Currently, I’m a junior in the process of figuring where I want to apply. Unfortunately, I am unsure as to whether I’m even competitive to the colleges on my list, especially with my relatively low SAT score.
My list is as follows:
Yale
Pomona
Stanford
Harvey Mudd
Princeton
UC Berkeley
UCLA
UCSD
USC
My stats:
GPA: 3.95 (UW), 4.51 (W)
SAT I: 2190 (750 CR, 700 M, 740 W)
SAT II: Math II - 800, US Hist - 780
About me:
Gender/Ethnicity: M, Pacific Islander
Private HS in California
Intended major: CS/Math/Business (don’t really know yet)
Income bracket: 150,000-200,000
ECs:
-Fully fundraised summer immersion trip to Latin America (6 weeks)
-Summer teaching internship for low-income, high potential ( like TFA, 8 weeks)
-After-school math teacher (6 hours a week)
-Started/ lead free math program at local library (2 hours/week)
-Training Director for program that sends HS students to Latin America (4 hrs/week)
-Club basketball team since 9th grade (10 hrs/week)
-Journalist for school online publication
-Robotics (Freshman/Sophomore - 10 hrs/week)
By the start of senior year, I will have around ~900 service hours (if the number even matters). Would I be considered a competitive applicant to top-tier schools like the ones in my list? Or should I be looking at other schools? Any help would be appreciated.
USC/UCSD: Match
UCB/UCLA: High Match
Pomona/Harvey Mudd: Low Reach
Yale/Stanford/Princeton: Lottery since they are Reaches for all applicants.
You are a competitive applicant and if you write some solid essays, you have a chance at all the Reach schools, I just do not see anything that makes you stand out from the rest of the applicants. Bumping up your SAT score could help.
Make sure you have 1 or 2 safety schools on your list.
I would really work on improving your SAT score for the best shot at those schools. Math score is especially important for a CS or math major.
I would agree with gumbymom, though I would put Pomona/Harvey Mudd as lottery/reaches. Check out their Common Data Sets.
You definitely need to add more matches and safeties to your list. Consider Cal Poly SLO, Cal Poly Pomona, Santa Clara, UCI, UCSC, UCSB for solid in state options.
Your stats are solid, so they at least leave you competitive in the Ivy schools: however, I would consider raising your SAT score or taking the ACT. A 2190 is on the lower end especially for places like Yale.
Your EC’s are alright: there seems to be a lot about connections with Latin America, so maybe that could be your selling point.
Otherwise I don’t see another hook: I don’t see too many leadership positions in the rest of your EC’s.
@sgopal2 Thanks for the suggestion! The Engage program seems like something I’d be interested in doing. Duke is definitely on my list now. Do you know of any similar programs at other schools?