Junior looking for information/guidance

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Looking for info on whether I'm on a good track/what I can do to improve.</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: Not sure, my school is in the midst of a GPA crisis right now, but ~3.7
Weighted: Again, not sure, but ~4.3
Class Rank: First quintile, but system may be phased out</p>

<p>SAT I: Took it May sophomore year, got 2310 (800 CR/780 M/730 W, 1580 composite)
SAT II: Math I--730
Math II--800
Bio--710
Planning on taking chem and US after AP Chem and APUSH this year.</p>

<p>Classes: All honors offered 9th/10th, then AP Chem, APUSH, AP Calc BC, AP Eng Lang, and Spanish 4H this year.
School: Very good public high school in Westchester County, NY. Not top top, but up there.</p>

<p>ECs:
Amnesty International club (9,10,11)
Academic Challenge club (9,10,11)
Math Team (9,10,11)
Columbia Science Honors Program (10)
Cross-Country team (9,10,11)
Bowling team (yes, we have a bowling team) (10, 11)
Spring Track team (10, prospective 11)
Member of Temple Youth program (9,10,11)</p>

<p>Work:
Day Camp counselor (kindergarten boys) at local day camp past two summers. Also worked in food services, which was simultaneously much more and much less important than it sounds (I didn't get free food, but I basically helped run the camp). Possible essay topic.</p>

<p>Honors/Awards:
Won a State History Bee as part of the National History Bee
All-Tournament Team at regional academic competition</p>

<p>Recommendations:
I'm thinking my AP Eng Lang teacher and my APUSH teacher. I've "shown my best side" in both classes, and both are hyper-literate, excellent teachers who I know would give a great recommendation. However, should I look for a math/science teacher to provide balance?</p>

<p>Colleges:
Georgetown SFS, Brown (double legacy undergrad), Columbia (double legacy grad)--Dream/Reach
Cornell ILR--Just below the top 3, mostly because it's at a state school price
Wesleyan-- Middle ground
UNC Chapel Hill, SUNY Geneseo--Safeties</p>

<p>Final Thoughts:
While looking at this, it may seem like I'm math/sci focused, I'm actually more interested in polisci/IR, but could see myself doing something interdisciplinary too.
Price is not a huge consideration, but plays a part, as does distance from home (no planes), and weather (<2 feet of snow per year preferred)</p>

2

<p>I’m against the concept of self-bumps but it seems necessary.</p>

3

<p>Selling my soul here.</p>

4

<p>When you say top quintile, do you know where you are in it? Are you at least in the top 10%?</p>

5

<p>Not really. My guess would be top 5-10% (out of 185), but as I said, we’re going through a GPA/class rank crisis right now, and are on the verge of abolishing class rank and going completely unweighted. No one really knows their GPA right now, so I can’t make any predictions, but I’m taking one of the top 5 hardest schedules in my class, not sure about people with easier scheds but better grades.</p>

6

<p>Whether your school officially ranks or not, they will give grade distribution info to colleges. The bottom line is that for real consideration without a hook, highly selective schools rarely accept students not in the top 10%. at Brown and Columbia, most will be very top of class. You get a break as a legacy at Brown, and you have the scores, so if the rank is in order I’d apply ED there for your best shot. Legacy advantage goes way down if you don’t apply ED.</p>

7

<p>I think from an academic standpoint, you’re really solid (great SATs, rank, etc). If for some reason this GPA crisis messes up your rank, be sure to have your college counselor explain this in his/her rec letter. </p>

<p>I do see a bit of a math/sci focus with your ECs, but you have stuck with most of them throughout high school, which is good. Bowling team ftw, wish my school had that! I do think that History Bee win is pretty darn impressive, as is the Columbia Honors Sciene Program. Your other ECs are somewhat common for most kids applying to these schools, but as long as your convey your passion in well-written essays, you’re fine. </p>

<p>One thing about Brown though: IR is a really popular major there, and if you feel like you’re having trouble showing Brown why IR is your true passion, then apply as like a history major and switch once you get in lol. I would ED to the school with the best undergrad connections, ie Brown, if I were you. Columbia ED was a blood bath this year, and the RD round will only get tougher. </p>

<p>You still should end up at a great school, and I know you’ll succeed :slight_smile: Thanks for chancing me btw!</p>

<p>Georgetown-high reach (SFS is like impossible lol)
Brown-low reach (if you do ED)
Columbia-mid reach
Cornell-low/mid reach
Wesleyan-high match/low reach
SUNY-safety
UNC-high match</p>

8

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Yeah Brown ED seems likely, but I’ll have to see what happens over the coming year.</p>

9

<p>back to page 1 7 o’clock bump</p>

10

<p>Thanks for chancing me!</p>

<p>Great scores! I think those scores will put you in the running for all of the schools, but with a lot of them, its a tossup if you’ll get in. </p>

<p>I think you have a good chance if you apply to Brown ED, having legacy helps SOO much, I know at UPenn, you can meet with an admissions officer your junior year, and they’ll tell you what you should focus on to get into their school. You should look into that. Good chance at Columbia, too, I have double legacy grad too.</p>

11

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Yeah Brown has the same service for legacies, I’m going to use that and hopefully they can give me specific info on chances, recommendations, ECs, etc. The nice thing is that Brown’s program isn’t specifically for legacies planning on applying to Brown, so hopefully they can help with other schools as well.</p>

12

<p>That sounds great, but seriously, you’ll be fine at wherever you apply.</p>

13

<p>can’tforcemyselftodoanymorecalcbump.</p>