Help Out Student in Dilemma(By chancing)? I chance back

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

So I am a rising senior and I am trying to apply to the following schools. I would appreciate any input on which schools would be my reach/match/safety(doubt there’s any safeties here). It’s a dilemma because I’m not quite sure where to use Early Decision. I’m really into Columbia, but I don’t want to use Early Decision if my chances are dismally low. I would apply as a statistics major to all these schools.

The schools are:

Objective:
Columbia CC-My preferred ED
Cornell CAS
NYU Stern-Finance major here
Northwestern WCAS
University of Michigan CLSA
University of Chicago

SAT I (breakdown):
3 sittings
1st: 1890 (10th grade don’t ask me why)
2nd: 2260 (730 CR 800 M 730 WR)
3rd: 2330 (730 CR 800 M 800 WR)

ACT (breakdown): N/A

SAT II (place score in parentheses): Chem (730), World History (720), US History (720+), Math 2 (750+) I don’t know the last 2 yet, they come out soon.

Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): About a 3.85 (Mostly As, couple of A+ and A- and 1 B+, but our school doesn’t do unweighted)

Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 4%-6% out of about 400 people (I don’t quite know yet)

AP (place score in parentheses): AP Chem 4, APWH 4, AP Micro 4(self-studied), AP Physics 1, AP English Language, AP Psychology (self-studied), AP Statistics, APUSH. The ones with no scores, I don’t know yet because they come out soon.

IB (place score in parentheses): N/A

Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc BC, AP Biology, AP Literature, AP Government and Politics, AP Chinese, Cambridge Research Course II, Health(FREAKING REQUIRED), Study Hall

Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Semifinalist, National AP Scholar(pending), Lots of DECA State medals, 2nd in State for Economics Competition

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses):

-Economics Club-(10-12)-President/Founder (Taught others basic economics and the club, as three teams with three each competed at a National/State level competition and came in 2nd, 4th, and 5th in the state)
-DECA-(9-12)-VP (Currently have most medals in club)
-Asian Cultural Club-(9-12)-President-Over 150 hours of service for raising money for charities in Asia such as the Hainan Typhoon Relief
-Interact Club-(9-12)-President (Over 150 hours of community service)
-Speech and Debate Team-(9-12)-Treasurer and won local awards
-Varsity Swimming-(8-12)
-Varsity Crew-(9-12)
-Martial Arts-(8-12)-Black Belt

Job/Work Experience: Tutored for about 50 hours paid

Volunteer/Community Service: Asian Club and Interact Club

Summer Activities: Interning for American Statistical Association

Essays: 7-9/10 Very confident

Teacher Recommendations: Math Teacher 8/10, AP English Teacher 10/10

Counselor Rec: Great 10/10, Columbia alumni, knows me well

State (if domestic applicant): NY
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Large to medium public
Ethnicity: Asian lolz
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: $75,000-$100,000

2

NU I’d think you’d get in ED. Cornell most likely also and Michigan too (Idk enough about Stern). UChicago has early action but they defer everyone but since it’s not ED you could apply EA to UChicago and apply ED somewhere else. Columbia you definitely have a shot but it is risker to do ED because it’ll probably lock you out of at least one (or more) of your other top 3 highest ranked schools (Northwestern, UChicago, or Cornell) if you get rejected or deferred Columbia ED. I think if you’re still set on Columbia by September you might as well apply ED there because odds are you will still get into at least one of your main backups RD, though you may possibly have less choice if your unlucky. After more research and possibly a visit you start to feel that you equally like any of your other schools as much as Columbia you might want to ED to that school instead (because it would help you with NU or Cornell) because you odds are a little higher there. All the schools on your list are GREAT schools with lots of prestige and I’m sure you’ll get into at least one of them. Make sure you consider all factors too (like cost/financial aid if needed, location, etc) before applying ED because it can make all the difference. Good Luck!

3

@Heisenbergyk thanks for the input! Really appreciate it. lmk if you want me chancing you

4

Your stats look excellent! You have a really diverse amount of ECs and solid grades. I am positive you will get into Stern and UMich. You have a great shot at NU, UChicago and even Cornell. To be honest, ED does not affect your chances that much as the acceptance rates are higher due to recruited athletes and students with legacy. Thus, if Columbia is your top choice, I would ED it as you have a great shot at the other schools. Make sure in your essays to focus on your individuality and not to fit in the typical top student mold. Good luck with everything!

5

@collegenerd1234 Thanks for the input! lmk if you want me chancing you

6

You have great stats! I think you have your best shot at Cornell ED, but if Columbia is truly your favorite then you should use it there. I think you will get into Michigan and NYU, and have a decent shot at the other two. Good luck!

7

thanks! i hope my chancing helped you! @ptkid16

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Columbia CC-My preferred ED: I think with ED you have a chance of being accepted, but still I think its a low to mid reach.
Cornell CAS: Match
NYU Stern-Finance major here: Match
Northwestern WCAS: Low Reach (unless you apply ED)
University of Michigan CLSA: Match
University of Chicago: Low Reach

9

@SternBusiness thanks

10

@SternBusiness what do you think it would be if i did ED for NW

11

I think you would get in. RD their acceptance percentage is <10%(I think 7-8) but ED it is 34%.

12

I’m just curious. Why do people feel like they have to apply ED somewhere? Cant you just do EA and save yourself the trouble of committing to a college? idk about a lot of this stuff; just going by the 10 minute presentation we had about college apps and deadlines last month…

13

@marie122 it’s because at most colleges ED gives you an even higher chance at getting in than EA, because they know you will be coming for sure.

14

No weak spots in your application, good gpa, good sat scores, a lot of extracurriculars/leadership positions. I think you have a good chance of getting into nyu Michigan and Cornell.

15

@KL2016 but you think everything is else is reach?

16

You never know with Columbia. Even the most qualified applicants get rejected. Unless you breathe Columbia, it might be wise to use your ED card at Cornell or NU and ur EA cards at U Chicago and U Mich. Your stats look fine, but valedictorians get rejected from all of those schools each year. Good luck!

17

Definitely do Columbia ED. You have a chance, and it’s your first choice. Chance back?

18

You have great stats and I would say you are very competitive and will get into one for sure I would say. You never know with such competitive schools though.

19

@charlieb123 @supercilious @Arpeggio206 thanks guys lmk if u want me to chance you back with the link!

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@supercilious hey can you pm me the link to your chance page? I couldn’t find jt