<p>I think it's best not to try and make any assumptions. For whatever reason, plenty of people that may be URMs and have something stand-out about them are rejected in favor of someone that, perhaps, focused more on the traditional teen things like playing varsity sports and still getting great grades. Don't underestimate the value of being a strong but typical Harvard/Princeton URM applicant. They like to have well-rounded, regular kids in their class too.</p>
<p>that's good for me, right?</p>
<p>heh yes....</p>
<p>yeah.........</p>
<p>you have a good shot at duke, due to AA and you also play varsity sports, a huge plus when applying to duke</p>
<p>"you can't really tell me cuz ur not an admissions officer, but would u think there are enough of those type of URM's to keep me from getting in?
i guess the only thing, if you wanna call anything, special about me is the fact that i will have played 12 seasons of varsity sports and still been able to manage a 4.03."</p>
<p>thats the type of attitude you need to get into ivies....</p>
<p>Write some outstanding essays, good recs, say your prayers and your are in. </p>
<p>Even for a URM your app is worth glancing over. Good luck on your decisions, you got a big list of acceptance letters to choose from......</p>
<p>I think the 12 seasons of varsity sports will help quite a bit. I know from experience that this means 3-4 hours of practice EVERY NIGHT, so it doesnt leave much time for homework/other ECs. They know this too.</p>
<p>URM always helps.</p>
<p>Other than that, your stats are looking very good. But you are certainly right, other black/URM applicants will be just as strong (to Harvard/Princeton, that is) if not stronger.</p>
<p>However, it is definitely worth an application as you have as good a chance as any.</p>
<p>On a quick note about financial aid, you have probably heard that Harv/Princ, like other elite schools, do not give out merit aid. But this means that they have quite a bit of need-based aid to give out, and if you are lower or lower-middle class, I would think that they would pay for a substantial portion if not all of your education.</p>
<p>So what to do now? You've got a pretty exhaustive list going there. At this point, think about what you want to major in, what environment (urban/rural), what size, etc. of school you like and narrow down your list to a more manageable 5-10 schools.</p>
<p>"you have a good shot at duke, due to AA and you also play varsity sports, a huge plus when applying to duke"
i heard duke wasn't big on AA (black acceptance rate only 1% higher than regular acceptance rate). and does varsity sports help even if i dont plan on playing in college? i guess you know something i dont or are just misinformed. </p>
<p>"thats the type of attitude you need to get into ivies...."
was that sarcastic?</p>
<p>"you got a big list of acceptance letters to choose from"
i hope so. i have about 12 schools on my list and i'm confidnet i'll get into 8 of them. </p>
<p>"I think the 12 seasons of varsity sports will help quite a bit. I know from experience that this means 3-4 hours of practice EVERY NIGHT, so it doesnt leave much time for homework/other ECs. They know this too."
that's so true. i spend 20 hours a week w/ sports so i dont have time to do 100 hours of community service or have a list a mile long of EC's like some people. i'm gonna have to highlight my sports and really rely on that to make me stand out. </p>
<p>"You've got a pretty exhaustive list going there. At this point, think about what you want to major in, what environment (urban/rural), what size, etc. of school you like and narrow down your list to a more manageable 5-10 schools."</p>
<p>my list right now is 12 (4 of those are EA). is that too many?
i want to be near a big city, 5k-15k, and major in biology or go pre-med.</p>
<p>no i was being serious. I think you have a great shot at all the schools</p>
<p>Im not doing the Slight reach, High match, High reach kinda stuff. ill give u clear Reach, Match, Safety.</p>
<p>Northwestern University: match
Washington University in St. Louis: match
University of Pennsylvania: reach
Duke University: reach
Vanderbilt University: match
Cornell University: match
Princeton University: reach
Harvard College: reach
Boston College: safety
UT-Austin: safety
U-Miami: safety
SMU: safety</p>
<p>Dude fix ur list. It Gargantuan! u have excellent chances at most of those schools. applying to more than ten is just stressfull and in the end when most accept u, just leaves u confused about which to pick.</p>
<p>I think Harvard and Princeton are great, but just because you are really smart, it doesn't mean that you should have to go to them. Anyways, your list is good, but have you considered Rice? Great school in TX and you could probally get in? Seems like a good fit to me.</p>
<p>my college counselor suggested it to me, and i forgot about it. what do you know about it? i think i have enough good schools on my list that i'll get into though. at this point i'm looking to narrow down my list to about 8 (2 safety, 4matches, and 2 reaches). probably to
Miami-Safety
Boston College-Safety
Northwestern-Match
WashU-Match
Cornell-Match
Vanderbilt-Match
Duke-Reach
Penn-Reach</p>
<p>I don't know much about Rice. I know that it is a great school in Houston, Texas, and I also know it has great baseball haha.</p>
<p>thank you for your vast knowledge and sound advice <sarcasm>
but really, what do you think of my list? i think it's a good size/mix of reaches, safeties, and matches and i'll be able to handle 8 apps.</sarcasm></p>
<p>why would you drop Utexas for UMiami? UT is a lot cheaper for you, a better school, and will probably give you better aid.</p>
<p>i've visited UT and i didn't really like it. just way too big and i'll get good aid from other places. also, i know of a lot of black scholarships funds that i'm going to apply for and i'm expecting 5k-10k just from those. money wont be as big of an issue as managing 8-10 apps, 20hours of football/week, 5 Ap's, and organizing homecoming all in the first trimester.</p>
<p>yeah it is massive. so long as you've visited then. </p>
<p>Re: your list, I wouldn't put Boston College in the safety category. It's getting more competitive every year...very good chance you'll get in, but it's not definite, i.e. a safety.</p>
<p>ok so if i put bc in the match category, should i add another safety?</p>
<p>Yes. If you don't like UT, SMU would be a definite safety for you too.</p>
<p>ok so SMU and Miami as safeties.
bc, nu, washu, vandy, and cornell as matches
penn and duke as slightreach-reach (i've gotten different opinions. i guess that's the nature of chance threads though)</p>
<p>does anyone know anything about diversity at vandy? i know the percentages are low but who do races relate? i heard not good and that's not attractive to me.</p>