I never thought I'd do this again...

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>But here we go anyway. It looks as though I've finally finalized my college list. Chances, please? And do I need more safeties? I know my list is incredibly reach-heavy, but I really like all of them. Thanks!</p>

<p>African-American Female
Competitive Private High School (sends pretty much everyone to top 100 schools, and about the top 1/2 to top 30 schools) in California
Looking to apply to:
Stanford/MIT (first choices)
Yale
Princeton
U Penn
Rice
Washington U. in St. Louis
Purdue
UCs (Berkeley, LA, SD, SC, SB)</p>

<p>I'm looking to double-major in engineering (probably chemical, but possibly mechanical) and psychology or cognitive science.</p>

<p>3.81 GPA w/ slight downward trend (how much will this hurt me? :(</p>

<p>1 AP 10th grade (Euro), 2 APs this year (US & Chem), 3 next year (Calc, Physics C, and English Lit., might take Lang. test also) - hardest courses possible, except I chose to not take an AP History Senior Year (Art History) - will this hurt me?</p>

<p>SATs: 670 CR/650 M/800 W (11 essay) - I know they're awful; I'm getting tutoring this summer to hopefully bring them up to 750/760/800.</p>

<p>ECs:
helped start and run an art program at a home for abused children
volunteer in a 2nd grade classroom</p>

<p>worked as an office assistant at a lawfirm for the past 2 summers
work at school as scoreboard operator during volleyball season</p>

<p>Glee Club for 2 years (at school) + Madrigals (smaller a cappella singing group, also at school) - singing is my passion
-section leader in GC (1 year)
-Vice-Prez next year</p>

<p>JV Basketball for 3 years, and Frosh Volleyball for 1 year</p>

<p>Active Member of Alliance (like a GSA) and Young Democrats for 2-3 years</p>

<p>Though my high school years have not been the easiest, I've definitely overcome a lot and grown immensely as a person over these past 3 years. Hopefully this is something I can convey well in my essay. My recs should be pretty good - 1 from my AP Chem teacher who I also had in 10th grade chemistry, and 1 from my AP US teacher, who is also my advisor. I'm thinking of asking my therapist for a personal reccommendation (she's offered many times), though I'd probably say it was from a "family friend," as I think that may go over better than saying it was from my therapist explicitly (but I don't know; what do you guys think?)</p>

<p>It looks as though a lot will hinge on my essays. What do you guys think?</p>

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<p>anyone? :(</p>

<p>bummmmmmmmp.</p>

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<p>it looks good except for the downward trend part.</p>

<p>do you have any special reason/excuse for that?</p>

<p>colleges any day prefer one starting with a 3.7 to 4.0+ over a 4.0 to a 4.0 (even though the "average" is higher with this), and most certainly are against any downward trend.</p>

<p>what is your weighted GPA? washington and ucs are reacheable, the rest are always uncertain... your race should help you, and if you bring ur sats up, it looks even better!</p>

<p>once again though, the downward trend will hurt quite a bit...</p>

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<p>thanks for the reply.</p>

<p>I do have a very good reason, but it's kind of a long story (mom leaving/dad coming/moving every few months/waking up at 3 AM to get to school). The only issue is how to convey this without sounding whiney or like I'm making excuses. Any advice?</p>

<p>Thanks again for the reply.</p>

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<p>oh and also, how hard is Purdue to get into OOS? Could this possibly qualify as a safety?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<p>Nice list, but I don't see any safeties here. You should look for some schools that you are highly likely to get in at. Even with good stats and a compelling story, you are applying to a lot of schools that turn down a lot of people. </p>

<p>And while your stats are good they are not amazing - there's a bit of a "whammy" for the science math crowd, in that many hard core science types do 800 on the math portion of their SATs and SATIIs.</p>

<p>I was researching a different type of school for my daughter, so I don't have a good suggestion. However, it looks like you are willing to do East Coast, so perhaps RPI or Clark. </p>

<p>Look for a school that has rolling admissions - that can help you know early on that you have a place to go. </p>

<p>I don't know if financial aid is a factor - if so, also take a look at schools that would be excited to have you and would help pay.</p>

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<p>Yeaa, purdue is a safety--no need to worry :)</p>

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<p>i really really like your ECs... they really show passion. Although you don't seem to have many awards in the maths and science fields, if you can score high on the SAT subject tests, then you can overcome their absences.
Try and portray your personality in your essays rather than talk about achievements and awards, and i think you will be a decent candidate for Stanford and MIT.
If you had a few recognised maths and science awards, i would say you were very strong. Work hard in your senior year, and try to really depict your true passions in your essays. Good Luck!</p>

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<p>sorry to prolong this thread, but to Sidfromaus specifically, what exactly in my ECs showed 'passion'? I thought they were a weak point to be honest, because they're not really focused. Thanks (to everyone).</p>

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<p>well as opposed to most other people who just list all their ECs...or do ECs to fill their resumes, i like the fact that u have music and sport. i also really like the Art program. I just think they are really genuine. I mean you dont have a huge list, but the fact that they appear so genuine might really help you with MIT and Stanford. Don't know if thats going to impress the ivy leagues, but i really think they seem quite similar to the ECs of other girls in MIT and Stanford.
It just seems that the you really care about your ECs...and dont just do them for college app purposes. Correct me if i m wrong though :P</p>

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<p>No, you're right! I guess CC just has me paranoid... </p>

<p>Okay, this thread can die now. Thanks again!</p>