New to Board - Chance Me for Stanford, UCLA, Princeton and Yale - Will Chance Back!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi, I’m a senior and I’m applying to the following schools RD:

Stanford
UCLA
Princeton
Yale
Rice
Northwestern
UVA
UC Berkeley
Pomona
UC Davis
UCSD
ND

I understand that Stanford, Yale and Princeton are reaches for everyone. I just want to know if I’m in the running for any of them.

My stats:

SAT (one sitting): 2350
ACT: Composite 35 Math 36, Science 36, Reading 35, English 35, Writing 12
SAT II: Math II: 800 US History: 750
GPA: Weighted: 4.69, Unweighted 4.00
Rank 1 of 123 (private school California)
AP Exams: Calculus BC (5), Stats (5), AP English Comp (5), AP Physics B (5), US History (5), AP European History (5)

Awards/Honors: NMSF, AP Scholar with Distinction, Faculty Choice Awards (best student): 9, 10, and 11, School Mathematics Award, School Service Award, and miscellaneous other school awards

EC:
Varsity Tennis 9, 10, and 11 Team Captain 12
Frosh and JV Football 9, 10
Marching and Jazz Bands: 9, 10, 11, 12
School Service Club 9, 10, 11 and 12
Missions to Mexico (9, 10, and 11), Mission to Peru (10) - Building homes for the poor
Yearbook 9, 10, 11 (Editor in Charge 12)
Founder and Editor in Charge, Online School Newspaper 11, 12
Student Ambassador Sister City to Germany 9
Chair, School Recycling Program (11, 12)
Chair, Campus Ministry - Prison Ministry Outreach (11, 12)
Volunteer, Summer Japanese Cultural Education Program (9, 10)
Music Director, Summer Japanese Cultural Program (11, 12)
National Honor Society
Mock Trial 9 - 12 (Recipient County Best Prosecutor)
Lector at local Parish

Ethnicity: Half Chinese, Half Caucasian

Work Experience: Pianist at Local Parish and for soloists

Letters of Recommendation: AP English Instructor and Mock Trial Coach; Campus Minister and English Teacher. I haven’t read either. Close bond with both instructors.

Hooks: None

2

Your academics and numbers are amazing and truly fantastic. However, nothing in your extracurricular activities are outstanding. People who get into those schools usually have a research internship under their belt or really nationally acclaimed awards. Don’t lose all hope because your activities and leadership are impressive and not every single person who gets into those top schools has those awards. On your application, you should focus on how you really have a passion for charity/cultural exchanges. Good luck!

Stanford: Reach
UCLA: Low Reach
Princeton: Reach
Yale: Reach
Rice: Match
Northwestern: Match
UVA: Match
UC Berkeley: Low Reach
Pomona: Reach
UC Davis: Safety
UCSD: Low Match
ND: Match

3

I agree that your academic record clearly qualifies you for the top schools on your list, but that your ECs don’t particularly distinguish you. You are definitely “in the running”. To improve your chances you need to present yourself really well in your application, and present a coherent narrative about who you are as a person and what you want to do. What drives you? What turns you on? What can you bring to a top school that should compel them to give you an admission spot over someone else? How will you take advantage of their resources, and how will you contribute to their community?

4

Building homes for the poor? Could you explain that?

5

^^ That sounds pretty self-explanatory to me.