Lack of strong EC's -- are my chances shot at top schools?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I’m currently a high school junior in CA. I am interested in engineering, and I’m aiming for top schools like Stanford, Columbia, Cornell, Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, Duke, UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, etc.</p>

<p>I think most of my objective stats are pretty solid. These are all predicted and based on current trends since I am only a Junior.</p>

<p>Hispanic (mixed), Middle Class, CA Public School
GPA: 4.0 UW / 4.3 W
Rank: Top 5%
SAT Score: 2100-2250
SAT Subject Tests: Math 2 (750-800), Chemistry (740-780), US History (760-800)
AP Scores: AP Euro (2) – only AP I have taken so far, not planning on reporting,
AP Calculus AB, AP US History, AP Chemistry, AP Physics B, AP Lang (predicting 4’s or 5’s)</p>

<p>Senior Year Course Load: AP Biology, AP Calculus BC, AP Literature , AP US Government (semester), AP Macro Economics (semester), Spanish 4, Choir </p>

<p>Awards:
National Merit Commended
Nation Hispanic Scholar
AP Scholar with Distinction
California Scholastic Federation – 3 years
National Honor Society – 2 years
Student of the Year (sophomore year from AP Euro teacher)</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities:
Show Choir – 4 years, 1 year secretary (maybe 2 years as secretary)
Key Club – 4 years, 2 years executive board position, 200+ hours through club
California Scholastic Federation – 3 years (maybe 1 year in a leadership position)
National Honor Society – 2 years (maybe 1 year in a leadership position)
Cross Country/Track - 2 years (ended my sophomore year, not Varsity)</p>

<p>I have taken the most challenging courses my school offers.
I predict that my essays and LOR's will be pretty good.</p>

<p>This was just to give a quick overview. My major worry is my lack of EC’s in my area of interest (and lack of awards). I have some leadership positions, but no VP or Pres positions, and all my activities are really generic. I am planning on doing a summer program, internship, and/or summer course in a STEM area to try and gain some experience this summer, but I know I probably won’t get into any prestigious programs since I have no previous experience.</p>

<p>I still have another year to try and add some more focused EC's, but I can't think of any at my schools that I would been interested in joining since they don't have any good STEM clubs. (plus I don't think it would help to throw in random clubs my senior year) Any suggestions?</p>

<p>I’m just hoping my chances aren’t greatly hindered by this.</p>

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<p>Bump10char.</p>

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<p>Bump10char.</p>

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<p>Your extracurriculars aren’t that weak. Try to email some professors at universities around you to see whether they have any research opportunities for students. Are there any science fairs at your school? Start a mini-business (my friend who went to Harvard started a dj business after getting rejected from all the summer programs he applied to), make an iPhone app? Find a community issue you care about and find out how you can help (I wanted to contribute to the new library opening in my community, i did some research, and I ended up becoming a board member on the county committee and am designing many programs for the new library)</p>

<p>I feel like killer essays can make up for not that stellar extracurriculars, but you must have an interesting topic.</p>

<p>Also, try to get your sat above 2250, 2100+ isn’t good enough anymore…</p>

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<p>Unfortunately, there are no science fairs at my school. There are very few STEM activities (I can only think of one or two), and the few we have are clubs that meet at lunch once a week and don’t do much of anything.</p>

<p>I will definitely try to add something this summer. Looking at summer programs and college classes online or at a CC/local university right now. An internship or research opportunity would be nice, but I think that would be extremely difficult to find with no experience, but I will still consider it.</p>

<p>I’ll work on my essays during this summer to make sure they are strong, and I’ll aim for 2250+. Thanks for your advice, doglova!</p>

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<p>This is what you have to do to lock your place in these schools.
Continue taking those college classes, but don’t make them your life. Look up research opportunities and internships in your area! NOW. Apply NOW.
This summer will be extremely important. Also, just a little additional…do some extra reading over the summer…I found that this really inspired me when writing my personal statements.
Chance back please.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1409885-chance-i-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1409885-chance-i-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thanks for the help, earlygrad123. I’m determined to make this summer really productive! Already chanced back. :)</p>

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<p>good chances. gpa counts for 60% of consideration</p>

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<p>Hispanic… that’s says it all.</p>