I know this is a reach, but what are my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>Hey! I’m developing my final list of colleges to which I’m applying this fall. I’ve always adored Brown but had sworn it off because I didn’t think I had a shot. Got my SAT score a few weeks ago and it was higher than expected, and now I’m starting to reconsider even though I’m pretty sure it’s a total reach. What do you think my chances are at Brown? Thanks! </p>

<p>Senior at a top 10 public high school in California
GPA: 3.45 UW/ 3.65 W (upward trend with the most challenging curriculum- probably way too low, though)
SATI: 1410 (700M/710V)
SATII Writing: 800
SATII Literature: 690
SATII US History: 650 (bad day)
Took the math SATII last weekend
By the end of senior year, I will have taken 8 APs and 1 honors class (AP Music Theory, AP Psych, AP Euro, AP US History, Hon. English, AP English, AP Gov/Econ, AP Stats, AP Calc AB)
I’m probably going to major in Classics and either English, History, or Poli Sci
I got 4’s on the AP US and AP Psych tests, AP Scholar </p>

<p>-Member of Junior Statesmen of America- 4 yrs
-Mock Trial- 2 years
-Vice President of Philosophy Club
-Member of Amnesty International- 4 yrs
-Member of History Club
-Representative in my school district’s Diversity Committee, which works to combat such issues as racism and homophobia in the school environment
-I’m starting a book club with a friend of mine, so I’ll be a co-president of that
-I work closely with the local Democratic club and do outreach work with my school through the organization
-Member/Volunteer at Feminist Majority Foundation
-Leading Volunteer/Organizer for John Kerry for President/ Kerry Campaign Writers Bureau/ Students for Kerry (about 15 hours a week)
-Participated in National Youth Leadership Forum for Law in Washington DC this spring
-Nominated to be my high school’s representative for the US Senate Youth Program
-Won the underclassman award at my school 2 years in a row, once for English, once for Precalculus (each teacher picks one student from years frosh-junior to give an award to for academic excellence)

  • Won the California Governor’s Scholars Award for high STAR test scores
  • National Merit Commended Scholar
  • I’m in the Gifted and Talented Education Program (GATE) at my school
    -Took classes at UC Berkeley every summer I’ve been in high school (got straight A’s in them)
    -Taking classes at local community college as well
    -I’m taking an evening dance class
    -During budget cuts, I led a letter-writing campaign among the students to protect the teachers and programs that had been put in jeopardy
    -Wrote a novel (unpublished) and 2 plays, one of which was performed at UC Berkeley
    -I don’t know if this will factor in at all in assessing my grades, but my mom has been unemployed for a year, on top of which there was a death in the family, the combination of which made for a stressful junior year to say the least. :frowning: However, my grades have definitely rebounded significantly.
    -I’m a very strong writer (my essay is on my political activism/community involvement) and I am getting wonderful recommendations </p>

<p>200+ hours of community service in the last year</p>

<p>If someone could let me know what you think my chances are, that would be great!!</p>

2

<p>anyone at all?</p>

3

<p>Certainly worth paying the application fee. Beyond that, who knows?</p>

4

<p>First, I think you should post in the appropriate category.
Second, I got in with similar scores.
Third, the Ivies are a crapshoot- all kinds of people can get in, while others don't.
Best of luck, Brown is a great school!</p>

5

<p>Your extracurriculars could you make it stand out, and as others have pointed out, scores aren't the most important thing. (Check out how widely distributed they are, in fact)
<a href="http://www.brown.edu/Administration/Admission/new/applyingtobrown/admissioncriteria.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.brown.edu/Administration/Admission/new/applyingtobrown/admissioncriteria.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The most important thing to help your chances is to try and sell a unique and coherent representation of who you are in your essay, interview, and application as a whole.</p>

6

<p>I think you have a great chance</p>

7

<p>How much can a great interview help admissions-wise?</p>

8

<p>I think you have an awesome chance. You have so many things that stand out and make yourself unique. I think the biggest challenge for u is finding the best way to display your unique honors and abilities on the application.</p>