Interested in Seeing Ways to Improve my Application

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello! I have been on these boards for a long time now. But I'm hoping that an even more experienced poster could give me some advice on what I need to do to improve the effectiveness of my application. Thanks.</p>

<p>Prospective Colleges of Interest: </p>

<p>Stanford (I was originally born in CA, and I think this may be my top choice.)
MIT
Harvard
Princeton
Columbia
Georgetown
University of Illinois - Urbana (My state flagship and hopefully a safety)</p>

<p>Personal</p>

<p>Currently a rising junior in Illinois.</p>

<p>High School Type: Public; the students are competitive, but the school has few resources to accommodate those who want to attend selective schools. Almost never sends graduates to top schools.</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Hispanic</p>

<p>Academics</p>

<pre><code>Awards: Nothing major. Below are some:

1st Place in English, WYSE Academic Challenge Regional Competition
3rd Place in English, WYSE Academic Challenge Sectional Competition
(Included most of Illinois except Chicago-land)
And a bunch of first places in school academic competitions.
</code></pre>

<p>I hope to be a National Merit Finalist and a National Merit Hispanic Scholar. (I know you guys hate tentatives though, but I consistently score 220+ on practice tests.)</p>

<p>SAT I: 740 CR, 790 M, 740 W (Taken freshman year)
SAT II: Taking Literature, Math II, and Chemistry in June</p>

<p>GPA: 5.00 Unweighted, 5.28 Weighted
Rank: 2/417
Course Load: No APs allowed until Junior year, but I have taken most rigorous schedule possible and will continue to do so.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars</p>

<p>Mock Trial Team (Captain)
WYSE Academic Varsity Team
JETS Academic Team (Expect to be Captain next year)
Scholastic Bowl (Co-Captain of JV team)
Piano program at Illinois Wesleyan University School of Music (9 years so far)</p>

<p>I intend to found a Music Club and Discussion/Debate Club next year.</p>

<p>I hope to also participate in the Peer Leadership tutoring program next year and the Key Club.</p>

<p>Volunteering: Some scattered activities here and there. I volunteer and perform piano at events for a local organization that provides scholarships to minorities.</p>

<p>Work: Self-employed piano-playing for events.</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

2

<p>you’d probably get in EA to Stanford, seeing as you’re hispanic/URM. decent shot at all. great gpa/rank/salutatorian, great scores, kinda weak ecs, and urm. gl!</p>

3

<p>Thanks. I recognize my ECs are relatively weak. Any specific suggestions on how to improve their focus?</p>

4

<p>Bumb (maybe premature though) in hope of getting more advice.</p>

5

<p>I am a fellow Central Illinoisan, and I also competed in WYSE throughout high school.</p>

<p>Anyway, I just recently finished my college process, ended up where I wanted, and I posted all the advice I could come up with at this link:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/696812-my-final-cc-post-my-advice-how-you-can-improve-your-chances.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/696812-my-final-cc-post-my-advice-how-you-can-improve-your-chances.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>ur hispanic…ur in w/ ur stats. congrats!</p>

7

<p>Hellow fellow Central Illinoisan. I don’t see too many of 'em on the Internet!</p>

<p>You sound pretty confident, smarty99. I still consider the most selective schools moderate reaches for me given my lackluster ECs. Perhaps I’m underestimating the effect of being an URM.</p>

8

<p>the effect of being an URM when you have stats like you do is pretty strong. however, you’re dealing with schools that pretty much all have acceptance rates below 10%, so I wouldn’t relax just yet. Make sure your essays and recs are amazing. Don’t give them any reason to reject you. The last thing you want is for you to think you’re a sure-thing and then slack come application time.</p>

9

<p>I think your EC’s are fine, but to make sure you are in with less “wiggle” room, work on your volunteering. Personally, I wouldn’t accept you because you have done little to none volunteering. Shoot for a goal of around 200 hours before you submit your application, and that should definitely get you in. :)</p>

<p>GL!</p>

10

<p>Your test scores and gpa are very competitive and will help your chance at admission. I suggest getting really involved with one particular activity and devote a lot of time to it. Colleges like to see this. Plus, you could write an essay about your experience as a devoted member/leader in the activity. Right now, MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton look like low reaches/high matches because of the competitiveness at these schools, while gtown and columbia are good matches/you’ll probably get in. U of I looks to be a shoe-in.</p>

11

<p>Thanks for the advice. I hope to flesh out my volunteering and ECs during junior year.</p>

12

<p>I usually ignore pointless threads like this but i need to get this off of my chest. What is wrong with you guys?! For one, why was this post even made? Nothing anybody tells you here is going to be anything you haven’t already heard. I could understand if you’re looking to calm your nerves, but you should know that no matter what stats you have those schools are reaches so that clearly isn’t the case. Also, Since when does captain of one thing, co-captain of another thing, and future captain of something else considered weak EC’s. The degree to which you guys go to insult and downplay each other is nothing short of ridiculous. But what I hate more than idiots saying that an OP has weak EC’s when they clearly don’t, is when the OP agrees. I’ve heard of people being overly critical but this is just plain stupid. Perhaps the reason you guys tell each other this is in the hopes that someone like me will tell you you’re wrong and stroke your ego, or perhaps you are all just ridiculously naive. But whatever it is, I hope that CC can stop because it’s really irritating…
Alright I feel better lol</p>

13

<p>Compared to many applicants to top universities, my ECs are weak. It’s all relative.</p>

<p>The reason I made the thread was to hear others’ opinions and thoughts on what I could do to better my chances for gaining acceptance to schools I’m interested in.</p>

14

<p>no, dude, you’re like 4 captains.
plus hispanic.
u win at life.</p>

15

<p>Wow! Your GPA and SAT scores are amazing! U of I is definitely a safety, Georgetown is easily at your level, and of course, the Ivies are reaches as they are for everyone. </p>

<p>I would do more volunteer work, which will fill up your EC’s with meaningful work. Being Hispanic will also help you a lot. You’re in! Good luck!</p>

16

<p>Since I’m only a sophomore, I hope to use this summer and my junior year to found two clubs, do a significant amount of meaningful volunteering, continue with my current ECs, start tutoring kids, and begin a program aimed at helping Hispanics through high school and educate them on how to make it into college. </p>

<p>Hopefully these things, coupled with maintaining my GPA, will give me an acceptance at one of my top picks (Stanford, MIT, and Harvard). Thanks for the advice!</p>

17

<p>when i looked at your list of schools i was like “oh gosh, another random person who’s going to learn the hard way…”. then i realized you were hispanic.</p>

<p>however, while your ethnicity does give you some sort of advantage, it doesnt automatically turn HYPMS into safeties as some have correctly pointed out before me. U of I maybe so, but it’s generally different from HYPMS so look into a school’s nature before you decide. </p>

<p>what’re you majoring in? georgetown isn’t really a school for everyone, so once again ensure fit.</p>

<p>HYPMS are always hard but your ethnicity confers you an advantage (not to be confused with a ticket). i’m guessing you’re in for at least one of these 5 but don’t take my word for it. impressing the adcoms still has to be done.</p>

18

<p>Those stats are amazing.
While HPYS may be difficult to get into, as a hispanic URM if feel like you should definitely get into one of them, regadless of your EC’s which i don’t think are weak. Have fun in an ivy!</p>

19

<p>I think that you’re on the right track because your GPA, rank, and scores are great…plus that URM status always helps. </p>

<p>What are you planning on majoring, because focusing your ECs and volunteering around this will help show that you have a certain passion. I couldn’t really tell what your passion was from the original post just because you’re ECs (at least appear) somewhat generic and common, but still show great academic skill. Good luck! :)</p>

20

<p>Best way to beef up your college app: (drum roll please) get a girlfriend. Youre too young to be worrying about that kind of thing. But if you really wanna improve your application maybe play a sport or do something to show colleges that you are a social and well rounded person and that you can function in a society as a regular guy. Actually, a girlfriend is just what you need :)</p>