<p>Hi, I'm new to this site. I can't remember how I stumbled upon it but I found some pretty helpful info here... hopefully someone can shed some insight on to my situation?</p>
<p>My situation is the cliche underachiever with poor family situations but high test scores at a public high school near Chicago.</p>
<p>I am aspiring to attend Berkeley or Stanford for Computer/Electrical Engineering.</p>
<p>My understanding is that since I am an Illinois resident, my chances to get into these Cali schools are severely diminished.</p>
<p>The mini-transcript goes something like this...
Caucasian, not first generation. English is not my first language (does that even matter?)
GPA: 3.4 unweighted, 7.1 weighted (it's strange in my school, 8 is the highest)
Unweighted rank 115/560, Weighted rank 16/560
ACT: 35 (36 math, 36 english, 36 science, 31 reading, 11 writing)
SATI: 2230 (790 math, 750 writing, 690 critical reading) (might retake... I didn't prepare at all the first time... I can probably get in the 2300's)
SATII: 790 Math level II, 780 Chem, 730 US History (Will take another one to get rid of that 730)
AP: 5 - Computer Science AB, 5 - Chem, 4 - US History, 4 - English Language, 5 - Environmental Science (can take 5 more at the end of this year)
Took every AP offered in my school except for AP Bio and AP Stats.
I have mostly A's but three C's...</p>
<p>Extra Curriculars:
Varsity Hockey Captain 9th - 12th; Varsity Tennis Captain 11th-12th (player 9th - 10th); Junior Varsity Soccer 9th - 10th; Math Team; Engineering Club
Play piano, guitar, and drums...
Work Experience:
Web Developer for two years. Summer Internship at Motorola after junior year, got rehired and work there part time now.
AP Scholar awards, various hockey awards, two awards from Motorola</p>
<p>Have good rec's... two from teachers, one from counselor, and one from a VP at Motorola.</p>
<p>I've already applied to Illinois, but will also apply to Michigan, Purdue, and Texas. Maybe Northwestern.</p>
<p>Any thoughts on my chances? The GPA makes them pretty low I'm guessing but anything is possible. I'm actually completely satisfied with going to UofI if I get in, but it's my dream to go to Stanford or Berkeley. </p>
<p>Thanks a lot for considering.</p>