I want to go to college - Chances?

Applying to College
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I’m an asian male from a competitive school in LI, where we have about 10 ivy leaguers from a class of 130 per year plus about ten or 15 other kids that go to schools in the top 15. here’s the list boys and girls:

Scores and such:
GPA: 3.78 unweighted, no rank
SAT: highest 2200 (710M, 740CR, 750W)
*happy with all my scores except math; already taken it twice, should i take it again? My GC advises me to do so.
SAT II: 740 Physics, 750 Bio-M, 710 U.S., 650 Chem. (again in fall), Math IIC in fall
AP: 3 Euro, 5 U.S., 5 Physics; Next year: calc bc, chem ap, stat ap, span ap, econ ap, gov ap, eng ap

EC:
Managing editor of school paper that wins lots of awards in New York + old entertainment editor; 6 years trumpet, playing lead next year for jazz, symphonic band, and symphonic orchestra. 4 times nyssma festival; 208 hours of research at chemical engineering lab - plan to enter intel, siemens, isef; took bio and precalc over the summer at some colleges; volunteered at hospital one summer

Mathletes-want to take amc 12 and hopefully qualift for aime and such
Medical Club-VP, Cultural Club, spanish club, environmental club (behind the scenes active member), jazz band-pres, interact/rotary club, independent science research since 9th gr.

Won awards in research at local fairs (honorable mention, merit etc.) 4x, silver medal for national latin and spanish tests, bronze for LI math fair, member NHS, NSHSS, Tri-M, NSHS

So what advice can you guys give me? Will i have a shot at some of the ivies and other top schools or no? Just to help, here are some schools I like: jhu, nwu, nyu, columbia, penn, duke

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<p>though it doesn't matter much, i got my physics/bio scores backwards lol</p>

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<p>Maybe Cornell or Penn (not Wharton), but ivies are going to be a big reach. When you remove writing, which won't count or be weighted highly this year, your SATs are below average for most ivies. As an asian from NY, that will make admission highly unlikely. Northwestern is a good reach.</p>

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<p>How is a 1450 under the average for most Ivies? The only school (and I think this is wrong) that might have a higher than 1450 average is Harvard, but that is only from what I remember reading off their stats this year.</p>

<p>It seems that you really enjoy playing trumpet and are very good at it (go musicians!). You might want to highlight that as well as send in a recording of yourself if you are comfortable.</p>

<p>I say definately apply and with good essays and some rec's from positive teachers, you have a shot at pretty much every school. If you have any questions about Columbia, do not hesitate to ask me.</p>

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<p>Check again Jaug1.</p>

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<p>I am not an expert but it seems like you would be able to get into Cornell, Dartmouth, definatily NYU. Your SAT scores are fine 1450 (old standard is very respectable).</p>

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<p>Dartmouth's average SAT score this year was 1470. Now average in the lower scores of many athletes, URMs, legacies and special candidates. Then figure out what a non hooked white or asian needs.</p>

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<p>ivies + duke are reach unless you win something for your research</p>

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<p>I have realized only recently that when you ask some people what your chances are that some people will consider the question to mean what are your matches and other people will consider whether you have a chance at reaches. In order to have a "reasonable" chance at the extremely selective colleges, I think you need to have at least a 1500/1600, SAT II scores in the mid 700's, be near the top of your class, and have outstanding EC's (although not necessarily national/regional recognition.)</p>

<p>You are certainly to be respected. It sounds like your main EC is jazz. The other is probably your independent research. Adcoms want to see one or two activities that you have "passion" and long-term interest rather a long list of EC's with little involvement. Being Editor is big since it shows leadership. Once you take the SAT II Math IIC, you will have another good SAT II score and that will give you three. The others show solid work, but are not impressive at HYPSM. Your senior schedule is very strong.</p>

<p>I would recomend that you take the SAT over again to try to pull up the math. You can apply to the most selective schools, and you could very well make it, especially at the lesser Ivies. I don't think any of those schools will be matches for you, at least without another SAT, but you could very well get in. As an unhooked applicant, you need to near the top of the 50% ranges. Have good safeties at the Emory level. NYU is not in the same selectivity range as the other schools that you mentioned. To condense what I'm saying, I agree with Suze.</p>

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<p>alright thanks alot guys..i think i will take the sat again and yeah i'll try to make my passions stick out more in the application. </p>

<p>one more thing: jaug1, do you know anything about the fu school of engineering. i am thinking about doing either chem or bioengineering so i just wanted a little info. thanks</p>

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<p>My best friend at Columbia is a rising senior at SEAS and is a chemical engineering major. She also teaches the Gateway Engineering Course which is the main SEAS Core class. </p>

<p>While I am not in SEAS, I do believe that are best departments are chemical and biomedical engineering. I also think we have a good mechanical engineering department. </p>

<p>Fu school students do take a modified version of the Columbia College Core. Either Literature Humanities or Contemporary Civilizations (not both as CC students do), the engineering Gateway course, possibly either music humanities or art humanities (not sure on this because I am not a SEAS student) and maybe 1 or 2 other classes. Engineering students at Columbia spend more time in their intended majors than CC students because engineers take a modified version of the Core, not the full thing.</p>

<p>I strongly recommend the program and would advise that you go to the SEAS page on the Columbia website and get some background about it. I am probably not the best person to talk about SEAS, however. If you post your question in the Columbia forum, I am sure you will get responses from actual SEAS students and not a CC one such as myself.</p>

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<p>alright thanks alot jaug1. i'll check seas's website and the forum.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
My best friend at Columbia is a rising senior at SEAS and is a chemical engineering major. She also teaches the Gateway Engineering Course which is the main SEAS Core class.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>shows how experienced the eng teachers at columbia are eh?</p>

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<p>You have at least a reasonable shot at all those schools, especially if you apply ED.</p>

<p>Also, what kind of stuff does your environmental club do?</p>

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<p>iwantfood, do you want to explain your comment?</p>

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<p>Don't apply ED if you are also planning to apply for financial aid since you give up your option to compare FA packages.</p>

<p>jaug1: I was wondering the same thing that iwantfood asked. In the quote, it says that a junior chem eng is teaching the class.</p>