Last chance me for a nervous senior?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey folks, I would definitely appreciate more opinions on what my chances are. Here's the low-down:</p>

<p>Demographics: Rural Wisconsin, White, Middle/Middle-lower Class. </p>

<p>ACT: 34. 35 in everything but Math.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.6 UW, rank of 66/390 (17%)</p>

<p>Key Strengths:</p>

<p>-Languages. This year I'm taking Chinese and Spanish at our university and AP French. Most of this progress/placement is from independent study. Also have independent study of Portuguese and Turkish. </p>

<p>-Involved with social/educational justice activism, especially LGBTQ stuff, on up to a national level. Sat on a committee, presented at a conference I helped organize, and lobbied all on the national level in addition to state/regional/local stuff.</p>

<p>Curriculum:</p>

<p>-Full time at university now for senior year through youth options/dual enrollment program
-10 APs by graduation, counting one independent study.
-3 Honors Classes
-Two semesters of college classes senior year in addition to online classes (5 APs)</p>

<p>EC Leadership Positions:
Gay-Straight Alliance (Pres 10th-11th)
Interfaith Club (Soph Pres.)
French Club (Junior Co-Pres.)
Creative Writing Club (Junior VP)
Political Debate Club (Junior Co-Pres.)
Math League (Competitive, test-based, scored 4th in region)
Yearbook (Freshman editor, quit after that)
Mock Trial (Junior, Senior year, Attorney)
Principal's Student Advisory Council (Junior Member)
College Feminists Alliance (Head of Online Activities, Senior year)
College Latino Student Alliance (12th)
English Speech Competition (10th-12th, state level gold)
French Speech Competition (10th-12th, state level gold)</p>

<p>Community Involvement:
-Program Manager of PFLAG Chapter (Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
-National Educational Justice Conference-steering committee
-Heavily involved with state LGBTQ non-profit (staffing camps, presenting at conferences, etc.)
-Volunteer for two local progressive coalitions
-Sat on district committee to improve anti-harassment policies
-Organizer of a web-based, national transgender student rights project
-Board member of an attempted national student rights non-profit (it later failed, so should I include it?)</p>

<p>Work:
-Intern for state assembly campaign (unpaid, several hundred hours)
-Organizing Fellow for Obama Campaign (~20 hours of work a week for a couple months)</p>

<p>Various:
-Awarded as youth-activist of the year for a large activism non-profit (state-level)
-Representative to a national conference (11th)
-Viola from 5th grade to present, involved with music groups like Chamber
-Davidson Institute Young Scholar
-Won a regional, prestigious award for rural students that included a trip to D.C. to be educated on civil service and lobby</p>

<p>Recommendations:
-Awesome one from college Spanish professor, said I was "the best student I've ever had in this class"
-One from GSA advisor/my History teacher
-One outside one from non-profit staffer I've worked with, starts off with "[My name] is changing the world." and gets even better</p>

<p>Where I'm applying:
-Wisconsin (in-state)
-Twin Cities
-Yale
-Tufts
-Brown
-UChicago
-Macalester
-Harvard</p>

<p>Writing-wise, I'm trying to focus on my work in activism, especially with diversity stuff. Academically focusing on multilingualism. For personal experiences I might add some stuff about being transgender in a small-town, if it fits, and stuff like that.</p>

<p>What do y'all think my shots are? Thanks for your time!</p>

2

<p>UWI: Safety
UMN: Safety
Yale: Reach
Tufts: Reach
Harvard: Reach
Macalester: High match
Brown: Reach
UChicago: Reach (pay attention to your essays)</p>

3

<p>Hi, thank you again! I think that you have a high chance to enter any of these universities. However, you, as every other applicant, will need luck and you may not get accepted to the top schools. But I believe, that you will be offered a place from at least one of your choices. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Thanks Catria, that’s what I feel like too. Good thing I’d be happy going to any of these schools. Just gotta try my best!</p>

5

<p>-Wisconsin (in-state)- safety
-Twin Cities- safety
-Yale- reach
-Tufts- mid-reach
-Brown- reach
-UChicago- reach
-Macalester-high- match
-Harvard- reach</p>

<p>Most of these schools would be reaches for anyone, but you have great ECs so that should help you. Make sure you write stellar essays and try to bring up your grades first semester to show an upward trend in your GPA. Other than that good luck!</p>

6

<p>Thanks vandygirl! Good luck to you too :)</p>

7

<p>Any other thoughts?</p>

8

<p>Well, I can’t give exact chances (since I’m not an admissions officer) but, looking at your application, here are a few things that pop out to me.</p>

<p>First of all, it should be noted, you have a very strong file. In particular, your EC’s are very strong, and show dedication/passion and leadership. In addition, the ACT is strong, and your course rigor is also very good.</p>

<p>The weakest link to your application (and the only thing making schools like Harvard very high reaches for you) is your GPA. Unfortunately, a 3.6 and 17% rank is quite low for Ivy Leagues. </p>

<p>“Writing-wise, I’m trying to focus on my work in activism, especially with diversity stuff. Academically focusing on multilingualism. For personal experiences I might add some stuff about being transgender in a small-town, if it fits, and stuff like that.”</p>

<p>You are focusing on the right things. Pound away at the activism you do; from your application and activities, it is clear that that is what drives you.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

9

<p>I am also an applicant from Wisconsin, and have to say I am very jealous of all the oppurtunities your school offers you! Generally most of us midwesterners do not have very good Ec’s and the kind of ECs you have would rival some of the top kids on the east coast. That is defenitley one of the things that will pop from your application. Unfortunatley your GPA is very low for these schools and is one of the things that will hold you back, espically because I don’t think many colleges view midwestern schools as very hard, and really want to see their applicants succeed in their schools. Your GPA will dfenitley hold you back a little. You are a unique applicant from anywhere in the U.S. and even more unique coming from a place such as Wisconsin, so hopefully that part of your application will shine through!</p>

<p>Wisconsin (in-state)- Saftey
-Twin Cities- (Is there anything below a saftey?)
-Yale- Reach
-Tufts- Low reach- High match
-Brown- reach
-UChicago- Reach (Maybe you’ll shine even more here since Chicago is much more subjective)
-Macalester- Match
-Harvard- Reach</p>

<p>Good luck! If you applied ED to any of these places I would say your chances are even better. Always good to see a fellow Wisconisner</p>

<p>Chance me back? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1418125-chance-me-duke-other-top-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1418125-chance-me-duke-other-top-schools.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

10

<p>Thanks adodie and CaptnKirk!</p>

11

<p>You have a shot at all your reaches, you’re objective stats are in the ballpark. Your essays will make the difference, so focus on those… Hopefully you’ll get into one of reach schools!</p>

12

<p>Given the low income background, I’d say all your achievements are pretty exceptional. I think you have an excellent shot at all of those schools.</p>

13

<p>Thanks you two!</p>

14

<p>Bumprumpahbumbump.</p>

15

<p>Just out of curiosity what is driving your GPA that much? It sounds as though you are brilliant.</p>

<p>Let me know.</p>

16

<p>Hey keepingcalm, I do well on tests but I have a hard time motivating myself to do busy work and review homework, given it’s only purpose for me is to have a grade point. I usually spend that time on community service and stuff instead, it just makes more sense to me to gain more connections and opportunities immediately while making things better than to chase after a number.</p>

17

<p>Barambabamp.</p>

18

<p>ECs stand out yet GPA leaves much to be desired…</p>

<p>-Wisconsin (in-state)- Low Match-Safety
-Twin Cities- Safety
-Yale- High Reach
-Tufts- Reach
-Brown- High Reach
-UChicago- High Reach
-Macalester- never heard of
-Harvard- High Reach</p>

<p>Your ECs will help you though, and so will your essays if they are good. Good luck.</p>

<p>Chance me?</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1420427-will-chance-back-please-chance-me.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1420427-will-chance-back-please-chance-me.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

19

<p>That makes two of us! Both volunteering 20 hours a week for Obama. (:
Wisconsin- safety
Minnesota- safety
Yale- high reach
Tufts- reach
Brown- reach
UC Chicago- low reach
Macalester- no idea what this is
Harvard- high reach</p>

<p>Chance me? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1426652-ohio-state-chances.html#post15139798[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1426652-ohio-state-chances.html#post15139798&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

20

<p>Thanks you two!</p>