<p>I’m a rising senior from SC, applying to:
DUKE - ED
Ivies - mainly Columbia, Yale, Brown
Stanford
U Chicago
Emory
Wake Forest
UNC-Chapel Hill</p>
<p>GPA unweighted: 4.0
Class Rank: 1 of 50? (very, very small high school)
SAT: 2250
Subject Tests: Math II 780, USH 770
APs: Lang 5, Calc AB 4, USH 5 (planning to take stats, micro, macro, US gov/pol, lit senior year). 5 of my 8 APs have/will have been taken outside of school via accredited online courses because my school did not offer them.</p>
<p>ECS. Keep in mind my school is extremely small and as such has almost zero clubs
2 years Varsity Ice Hockey
1 year Varsity Swimming
Student Body Treasurer
Student Government Junior Class Representative
Founder/President of JSA chapter at my school
Head of my school's music program that is led by students
Summer internship at a local university's music program (approx., 150 hours)
Volunteer at music department of my large church (250 hrs./year, all 4 years)
Volunteer guitar lessons to underprivileged kids (100 hrs./year)
Went on 8-city, 14-date tour in Asia (Japan, S Korea, Philippines) with a prominent musical artist playing electric guitar
Played electric guitar on 2 albums, one of which peaked at #9 on iTunes Christian</p>
<p>Strong recs from English & Social Studies teachers</p>
<p>Intended Major: Econ or PoliSci</p>
<p>I'd like to know what my chances are, mainly because most kids I see applying to Ivies/top tier schools have far more EC clubs and sports than I do. The JSA chapter and Student Government are the only 2 available clubs in my extremely small high school so I didn't really have many options.</p>
<p>Btw apply to 8-12 schools only and add a safety good luck. Emphasize music. Some things that would be helpful: intended major and rank 1 out of…?</p>
<p>I think you have a great chance at Duke Early Decision. Just make sure you are not financially-dependent on Duke’s financial aid…they do have the Duke promise of covering everything for families who make less than 65k but the middle class often gets punished.</p>
<p>You run a great chance at Stanford; however, they love passion. LOVE it. Knock those essays out of the park. UNC and Emory should be high matches or matches for you.
The others are reaches; you did well given the opportunities you had since your school was so restrictive.</p>
<p>When I was younger it was because I was a Blue Devils fan.
Now it’s because it’s nearby (1.5 hr drive), in a great area, has an amazing campus, really strong school spirit. Not to mention great academics; I got to sit down with their public policy undergrad program dean and the way he described the program sounded like a perfect fit for me.</p>
<p>Also, one of my closest family friends/mentor was a Duke alum who passed away this year, through him I really started getting seriously interested in the school.</p>
<p>I love Duke too! Great campus!! I think you have a good chance for duke. For Ivies, you do have good chances, seeing how initiative you are and you are actually quiet involved, looking at your ECs, so don’t worry about not being involved. Work on those essays!! and you will be fine. But keep in mind that school is small is not an excuse! you can always start your own clubs, and seek opportunities outside. </p>
<p>I think you’ve done well with the opportunities present to you given your small school (and I thought my 84-person grade was small!). I think what especially stands out in your application is your clear love for music. Your stats are great, your ECs are good. Assuming that you get great recommendations, the only thing left is an AWESOME essay. Pull this off and I think you have a fair chance of getting into Duke ED.</p>
<p>Emory and UChicago seem like matches to me! Duke may be a slight reach just because of how prestigious it is. I honestly consider it Ivy because of how hard it is to get into. Id also say Brown, Columbia, and Yale are reaches just because their Ivies :(. You seem to be a strong candidate for any college and I suggest to apply to all of them! You never know :)</p>
<p>Wake forest U - high match
emory - high match/low reach
UNC chapel hill - high match
Columbia, Brown, Stanford - mid-reach
Duke ED - low reach (ED helps :D)</p>
<p>so yea your scores/grades/transcript are probably on par with what they’re looking for. But so are those of, a lot of people applying to those schools. your goal is to separate yourself from those people in a good way. Even if you don’t have a lot of opportunities in your school there are a lot of economics and political opportunities out there, or you can even create them in your own high school :D</p>
<p>your music things help a lot, but to be honest its a little perplexing at first glance to someone who sees you want to be a econ/polisci major</p>
<p>I think you have a good chance at Duke ED, especially since they tend to value stats. You’re valedictorian and have a great SAT score, so I definitely think that gives you a good shot at Duke. I think UNC is a match, and Emory and Wake Forest are high matches. </p>
<p>For the Ivy Leagues… idk. Acceptance to the Ivies are incredibly subjective, so it’s anyone’s guess, but I think you definitely have a better chance than most applicants. :)</p>
<p>DUKE - ED -High match
Ivies - mainly Columbia, Yale, Brown- reach
Stanford-reach
U Chicago-low reach
Emory-low match
Wake Forest-low match
UNC-Chapel Hill-match</p>
<p>I think you did well considering your school doesn’t offer too much. But it seems like you don’t have a specific hook and if you are asian that may be difficult-- but then again ivies are crapshoots for everyone. Good luck!</p>
good luck. Emphasize music. Some things that would be helpful: intended major and rank 1 out of…?</p>
I think you have a good chance for duke. For Ivies, you do have good chances, seeing how initiative you are and you are actually quiet involved, looking at your ECs, so don’t worry about not being involved. Work on those essays!! and you will be fine. But keep in mind that school is small is not an excuse! you can always start your own clubs, and seek opportunities outside. </p>
and gl</p>