How am I doing?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

So I’d just like a bit of advice on what you think my chances are if I want to get into the top Ivy League schools (Harvard, Stanford, Yale, etc). Here are my credentials so far (I’m a rising junior)

Haven’t taken the SAT yet, but hoping to get in the 2350-2400 range. The worst score I could see myself getting with prep and possible retakes is a 2350, so let’s assume that’s what I have. Maybe 800 math, 880 writing, 870 reading, with at least a 10 on the essay based on practice tests.
I got a 2320 on the Psat, but I goofed off and didn’t study and hardly even paid attention during the test, so I know I can do much better.

5 in AP Euro
5 in AP Calc BC
Hoping to take AP Spanish and chem next year, hopefully 5’s on both.

Math II Sat II: 800
Gonna take a lot more SAT II’s in junior year, probably including physics, literature, spanish, US history. Aiming for 780+

Sophomore year GPA: 4.05 (I got an A+ in physics, A’s in the rest). I also go to an extremely competitive private high school in NYC, so I’m hoping that’ll be taken into account as well.

My ECs are not as good. In terms of community service, I am part of a program called Skype For Care, in which I skype with kids in China to teach them English. Hoping to get a leadership position next year. I also do private paid tutoring in math.

I am on the debate team, have won some minor awards at tournaments but nothing jaw-dropping.
I am in the student government, which has 4 kids per grade out of 120+, and usually a lot of competition for positions.
I have won numerous local gold medals and even national recognition in the annual Scholastic writing competitions over multiple years.
I am doing an internship now in a distinguished lab that focuses on infant brain development.
I participate in my school’s Shakespeare plays, and often get leading roles.

I was Student Body President of my middle school.
I competed in the 2013 Geography Bee and got to the state tournament.
I took AP Calc BC in tenth grade, which obviously isn’t an EC but I hope they’ll like it.
I am a member of an interschool leadership student organization, which is pretty selective but I don’t think colleges know about it.

That’s pretty much it. I haven’t won any grand awards or anything with too much of an impact, which does worry me a bit. I probably have done some more impressive stuff a long time ago (8th grade was a REALLY good year for me), but I doubt it’s relevant now.

Also, I can write a mean essay, so I’m assuming that’ll go well.

So I know this is a pretty good application, but where can I improve? If I really want to be competitive for the top schools, is there anything I need to change? Thanks.

2

Oh and I’ve also written a fantasy-adventure book (kind of game of thrones-ish) that I’m hoping to get published. And I’m on the cover of a different fantasy book that my aunt wrote, although I doubt colleges care what books your face is on

3

lolololololololololol

“Maybe 800 math, 880 writing, 870 reading, with at least a 10 on the essay based on practice tests.”
Not possible. You’re not gonna get a 2350 on the SAT if you can’t even add up three numbers.

“I got a 2320 on the Psat, but I goofed off and didn’t study and hardly even paid attention during the test, so I know I can do much better.”
That is not how the PSAT is scored.

“The worst score I could see myself getting with prep and possible retakes is a 2350”
That’s just plain arrogant.

“I was Student Body President of my middle school.”
Colleges don’t care what you did in middle school.

“So I know this is a pretty good application”
Once again, arrogant.

“I have won numerous local gold medals and even national recognition in the annual Scholastic writing competitions over multiple years.” “I haven’t won any grand awards or anything”
Now you’re just contradicting yourself.

“I want to get into top Ivy League schools (Harvard, Stanford, Yale, etc)”
Stanford is not an ivy league school.

4

Okay yeah now I realize that I maybe posted that too quickly XD. It’s been a long day. Thanks for pointing all that out agc1998.

  1. Obviously I mean 800, 780, 770.
  2. Yep, 232 on PSAT. The point is that it's an equivalent of a 2320. Stupid me.
  3. I'm not trying to be arrogant, I'm just trying to be honest. That is legitimately the worst score that I could see myself getting if I keep studying. I'm not trying to say that people who don't get that score are worthless human beings or anything; it's just where I see myself right now. Of course, I could be overconfident.
  4. Okay, thanks. Good to know.
  5. Well, that's just the truth. In a way, I feel like the people who say stuff like "Oh, I only got a 2380, I'm a complete idiot and failure" are much more insulting to people who are genuinely struggling. As far as I am aware, this is a good application that I am mostly happy with, and I was trying NOT to be demeaning by implying that this is a suckish application and therefore people who have worse applications are in deep trouble.
  6. I don't consider it to be a grand award. Plenty of people get scholastic national awards. I was referring to REALLY impressive stuff that lot's of people seem to have.
  7. Yep. True. I clearly posted too quickly, as I said. I meant to say that I wanted to get into top ivy schools and/or stanford, but it obviously came out completely wrong.

And asking a moderator to take this down is a little harsh, don’t you think? I’m genuinely asking for advice and would appreciate some real feedback that doesn’t demean me. The only thing I got was the middle school is completely irrelevant, which I’m glad you told me. Thanks for that.

5

What I’m saying is that if you’re a new poster on CC who has seemingly perfect stats, has errors in their posts, and is arrogant/overconfident (sorry, that’s how you came across), then it’s reasonable to believe that you are a fake poster on CC. That’s why I originally asked moderators to take it down, but I gave you the benefit of the doubt and edited my post.

6

I didn’t mean to come across as arrogant or overconfident. I’m sorry if I did. Although if apparently I gave myself a 2500 on the SAT, I can see why you’d say so XD. I promise you I’m not a fake poster, but I must admit I can see why you’d think so. This is not my finest hour for sure. It seems like there’s no way to edit posts, which is unfortunate.

So it seems like you’re a regular here and have a good sense of all of this. What do you think of my application overall? Are the ECs lacking?

7

What are your classes? The GPA seems a bit low if you took two AP classes in your sophomore year. What are you taking for your junior year?

If you live up to your word, the SAT scores are great. Also, your EC’s are definitely strong, but the schools that you mentioned want to see passion, long term commitment, or something extraordinary. However, you still have a solid chance depending on the GPA.

8

EC’s are VERY weak for the stats. And on a side note, private paid tutoring doesn’t count as community service. I’m just going to assume that you’re going to get about a 2200 on the SAT because EVERYONE overestimates. As far as the admissions go, here’s my thoughts. Let’s even say you get the 2350; that doesn’t set your admissions in stone. One score also doesn’t make an application “great.” I think that your arrogance will be conveyed in the essays (or if you have interviews), which I believe will hurt you. I am not saying this to be rude; I am completely just attempting to help. With these current stats and activities, I don’t think your chances are very good at an Ivy level school. You have two or three good scores, your EC’s are very weak, and nothing really stands out.

9

As far as what to change: be humble. There wasn’t a need to say, “I know this is a pretty good application.” You also don’t need to say something about the application not being very good… you should just ask if there’s areas for improvement. Let others praise you. If the need for praise is there, then they will… just don’t lavish it upon yourself. As far as EC’s go, aim for some leadership positions in Honors Societies or something of that sort. If you can’t get leadership positions in them, at least look at joining them. They don’t hurt. Look to see if your local School Board needs students for committees or as a Student Rep for the Board. Look to get involved in the community.

10

Definitely an odd initial post, even after the mistakes were acknowledged. The advice to remain humble is a good one. You have some good stats, and it appears you are in a good position to get 2300+ on the SAT (so do that), but HYPS and many others are simply a reach for everyone, including you. Advice is to GET 2300+ on the SAT and keep the grades perfect. You’re a rising JUNIOR? Need to keep the focus if so. 2300+ on SAT with decent ECs (yours are decent but not great) and a 4.0 UW GPA at a tough HS makes you a strong candidate at ANY college. Keep doing that.

11

Thanks everyone for responding. After rereading my initial post, I realize that I gave off a tone that I really didn’t mean to. I do kind of sound like a arrogant jerk here, which was not my intention and not how I normally sound. Also, just to clear up my confusion, I didn’t include honors/ap classes in the GPA that I gave you here because I was more focused on telling you all the raw grades rather than getting into what honors and ap classes I’m taking. Basically the important part is that I have 5 A’s and 1 A+ as of this year. (I got 5 A’s and 1 A- in freshman year).

Thank you all again! This really helps a lot!

12

Stats are right where they need to be (if they pan out like you said they will that is). Your EC’s are strong, but you are correct in that they’re a bit generic and cookie cutter. Kids who get admits from Ivies often attained great recognition in one particular area (an olympiad, national orchestra, etc.). You’re going into your junior year, make sure you have a vision for something great that you want to do. gl

13

Get a real score and then ask for chance again. Make sure you get that PSAT score in junior year as that is the only one that counts.