ivys, but check out schools like U of Miami, Boston U, American U, and George Washington on the east coast.</p>

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<p>If I got my SAT's into the 2100+ range (which I think is possible with more practice, the 1900 was my first time w/o studying) and SAT II's into the 700+ range as well, would Georgetown be within reach? I know it's a big reach at this point but I would like input anyways.</p>

<p>Thanks for everyone that has contributed so far.</p>

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<p>bump? ten char</p>

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<p>virtuoso reply to my PM please.</p>

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<p>if you're looking at the UC's try checking out <a href="http://www.theu.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.theu.com&lt;/a>, they have some really good reviews that could help you figure out which one is best for you. i know UCSD doesn't have much of a night life so if you're looking for a party scene, that one isn't for you</p>

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<p>bump? Can someone help me compile a list of suitable colleges? I'm not too knowledgable...</p>