I need to make a list of match colleges... please help me!!!

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I'm a rising senior, and I have to make a list of colleges that I'm going to apply next year.
I have a list of reach schools and safety schools
but I'm not sure which ones would be my match colleges....
I have no idea if how good my chances are for my reach schools, and certainly no idea what level of colleges would fit my stats.</p>

<p>Please review my stats and suggest me several colleges that may suite me.</p>

<p>I'm a junior, Asian (Korean), and an international student (no citizenship or greencard) attending Catholic private school in America. I came to America about 3 years ago. I'm intending to major in Chemistry. I want to go to a college that has a great science/engineering program, but where I can also get a great liberal education.</p>

<p>My reach schools are Yale and Columbia.</p>

<p>My safety schools are University of Connecticut and Stony Brook University. I would probably come up with other safety schools by the end of this summer break.</p>

<p>Some of match schools that I came up with are Carnegie Mellon University and Washington University in St. Louis.</p>

<p>My high school is very strong in sports but most of the students are weak in math and science.
Also, there are not many international students, or even Asians, in my school. In my grade there are only about 15 or so Asians out of 670, and only 7 or so of them are international.</p>

<hr>

<p>GPA: I was 3rd out of 670 in sophomore year. I don't know how I did in junior year in terms of rank, but I'm pretty sure I'll be in top 3%. I don't know the exact gpa, but it should be over 4.0.
out of 100, I have 102 (weighted)
SAT1:2130 (1st time), taking it again next year because I didn't get to study for the one that I took. (I was actually surprised I got over 2100), So, if I study enough over the summer, I'm expecting at least 2200 and even near or over 2300.
ACT: I'll be taking that in September.
SAT2: Math level 2 (800), I took Chemistry and Physics in June.
AP: Euro (4), AP Cal AB (5),
just took AP Physics B, AP Calculus BC, AP US History in junior year.
in senior year I'll be taking AP Literature, AP Spanish, AP Biology, AP Statistics and AP Economics
Awards: none other than several I received from school
(Does National Latin Exam count?? I got a perfect score on that ...)
EC:
Track and field (10,11,12)
-Sophomore league championship
-Varisity Catholic league championship (I forgot the exact name...)
(for these, I was not at the meet cuz I was sick on that day, so I guess it doesn't really count; I'm not a good runner so it doesn't matter anyway lol)
Math club (president, 9,10,11,12)
Science Club (9,10,11,12)
several volunteering clubs (all 9,10,11,12)
Concert Band (9,10)-(10: librarian)
Symphonic Band (11,12)
Creative Writing Club (9,10,11,12)
Jazz Band (10)
School's leadership team (12)
Model UN club (founder, president: 11,12)
Newspaper club (9,10,11,12: layout editor)
NHS (11,12)
School's website association (it's like news website) (12, Website designer)</p>

<p>I worked really hard for Math club and Model UN club. Especially for Model UN, we didn't have enough money to go to any conferences this year, so we were fundraising for next year. Nobody in my school ever heard of Model UN, so I practically had to start from scratch and it was really HARD, with a moderator who knows NOTHING about it.</p>

<p>(The ones with "12" : it just means that I'm 100% sure I'll be doing them next year)</p>

<p>Outside school:
-Harvard Summer Program (summer before junior year)
-took courses in math and poetry
-Columbia Science Honors Program
-Research on Organic Chemistry in St. John's University this summer--thinking of entering Intel STS.
-Volunteering work at "Leukemia society" where we fundraise for people who has leukemia and I also volunteer for an association where we help people who has autism and mental disability--> I started in my sophomore year for both volunteering work
-I take flute lessons --I may join Chamber music program over the summer (it's like a small orchestra)
-I may make a CD with my friends to help fundraise for my friend's charity organization. I think I'll be working with her this summer.</p>

<p>-I might run for Student Council next year for 12th grade representative position (but I don't think I'll get it... very low chance)</p>

<hr>

<p>I think my weakness is EC, in terms of focus and leadership.
I think that being able to do research over the summer may be a big plus for me because NO ONE in my school EVER did research before or ever even HEARD of Intel STS. I think that doing research would show my passion for science...or I hope it does :)</p>

<p>I'm trying to make science, music and writing my focus, but I guess it didn't really turn out as I hoped.... for music, I was thinking of sending in the CD that I might be making with my friends, but I've heard from some people that that is not a good idea. Regarding writing, I love to write poetry and I'm doing this one week creative writing program this summer. I put together all the poems that I wrote over the last 3 years, and I made a book, and I might be publishing that...if I can...I'm not sure about that yet.</p>

<p>The fact that only one person got into one of the "Harvard, Yale, Princeton or MIT" colleges from my school each year makes me really nervous. I feel like it's a trend that no one can break. There's this kid in my grade who's total genius: she's valedictorian every year, she has high SAT grades, and she's one of the executive board members for Student Council. I don't mind her going to one of those top colleges because she deserves them, but I was afraid it might hurt my chances of gettting in just because we go to the same school... and I feel that if they always have chosen only one person for "Harvard, yale, princeton or MIT" every year, and if that holds true for next year, I won't get into yale. I know I'm being stupid and being too anxious about this, but I just feel really nervous. Is that how college admissions work? Do they pick certain number of students from each school every year??</p>

<p>Anyways, sorry for getting off track.
According to my stats and ECs, what level of schools should I shoot for my match colleges?</p>

<p>Thanks for reading this long thread and any opinion would be great!!
Thanks so much!!</p>

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<p>Oh, and would it be smart idea to apply Yale for early action if I get high grade for SAT on October or high grade on ACT in September???</p>

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<p>how do you post a new thread? </p>

<p>& WOW! definitly apply to Yale for early action!</p>

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<p>Thanks :slight_smile: and Vanessaaa, just press the “New Thread” button towards the top of the webpage to post a new thread.
Any other opinions?..bump…</p>

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<p>bump…</p>

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<p>With a higher SAT definitely apply SCEA to Yale. As far as match schools go WashU and CMU sound good, and maybe you could add somewhere like Boston College to your list as another match, seeing as it’s in New England like most of your other schools</p>

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<p>thanks :slight_smile: I’ll look into Boston College. Do colleges pick certain number of people every year from each school? I know that they won’t take a whole bunch of students just from one school, but would they pick several people from one school where they usually didn’t admit anyone? Nobody in my school was ever admitted to Yale, although one person usually got into Harvard or Princeton, so I was worried…</p>

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<p>for match- let’s see. if you like new yok, then NYU would be a pretty close macth. Even though you might be a bit skeptical, i think jhu would be a match, maybe at most high match, or low reach. you definiteyl show dedication. washu might be close to a match. Boston college would be a match. emory porbably. university of michigan. and university of florida.</p>

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<p>you should apply early to yale. you show a lot of commitment to acitvitites. as long as you get your scores up, you have a decent shot.</p>

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<p>I agree with everyone else, try and raise that SAT 2200+. Your ECs and rank is good. I would say apply SCEA to Yale if you can.</p>

<p>Chance me? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/732738-i-am-not-applying-college-i-am-applying-nyu-ed.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/732738-i-am-not-applying-college-i-am-applying-nyu-ed.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>thanks :slight_smile: Anyone else? I want to get many opinions on this so I can make sure where I stand…</p>

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<p>bump…</p>

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<p>Ya…I mean everyone here has nailed it. Basically, in two words “you rock” = D. However, despite the fact that you are an exceptional student, admission at Yale and Columbia are arbitrary to say the least. Columbia, for example, deferred and rejected a friend of mine of who got a 36 on her act, was val, had 2 presidencies and a few other officer positions, and won a TON of big awards. Apply early to Yale and you stand a good chance of acceptance and I think Columbia should b a lowish reach for you. I would consider other schools like Washu and Rice that I would call high matches for you.</p>

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<p>My biggest piece of advice is to look to raise your SAT scores… although they will not kill you. Otherwise, you are a well-rounded applicant. I believe Yale and Columbia “build” classes… They accept some super-smart 2400 SAT - 36 ACT perfect 800s SAT II and all 5’s on AP, but not all of them. They have their recruited athletes, they have the musicians, and national Intel finalists and then they have well-rounded, good test scores with strong ECs (where you could fall in). Keep volunteering and remain passionate. A lot of your focus needs to be on an amazing essay and recommendations (although you have little control here- pick teachers you have a strong relationship with). A boring essay will hurt you tremendously. Make sure it’s something new, different, and explain your passions in life. This is how they will separate the accepts from the deferrs and wait lists and even the rejects.</p>

<p>Also don’t worry about the other girl… I’ve heard of schools going ten years with no Ivy league acceptances and then three or four in one year. Although it would be very rare that many people would be accepted from a single school, one other person and that history will not hurt your chances. </p>

<p>Don’t send in a CD. I will leave it at that.</p>

<p>Make sure to emphasize one focus, not three, although its important to still show that you have a strong passion for different interests. What I mean here, is when you list your ECs on the CommonApp, you won’t be able to list them all, so choose a “broad focus” with two or three in one area and the rest in a plethora of other ares. The use your essay to reemphasize the focus. Finally, remember the “Why Yale” essay is very important. Focus on a particular (maybe two) aspects of Yale that make it unique and how you will capitalize on those opportunities. </p>

<p>If you want to apply SCEA, go for it. I know it was the best decisions I ever made.</p>