My Chances @ UChicago, Cornell, CMU?

GPA (out of 4.0): 3.83
SAT: 2380 (790 Math, 800 Writing, 790 Reading)
Taking ~11 APs in my 4-year time @ HS (most likely going to receive 4s, 5s)
4 Leadership positions in total
ex:Founder and President of Asian American Society
Won art competitions in middle+high school (most likely sending in an art portfolio)

Do colleges look at family members when looking at apps? My cousin went to UChicago full ride, and was a stellar student (won Mr. U consecutively, had opportunity to speak at graduation, won a medal, etc etc); I was wondering if that would increase my chances. My other cousin went to CMU full ride as well.

I don’t know if they would realize that you are cousins, but I think usually legacy means parents or siblings have attended there.

It’s fine to have some reach schools, but make sure you have matches and safeties as well.

And check out net price calculators to see if the schools are affordable for your family.

UChicago you have about a 13% chance as your GPA is too low but your SAT brings it up. The average rate is about 9% so you have 1% more of a chance to get in. Since I’m guessing your Asian from your Founder/President position I’d add another 2% the AP’s give another 1%. So for UChicago I’d give you about a 13% chance which is very good.

For Cornell you have about a 30% chance. For your SAT you get a major bump in admittance rate but your GPA brings it down a little from that I’d give you 27% chance plus 2% for race and 1% for AP classes. Therefore you have about a 30% chance which is very good compared to the average 16% chance.

For CMU you have about a 64% chance. Your GPA and SAT are both above the average admittance, giving you about a 61% chance just from academics. Plus the race and AP’s 3%. You have about a 64% chance.

For these top schools you have good chances compared to average. I’d definetly say add a safety college that guarantees you admittance.

Um, no one can give you percentages on getting in (how can you say someone has a 64% chance admittance? It’s not as simple as adding percentages for AP and taking off percentages for race) but you look like a strong applicant.

@anxiousenior1 Using schools average admittance rate based on academics along with what they look for in candidates like AP classes along with their race you can. I’m not saying the race and AP is 100% accurate but it still gives a rough estimate.

LOL

@NickFlynn ?

“Rough estimates” usually wouldn’t be given down the percentage point.

I’d question the reasoning behind “+2% for being Asian” and “+1% for APs” when the OP was so vague about the scores. The numbers are so small that they are essentially meaningless.

No big deal, but the combination of high precision and seemingly arbitrary numbers plucked from thin air just struck me as humorous.

I’m not really sure what my safety schools are, which is something I would definitely look at. But, for sure Rutgers-New Brunswick is a safety (I live in NJ).

@NickFlynn I’m not sure if I’m wrong about this like @anxiousenior1 said but that’s how my college advisor did it using prepscholar.com and the average race, if they look for AP classes and by academics.

Prepscholar…you’re using the prepscholar calculator to do this…

Don’t forget essays, at least for U Chicago. And if you are applying for computer science at CMU the acceptance rate is in the single digits I believe.

If I am going to apply for CMU, I will apply for either fine arts (most likely for design/arch) or Dietrich

You have what these colleges want. You’re able to differentiate yourself from other applicants statistically. What counts now is that you’re able to distinguish yourself personally and qualitatively.
This is done through your essays and your ECs. Mirroring what @mommdc brought up, especially for U Chicago essays are a valued method of self expression. This also goes for the other schools.

Based on the vague information you gave us I’d say you’re a competitive applicant. Unfortunately the brevity of your response leaves what I addressed above as a blank space.

If you successfully achieve what I describes I’d say you have a competitive chance at any of these schools.

PS. don’t trust percentages. Admissions can so subjective that even these chances can be misleading.

Best of luck, and I hope for some big packets in the mail for you this spring.

If apply in Fine Arts at CMU, your portfolio will be the biggest factor by far, so chancing there based on your stats is almost pointless.

@NickFlynn I’m not sure if it’s “almost pointless” though. I know people who have been in the school, and all of them still put great importance in academics whilst applying to CMU Fine Arts. I think your comment really only applies to if someone was eminently skilled.

You aren’t getting into design or architecture there if you aren’t eminently skilled.
I’m not saying academics don’t matter at all, but yours aren’t going to hold you back in those majors IF your portfolio is good.
(I went to CMU, and a lot of my friends were in those departments.)

Let me clarify: I meant as if it was an extreme scenario. For example, Person A had mediocre to low grades, but A has the artistic talent like one of the European masters. I apologize if this is far fetched lol

@eseliz That is interesting that you add +2% for race. Since being Asian is definitely not a hook for these schools, so I am curious about how you determine this to be a plus.

Let me clarify: Your grades and test scores are good enough for those majors at CMU, and getting in is largely going to be a matter of the quality of your portfolio and the rest of your application. (Which no one can really chance for you on CC.)