Ivies? Am I crazy?

<p>Hey CCers! I'm your typical nervous senior in high school desperate to know if I have a fighting chance at any of the schools I'm applying to! Please chance me for the following schools:</p>

<p>Harvard
UChicago (EA)
Columbia
Brown
Tufts
NYU
Boston University
Northeastern (EA)
UMASS Amherst (EA)</p>

<p>Thank you! Also if you post a link to your thread, I'll happily chance you back!</p>

<p>SAT: 2210 highest single sitting (730CR, 710M, 770W)
SAT2: 790 USH (also 680 Math 2-not sending. Also taking french and lit in October)</p>

<p>GPA (weighted): 4.73 (unweighted): 4.0
Rank: 3/~240
School: medium-sized public school in Massachusetts, sends a few kids to Ivies every year</p>

<p>Gender: female
Race: white as can be
Income Bracket: applying for financial aid
no hooks to speak of</p>

<p>complicated family situation- father was an alcoholic, had a severe brain injury when I was 10. He is unable to live on his own and our family lost most of its savings keeping him in a home where he would be well cared for- they don't cover that under health insurance. Lived nearly my whole life with a single mom struggling to keep our lives stable on social security and a job that was the best she could get. </p>

<p>Essay: It's about my dad's situation and how it's affected me. I was worried it would be cliche, but both my guidance counselor and my former AP English language teacher love it.</p>

<p>Recs: one will be from AP English Language teacher, one from Honors Physics teacher (who happens to be a family friend and knows me very well). The English teacher one will be outstanding and the Physics teacher one will probably be a best-in-career one (he told my uncle that I was the best student he's ever had)</p>

<p>APs: Calculus AB, USH, English Lang (all 5s)</p>

<p>Schedule:
-Freshman year: Chorus (honors group-audition only)- A+, Alg II H- A, Bio H- A, English 9-A, World History H- A+, French 2 H- A, Wellness (required)- A
-Sophomore year: Chorus (honors group- audition only)- A+, Geometry H- A+, Chem H- A+, US History I H- A, French 3 H- A+, English 10 H- A+, Wellness (required)- A
-Junior year: Chorus (same group haha)- A+, Physics H- A-, French 4 H- A+, AP English Lang- A, APUSH- -, AP Calculus AB- A+, online astronomy class through Virtual High School
-Senior Year: Chorus (same group), AP English Lit (online through Virtual High School because it did not fit in my schedule), AP French, AP Physics C- Mechanics, AP Calculus BC, AP Econ (macro+micro)
**my school only offers APs to juniors and seniors but I have consistently taken the most rigorous schedule available and I'm hoping that colleges recognize that. </p>

<p>Community Service: 300+ hours total, 200 from volunteering at local science museum, others from service club I started, teaching children from low-income areas about money @ local banks, Freshman Orientation leadership position, volunteering at fundraisers for my dad's house, various other places around the community</p>

<p>Work Experience: internship at local science museum this past summer working on developing a new toy for the children's area based on current psychology research. I read through several research papers and picked one, then adapted the researchers' methods into a toy for children to play with while the study is explained to parents. I also created a guide for recreating this toy and the explanation which has been sent out to museums all around the country. I am actually presenting my work for approximately 50 researchers this weekend- intimidating but very exciting!</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>-I started a club at my high school that works through a local charity to throw birthday parties for homeless children. I plan on emphasizing this a lot on college apps as it means a lot to me (founder, co-president, 10, 11, 12)
-Drama Club (acting every show, set design every show, 9, 10, 11, president 12)
-Gay-Straight Alliance (publicist, 9, 10)
-Freshman Orientation Leader (10, 11)
-Chemistry Club (10)
-French Club (9,10,11)
-Calculus Club (11, 12)
-STEM Pathway (puts together science-related events at my school, founding member, 11, 12)
-Model United Nations (founding member, attended Harvard MUN 2012 + 2013, 10, 11, 12)
-National Honors Society (this is very competitive at my school! I am running for vice president and may actually be running unopposed because at least one of my opponents got scared and dropped out, 12)
-National French Honor Society (12- senior year is the only school honor societies accept people at my school)
-working on setting up a tutoring alliance at a local elementary school, will be done by the time college applications are sent (12)
-I have been playing guitar for 5 years and writing my own songs but I don't plan on sending in anything about my music so I probably won't include this.</p>

<p>Awards: National recognition for score on National French Exam (9, 10, 11) (highest score in my school each year as well), various local awards. I got the Brown Book Award at my school and have written the alumnus who donated it... I haven't the faintest idea if that helps, but I guess it can't hurt my chances for Brown at least.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for your input! And if you can think of any other schools I should consider or things that would help my application, I'd love to hear it!</p>

<p>Your stats are within range of admits to the top schools. It will now entirely depend on your essays and recs. That said, you have a lot to possibly write about, with the internship experience being the one with the highest potential. Assuming non-spectacular essays/recs,</p>

<p>Harvard - reach
UChicago (EA) - reach
Columbia - reach
Brown - reach
Tufts - match
NYU - low match
Boston University - safety
Northeastern (EA) - safety
UMASS Amherst (EA) - safety</p>

<p>Harvard: high reach
UChicago (EA): mid reach
Columbia: high reach
Brown: high reach
Tufts: high match
NYU: mid match
Boston University: safety
Northeastern (EA): safety
UMASS Amherst (EA): safety</p>

<p>Good luck! :)</p>

<p>I think it’s gonna be tough to get in, but you definitely have a chance because of your amazing GPA and unique situation. Write great essays and you’ll definitely be a competitive applicant</p>

<p>sorry to bump, but I am now thinking of doing Brown ED. I was initially worried about financial aid but I feel like Brown will be generous and I really really do love the school. How much would that help my odds?</p>

<p>At BU and Northeastern, if they suspect that you are using them as safeties, if you do not show interest, you could get waitlisted.</p>

<p>Look, a fellow mass hole! Mass represent :)</p>

<p>Damn good scores if I say so, I think Ivies are the right direction to look up towards. Your unique situation, can open a breakthrough in your college essay.</p>

<p>Harvard: Reach
UChicago (EA): reach
Columbia: Reach
Brown ED: Low reach/high match? I think You’ve got a fighting shot here.
Tufts: Match-hi match
NYU: Low-mid match
Boston University: Low match/safety
Northeastern (EA): Low match/safety
UMASS Amherst (EA): Safety</p>

<p>Really, really similar list to some of the schools I have on my list (with lower credentials on my end). Chance back if you will?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1550070-looking-some-helpful-input-chance-me.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1550070-looking-some-helpful-input-chance-me.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Either way, best of luck with the application season!</p>

<p>You do have a hook (sadly, your father’s situation).
I actually would not be surprised if you got into all of them.</p>

<p>Good luck to you.</p>