<p>I'm actually around 20%, but I have completed a very tough curriculum, 5 APs(may not be amazing by CC standards) after Junior year. How badly will this hurt my application? I'm interested in schools such as NYU(Stern), Michigan, UVA, Northwestern, U of Chicago, USC....
I know that you guys dont know about the rest of my application, but assuming test scores are middle 50%, and ECs are decent, what do you think?
Plz respond, any input is appreciated</p>
<p>you have a better chance at chicago than any of them, since only 70-80% of students were in top 10%. if you're not instate for U of M or UVA, i dont think you get in, because they, like all elite publics, are still numbers driven, and the fact that you're not that close to top 10% will hurt you. NYU, you might be ok for, USC will be somewhat tough, and northwestern will be the toughest.</p>
<p>lol, chicago the easiest out of all those colleges?</p>
<p>just on the fact that they aren't as numbers oriented, plus they look for a different kind of applicant (hence the Un-common application), one that doesn't necessarily have the super high rank and SATs, although many students there do, but they want a student with diverse interests and a student that will bring a new persepctive to their school. Schools sell the "quirkiness" and "diversity" factor, but Chicago is one of the only ones that backs it up.</p>
<p>uh, unfortunately the op said that he had scores in the 50th percentile range. unfortunately the range for schools like uva, michigan, and usc isnt the same as the percentage for nw and uchicago. sure, uchicago may like a special typeof applicant but its still an elite school that is to an extent numbers-driven. take a look at the early action thread and youll understand what i mean.</p>