I'd really appreciate any input... chances at Princeton, Yale, UVA out-of-state?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Princeton and Yale are my two dream schools (UVA is also up there), and I was just interested to see how people here think I might stack up against other applicants. I really have no clue, and the things some people on here have done really just amaze me. I'm a white female and I plan on majoring in engineering. And I know it's to some degree a crapshoot on getting in sometimes, but ahfdja;hf it is so rough knowing that I won't know where I'm accepted for 5 more months!!</p>

<p>Rank: 1/560.. Large public school, 2,500 students+
GPA: 5.0 weighted
Classes: Most rigorous courseload available at my school. UNfortunately, this means only 1 AP available last year (US HIstory, I got a 5), and 3 AP's this year (Calculus, Political Science, and Physics). My school hardly sends anyone to Ivies.. not even one per year.
Every other class I have taken is honors and I have gotten all A's.</p>

<p>Tests:
SAT- V-690; R-750; M-780 (2220)... I've only taken it once, and unfortunately because of athletic conflicts, I won't be able to again because I still need to take the subject tests. I'm pretty ****ed at myself for not taking them in June.
ACT- 35.. Writing-10</p>

<p>ECs
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (9-12); Officer-11, VP-12
I lead large group discussions, participate in several community events, do tonssss of advertising to get the word out because it's a really great group of kids. I initiated the purchase of additional bullitin boards around our scool to promote not just FCA but all other ECs.
Rotary Interact CLub (9-12); Treasurer-11, VP-12
I've initiated severeal large fundraisers at our school.. I lead meetings, promote the club like crazy (we've tripled membership this year!)
Varsity Cross COuntry (9-12); Captain-12; All-Conference-9, 12; Rookie of the Year-9; Coach's Award -10 (given to athlete with greatest work ethic and responsibility
National Honors Society (11, 12); Director of Events-11
Student COuncil (9, 10); Class VP-9,10
Math Team (9-12); Captain-12; State qualifier every year
Renaissance CLub- a club at our school for kids with good character, grades, etc. (9-12); Committe Chair-11
Prom Chair (11); elected to basically organized prom, had to organzie committes to decorate or cafeteria... HARDEST job of my life, never do it just fyi
Varsity Soccer (10); Starter-10
Violin- I have taken private lessons for 13 years and have performed at weddings and funerals.<br>
SChool Orchestra First Violinist-9-12
Pit Orchestra First Violinist- 9, 11, 12 (played soccer soph. year)
All-District Orchestra- 9-12.... I missed All-State last year by a killer 1 chair, so hopefully that will change this year!</p>

<p>Honors/Awards
National Merit Semi-Finailst (226)
Selected to National Youth Salute (12)- Finalist for Youth Leader of the Year of our region
HIstory Paper received a superior at regional and state level (10)
Scholar Athlete award (9-12)
CAmper of the Year at Southeast Missouri Summer Music Camp (10)</p>

<p>Community Serivice.. Hrs.-per-wk./Wks.-Per-Yr.
Grade School Track Coach-- responsible for about 30 kids, run practices, meets (11,12).. 5/7
Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor (11, 12).. 2/30
Volunteer Violinist at a national Shrine in our area (11, 12).. 2/45
Holiday volunteer in children's area at above Shrine (11)... 8/3
Vacation Bible School Crew Leader (9-12)... 15/1
Assistant Liturgy of the Word Minister at my church (9-12)... 2/6
Community College Kids Club Volunteer (11)... 4/6
Local Art Fair Volunteer in Children's Area (9-11).. 4/1
School's Book Fair (9-12).. 4/1
My church's annual parish festival worker (9-12)... 2/1
Books to Belize (9,10) -helped collect and organize children's books to send overseas... 4/3</p>

<p>Summers
Washington University Architecture Discover Program (2008)- Selective, intensive introduction to architecture program... my project was chosen for an exhibit at the Wash U College of Arch and for an exhibit at a STL art gallery.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes Huddle Leadership Conference (2007, 2008)- Leaders of local FCA's go for leadership training
Midwest Young Artists Summer Music Festival (2007)- Selective chamber music workshop
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (2007)- NOminated by local Rotary club to attend
Southeast Missouri Summer Orchestra Camp (2006)</p>

<p>Employment... Hrs.-per-wk/ wks-per-yer
Self-Employed Violin Teacher (Jan. 2008-present)... 2/40
Babysitting (2006-present).. summer- 16/9; school year- 7/5
Hallmark- sales (2007); 12/10</p>

<p>Other hobbies
Running- I run 20-30 miles/week outside of xc. I absolutely love it. I ran a half marathon with my coach last year and we are planning on another this year.
Piano- I took lessons for 9 years and am an experienced pianist.</p>

<p>If you took the time to read that all, you are officially my hero! Thanks so much!</p>

2

<p>Your stats look pretty good...
How did you get a 5.0 GPA with only 3 APs?</p>

<p>I wouldn't worry too much about SAT; your ACT is pretty solid. If your scores are good enough (which they appear tobe), you don't even have to send SAT and SAT IIs to Yale, just send them your ACT.</p>

<p>Your ECs are above average in terms of depth, but they seem to lack focus/cohesion, aside from the music aspect. Try to flesh out some kind of common interest (I despise the word "passion") between all those ECs.</p>

<p>Applying as an engineer will help, but obviously it's all really up to the gods/fate/luck/whatever now. I hope you do well!</p>

3

<p>Our grading system is pretty whack... as long as you take 4 honors classes you can have a 5.0. Like APs don't count for anymore than a normal honors class... so there are kids taking Honors Pyschology instead of AP Polysci, but A's in both classes are equal. And like I said, our APs are very limited. Thanks for your input!</p>

4

<p>anyone else??</p>

5

<p>How many, or about what % go to UVA or W&M?</p>

6

<p>From my school, pretty much 0%. If I would go to UVA I think I might actually be the first person in my school's history to go there.</p>

7

<p>Because your school is going to be an unknown entity, you would be very wise to prepare carefully for those SAT2 tests. The top schools will be eyeballing them VERY carefully to see how well you are prepared academically, as there is very little they can assess with what you have there. P&Y are reaches for everyone, and frankly your SAT scores right now are not going to push you over. I do not know how the ACT is judged. I think you need to have a good talk with your GC about writing a rec that includes the fact that you are going way outside the school's comfort zones in applying to these top schools. That this is a first, or rare occaision from your school. That should somehow be emphasized. That would be your unique point. </p>

<p>Are there other schools in your area that tend to send kids to top schools? Will you need fin aid? </p>

<p>I think you are a good candidate for UVA and W&M. ALso, check out some schools like Brown, DArtmouth, UPenn, Cornell, maybe some selective LACs if you want to get to the NE. Don't neglect a safety option, which in your state schools you would have good choices (Tech, JMU, etc), including financial safeties. I think positioned the right way, you would make an interesting candidate. Just don't want the admissions directors to miss this and just skim over your stats, as alone they will not particularly stand out.</p>

8

<p>Oh wow thanks a lot! I didn't think about making a point to emphasize being one of the few people ever from my school to apply to these types of schools, that's a really good point... I'm definitely going to talk to my GC about that! And no, the others schools in my area are about the same as mine, large and public, not really that great, hardly any Ivy League kids and basically no VA schools. As far as financial aid, I'm in the upper-middle class bracket and luckily my dad is really good about doing the financial aid stuff, so as far as money goes, as long as I get a few scholarships along the way it should be alright. Thanks so much again.</p>

9

<p>Are you from VA? Where do most of the kids in your area end up in terms of college?</p>

10

<p>no no I'm actually from Illinois. Guess I never mentioned that. A large part of each graduating class goes to smaller public universities or community colleges around here (I live in the southern part), while some go to large state schools and a much smaller percentage go to smaller private schools. I'd say about 75% stay within 100 miles.</p>

11

<p>Send a post to the admissions dean from UVA who posts here on CC. He is always looking for uncovered territory, and I would think you would be of great interest to him. </p>

<p>Do many go to Urban/Champaign from your school?</p>

12

<p>wow, im really impressed by your resume especially b/c of all of the leadership positions that you held in so many organizations on top of being a cross country runner. Solid SAT score/great ACT score plus your a valedictorian. Idk if your resume is way better than the average val from your district or not in past years, but a resume like yours should be competitive at any of the top schools.
good luck</p>

13

<p>Hm alright I probably will. My GC nominated my for the Jefferson Scholarship (our school as apparently always been able to nominate someone but just never has) so I had some questions about that anyways. There's usually around 10 or so kids that go to U of I.. most often it's where a lot of the top kids in our class go. It's a great school, but for some reason when I visited it I just absolutely hated it.</p>