<p>*I am starting to narrow down the list of colleges I plan to visit...do you think I have a chance of getting in ED to Dartmouth next fall with these stats?</p>
<p>-Junior
-Western NY, female, Asian
-Rank: 3/250
-GPA (uw): 3.97
-have taken all APs/honors possible so far</p>
<p>Courseload:
-APs... Bio, US, Lang. and Comp. (Euro last year-4)
-French through local college
-Honors: Physics, Pre-calc
-Anatomy (no honors available)</p>
<p>ECs:
-Cancer Research (Summer '05)
-200+ hours community service: nursing assistant in Intensive Care Unit of local hospital, skating instructor for Skating Assoc. for the Blind and Handicapped, errand/escort service at hospital, tutor for 9th grade Bio students
-Interact Club (community service-based school org.)
- Cheerleading: Football, Soccer, and Basketball Seasons...JV (1 year, captain), Varsity (2 years), UCA All-star ('03, '04, '05)
-JV Lacrosse
-Violin: Seven years in nationally recognized school orch. (but couldn't fit it into my schedule this year :/ ), Area All-State Orch. member, Auditioned for All-State (didn't make it b/c I had a ridiculous judge who was banned from judging after that year. I was allowed to schedule a re-audition for 4 months later, but decided not to bother), private lessons
-Student Council VP (2 years)</p>
<p>SATs: (projected) high 2200s (I've been trying ot break 2300 on practice ones for awhile...maybe I'll get lucky in January )</p>
<p>-planning to take SAT IIs (def. Bio and US, not sure what else...I think I'll do alight, seeing as I'm taking APs in both courses this year.)</p>
<p>...thanks a bunch for any help you can give me, and GOOD LUCK to those applying RD this year!</p>
<p>Yep--that looks good. Stats are all there, along with ECs. When interviewing comes around, think of something about you that Dartmouth can't refuse--that sets you apart from the other 10,000 applicants with similar stats, though yours are impressive.</p>
<p>Everything looks great. I'd say you're def on track. Also, keep in mind that some of these practice SAT's are intentionally made a bit more difficult, such that students using them can breeze through the real thing on test day. I suspect that the Princeton Review uses this tact to help ensure students do better on test day than on the Princeton Review practice exams. Should this happen to be the case, as it often is, students are not entitled to extra tutoring or returns. But good luck in the upcoming SAT season!!
Also though, just be aware of the kiss of death a.k.a being upper-middle class Asian. We're already seeing inequity rear its ugly, racist head in the admissions process this year.</p>
<p>*axman319: don't worry...our stats are very similar
*N8006: i hope you're right about the SAT thing! also, how much do you think being an over-represented minority will hurt me?</p>
<p>Well, I want to apply next fall (I'm a junior now)...but I'm assuming that I'll have really good essays. I think my recommendations from my counselor/teachers will be decent enough- but nothing stellar. I will probably ask my best friend to write my peer rec., which should be strong because we've known eachother for almost 10 years, and she's an amazing writer (if that matters)?
Hope that clears things up, ccbouncer!</p>
<p>Please don't take offense, but one small suggestion. Don't make excuses for things you haven't done, ie the bad judge at the state orchestra. You have done plenty to be proud of and should place emphasis on your accomplishments. If you were in an interview, I would never bad mouth that judge - just don't go there. </p>
<p>go5878: Don't worry, I would never bring it up in an interview. The only reason I put it on here is because, well, I'm not gonna lie, I'm still bitter. lol but thanks for the advice</p>
<p>*By the way, I'm starting to plan my college visits...unfortunately, my parents want me to see most of my schools in one week, so I'm not going to have an overabundance of time to spend anywhere. Will I be missing much if I decide to just go to the info session & campus tour instead of staying overnight?</p>
<p>*Thanks to everyone for your predictions so far!</p>
<p>Hey, we have similar stats, although academically you pretty much beat me by far. I'm asian too! And I did research. I'd say that apart from working on your SAT scores, work on submitting your research into top competitions like Siemens Westinghouse. My SAT scores were def not as high as what you project and I really think that what got me into Dartmouth were my ECs, the fact that I was a Siemens Westinghouse Regional Finalist and I am the committee chairman of an up and coming organization for affordable housing. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, dolce... I worked with a lot of other people (mostly doctors/grad students) on the cancer research, so there's no way I could take credit for it and enter it in competitions. I have done individual experiments with genetics before, though. Unfortunately, they are nowhere good enough to get much recognition in Siemens Westinghouse (from what I've seen, everyone who enters is pretty much amazing.) Should I bother entering competitions like that anyways?</p>
<p>Since you're a junior you have the luxury to work all summer to improve your research in order to enter competitions such as Siemens. It's important that you engage in such ecs so that you have an edge over the competition in the application process. No matter how weak you may think your research is, it probably is extraordinary. I never thought that my research was important until I was named a Regional Finalist, so don't worry. I recommend you to enter as many science research competitions as possible during junior AND senior year: Siemens Westinghouse, Intel STS, your regional science and engineering fair, JSHS...If you have anymore questions IM me. I'm glad to help.</p>
<p>I graduated from Dartmouth in 1996 and was accepted early decision. I interviewed two prospective students for admission while I was a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and had a Latin student who is now at Dartmouth, so I suppose I know what kind of people get in.
There's no way for me to know for sure what your chances of admission are without knowing your SAT and SAT II scores. I would say, however, that even if you get the 2200 you anticipate on the SAT and get acceptable scores on the SAT II tests, I don't think you have such a good chance. I hate to bring you bad news. A lot of it has to do with your demographic information. Unfortunately, Dartmouth's admission rate varies according to your race and geographical location and interests. Asians have a tougher time getting in than anyone else. I'm sure you're aware of that. While you are no doubt talented, Asian females from New York State who play the violin, ice skate, and are interested in biomedical sciences are not at all uncommon.<br>
If you're really interested in improving your chances, write a startlingly original essay and get teacher recommendations that are more than "nothing stellar." It would also help if you come across with a distinct, likeable personality in your essay, not, for example, a personality filled with resent over a perceived slight at an orchestra audition.</p>
<p>I totally disagree with Harry. I do concur that gaining admission into Dartmouth is difficult, but it is like that for everyone who wants to get into a great school. I'm from an extremely competitive public high school in NY, previously ranked 5th in the nation. I am also a Chinese female. My SAT scores were far from stellar, 2160 and the first time I got a 2000. My SAT IIs were in the low 700s. I really think that most people who apply to Dartmouth have great SAT scores, but what makes them different and wanted are their extra curriculars. As long as you do well academically, stand out outside of school: either by having a leadership position in some organization or club or winning top honors, make sure your teachers get to know you well so that they can write you great recommendations, and write an inspirational essay you have as good of a chance for acceptance as anyone. This might sound like a lot, but try to accomplish all that you can. Because you do research, I suggested that you enter science competitions. (I seriously do believe that my Siemens award is what ultimately got me my acceptance) Good luck and don't ever lose hope.</p>