I'm really worried about my lack of strong ECs - Please chance me at Johns Hopkins ED, Rice, etc.

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>First off, let me say that I'm completely new to College Confidential and its forums (hence my post count), and I apologize if I make any mistakes doing this. I've probably (read: definitely) included far too much information here than necessary, so please disregard any pieces that are extraneous. I deeply apologize for the abominable length.</p>

<p>My issue is that I really feel like I'm lacking solid extracurriculars, volunteering, leadership, and academic awards. I might have good test scores and grades, but if you take those away, I feel like everything else is very superficial.</p>

<p>Colleges I'm wanting or potentially wanting to apply to:
- Johns Hopkins (Early Decision), Rice (possibly may switch to Early Decision), Duke (may switch to Early Decision, but unlikely), UChicago, UPenn, UC Berkeley, Northwestern, WashU, Vanderbilt, Cornell
- UT Austin (safety school - automatically in with their automatic admission)</p>

<p>Major: Biomedical Engineering/Biochemistry/Microbiology/some bio and/or chem related major, or pre-med</p>

<p>Ethnicity/Gender: Asian female; trilingual
State: Texas
Unweighted GPA: 4.0, Weighted: 4.72 (Have taken 11 honors classes and 8 AP)
Class rank: Top 3% with predictions at top 2% by semester's end assuming I keep all A's
-My school's not overly prominent nationwide but there's easily over 40% AP participation among students with high competition and vigorous coursework
Senior courses: AP Calc BC, AP Physics C, AP Chemistry, AP Music Theory, AP English Literature, AP US Government, AP Microeconomics, Orchestra (varsity)</p>

<p>SAT: 2360 superscored, 800 math 800 writing 760 critical reading, may retake for reading; 2350 w/o superscore
ACT: will take next month
SATII: 790 Biology M, 760 Math II, 680 Spanish - will retake bio and math and probably not sending in the last one...oops
AP Scores: World History: 5, English Lang: 5, Spanish Lang: 4, Psychology: 5, Biology: 4, US History: 5</p>

<p>Honor Societies/Clubs/ECs based on senior year end:
- Piano - see awards
- Orchestra for all 4 years
- Chinese school for 10 years (does this even count? lol)
- Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society) member (3 years), Tri-M (Music Honor Society) member (3), National English Honor Society/NEHS member (2), National Spanish Honor Society/SNHS member (1)
- National Science Honor Society/SNHS - see leadership, Bio Olympiad - see leadership
- May join Red Cross</p>

<p>Volunteering:
-Sadly, no volunteering outside of required volunteering for clubs, but those should total to at least 50+ sparse hours</p>

<p>Leadership:
- Section specialist for senior year in orchestra (considered an officer position): will be in charge of scheduling rehearsals weekly, leading and teaching/helping at rehearsals, private tutoring if needed, etc.
- Will be starting a new chapter of SNHS (Science) with other officers; position currently undecided but not pres or VP
- Potentially co-leader of Bio Oly; situation's a bit wishy-washy for now
- Tutoring for math, English, and music at both middle school and high school levels (not sure if this counts?)</p>

<p>Awards:
- National Merit Commended; waiting for semifinalist results in September (I'm a bit below borderline so not much hope)
- AP Scholar with Distinction
- National Spanish Exam Gold Medal Winner (Level 4)
- Region Orchestra (violin)
- 2nd place local piano competition (solo), 1st place local piano competition (duet)
- 1st place state-wide (TMTA) piano competition (duet - junior division), 1st place state-wide (TMTA) piano competition (duet - senior division)
- Two 1st places and one 2nd place International Youth Piano Competition (honestly not nearly as important as it sounds, and I've cut off part of the competition name for privacy reasons)
- 6~ years National Winner for National Guild of Piano Teachers
- National Guild High School Diploma
- 7+ years and counting Gold Medalist for TMTA music theory tests
- Will perform in Carnegie Hall before applications are due
- 2nd place in a handwriting competition for Chinese school (I kid - this one's purely for laughs, but it did happen)</p>

<p>Assume decent/good recs and essay (hopefully won't be cliche...).</p>

<p>Financially, my family is very stable, so financial aid is highly wanted but not needed if worse comes to worse.</p>

<p>Many many apologies again for the length, but I'm extremely insecure, and the thought of college apps gives me near migraines. I only have one safety school and no match schools (since I consider everything other than UT on my list a reach), so if anyone can suggest some, I would be grateful. I'm also looking for ways I could improve my application, especially regarding ECs, volunteering, etc.</p>

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<p>JHU looks for more than those fantastic scores, they want to see a person with confidence. If you dont get confident you wont get in, period. Those scores open doors, keep your head up. Good luck. </p>

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<p>Your scores are good and the music stuff is good too. 2360 is a great SAT score!!! I would not recommend retaking them. Once you get over like a 2250, your SAT score will be enough for any school. I read that after a certain point, it’s all the same to colleges. So even if you could get those extra 40 points, would it really be worth the time and money? I’d say move on in regards to that, or you’ll be even more stressed. Same thing with retaking the Bio SATII… I know a lot of the SATII exams have big curves so getting an 800 is feasible, but it’s only ten points! Is it really worth it?</p>

<p>If you are worried about seeming medicore other than scores, show them how awesome you are with what you’ve got. Shine on your essays and supplements. Instead of focusing on perfect grammar and syntax (which is important) make sure they get a taste of your personality (Sorry this is cliche advice but ya know it’s the truth).</p>

<p>As far as volunteering goes, join a Rotary Club or something. They’re all about volunteering. Or if your family is involved with some sort of church or something? I’ve always found a lot of volunteer opportunities through my church. Just try to do something you enjoy that helps other people. Maybe preform violin or piano for the elderly or the sick?</p>

<p>Best of luck. Please don’t overstress, you’ll do well wherever you go. :smiley: </p>

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<p>Wow, really, I second yebhip, don’t overstress at all! I really think you’re in a good place to get accepted by all the schools you’ve listed; any difficulty that will remain in getting in is based purely on the schools’ selectivity, not your own efforts at all. Your music awards show that you have devoted yourself deeply to music, and that will shine through. I wouldn’t even take the ACT or Subject Tests over, TBH. </p>

<p>The only thing I would say is that for Hopkins BME, you might need to show some interest, academic and extracurricular, in Physics and Engineering as well as the sciences. Because that program’s really competitive since you have to specifically apply into that major.</p>

<p>I get what you’re saying about being insecure and hating college apps; I went through the same thing. But (other than doing some volunteering if it will really make you feel better, and I think the thing you put down about tutoring is more volunteering than leadership), you’ve got to believe that you’re a strong applicant in order to convey that in your essays and interviews. No more padding will give you that confidence, I promise. You just have it. </p>

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<p>Thank you all for your input! I know people get annoyed seeing people post in the chances forum for what seems like either ego boosts or petty reassurance to sooth anxiety, but after seeing everyone else’s “chance me’s” here on CC and looking at some of my peers’ accomplishments at school, really brought down my confidence several notches since I’m naturally oversensitive and prone to chronic anxiety. I’ll work on my confidence - junior year really hit me hard and I’m still suffering the repercussions from overstress, but I’ll definitely work on it.</p>

<p>@OnMyWay2013 I honestly wish at this point I can take back taking the ACT next month, but I’ve already paid to take it and even paid extra to have my date moved from June to September, so I doubt my parents would let me off easy if I told them I suddenly don’t want to take it, haha. While I might not retake bio, I really do want to take the SAT Math II subject over at least since a 760 only put me at the 68th percentile, which is rather low.</p>

<p>I’m also seriously considering switching from Hopkins for ED to either Duke, UPenn, or Rice because of the limitations with the BME program being separate and all and the sheer lack of financial aid after putting some numbers into a financial aid calculator.</p>

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<p>JHU ED: Good chances
Rice ED: Very good chances
Rice RD: Good chances
Duke ED: Solid chances
Duke RD: Low Reach</p>

<p>Chicago RD: Reach (RD admit rate 5%)
U Penn RD: Low Reach
UCB: almost safety
NW RD: Solid chances
Wash U RD: Good chance (no FA)
Vanderbilt RD: Very good chances (number and Asian)
Cornell RD: Decent chances</p>