Please chance a rising senior

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So I'm going to be a senior next year and need to prepare my applications this summer; however, I do not want false hope at some of these colleges. Some of the colleges I'm looking at are:
-Northwestern (possibly ED)
-UVA
-University of Texas
-Boston University
-Rice University
-Emory
-University of Chicago (probably ruling out)
-Stanford
I'm afraid I have too many reaches, and not enough matches/safeties, so more suggestions would be appreciated. </p>

<p>State: TX
Gender: Female
Major: Biology, Physics, or Biochemistry
GPA: 4.39/ 3.8ish
SAT: W-730, CR-650, M-660 (retaking, expecting low to mid 700s)
SAT II: recently took Bio, Math II, and US History
Class rank: 45/610 ~ top 8%
APs taken: Computer Science, APUSH, APLang, Biology
Senior Schedule: AP stats, AP physics b, AP calc AB, AP Lit, AP Latin, AP Gov't, AP Econ, co-op internship program
Courseload most rigorous, all the other classes Honors</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
-Orchestra (Philharmonic, Concert, and Symphony): 3 yrs (QUESTION: my senior schedule unfortunately cannot fit Orchestra due to the internship, will that affect my admission chances?)
-International Society: member 3 yrs
-Internship: selective program for high school seniors that includes internship (surgeon in my case) and end of year research with mentor (QUESTION: is it bad that the research is at the end of the year so colleges will not see it?0
-Latin Club: 4 yrs, president next year
-NHS: 2 yrs, volunteering hrs come from this
-SVP: school volunteering program for seniors requiring journaling and 60 hrs of work
-Clinic: help with back to school immunizations
-Blood drive: organize and promote drives in region</p>

<p>Awards:
-Orchestra: state-qualified superior ensemble 2 yrs, superior ensemble 1 yr, principle violinist
-Latin: Summa Cum Laude (gold) on National Latin Exam 2 yrs, Magna Cum Laude (silver) 1 yr
-Student of the week: actually pretty prestigious since all of your teachers have to agree and you have to be nominated
I seriously have no major/impressive awards. </p>

<p>I expect recommendations to be pretty good and I have pretty good essay ideas.</p>

2

<p>Indeed, I fear that it might be a bit bold to be applying to so many top tier schools, and with your very good, yet still not flawless stats, it might give you more reasons to reconsider applying to more safeties. Your majors are competitive, so sadly, that makes it even tougher. However, I believe that they are not all complete reaches, especially if your SATs go up, and your essays have a bit of ‘pizazz’. And really, don’t worry about having 3 years instead of 4 years of orchestra or any other group you’ll have to do without senior year. They’ll see your past commitment and still applaud you on your dedication. And internship sounds wonderful, especially if it relates your major.
For chances:

  • Northwestern (possibly ED) …high match-defiantly go ED, it’s a pretty awesome school with a nice atmosphere.
    -UVA…match
    -University of Texas…high match/reach due to major
    -Boston University…match
    -Rice University…reach =/, competitive school with a lot of well qualified applicants
    -Emory…low reach
    -University of Chicago (probably ruling out)…reach, VERY competitive school
    -Stanford…No idea, you may be exactly what they are looking for. Because even people with perfect stats get rejected, while people with a much more modest academic portfolio get accepted</p>
3

<p>Holy Cross-near Boston-is a good school with very good Latin/Classics major.</p>

4

<p>thanks for the honest feedback. it’s great that you think Northwestern is a high match for me :). The thing is that the University of Texas is a safety because of the TX guaranteed admission for public universities if you’re in top 8% of the class. That’s why I’m not as afraid to try for higher schools, but I still would like to apply for more matches. I can always throw in Baylor as another safety. </p>

<p>…and I’m Asian, so I think I’m basically screwed.</p>

5

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<p>Not significantly. If it really bothers you, you can explain the reason you’re not continuing with Orchestra senior year (because of your internship) on the space provided on the Common App below the ECs section.</p>

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<p>That’s a valid concern. I don’t have any specific college suggestions for you, but I recommend researching colleges where you fall in the middle 50% or higher stats-wise (and, of course, where you feel you would fit in, depending on location, etc).</p>

6

<p>thanks. anyone else want to chance?</p>