Please chance me for Stanford, UPenn, and Northwestern

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey guys, I'm currently a junior in the IB program and I'm wondering if I have a chance at any of these schools. My friends and peers keep giving me mixed opinions about my college choices so I wanted a second opinion :/. Please tell me if it's possible to improve my chances at these schools this late in the game.</p>

<p>STATS:</p>

<p>SAT I: 2250 (R: 730, M: 730, W: 790) (one sitting, should I retake?)</p>

<p>SAT II: (No idea which ones to take, probably taking Biology M and US history)</p>

<p>GPA: UW-4.0 (out of 4.0), W-6.04</p>

<p>Rank: 19 out of around 13,000 (my school ranks out of the county)</p>

<p>APs: Human Geography (5), Macroeconomics (5), Environmental Science (5), European History (4)
Taking US History and Language this year</p>

<p>IB Courseload for this year:
Higher Level (HL): English, History, Biology
Standard Level (SL): Spanish, Psychology, Math</p>

<p>EXTRACURRICULARS:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Taekwondo (7 years) (makes up the better part of my ECs...)
-2010 US Nationals: 1st
-2010 MAC National Championships: 1st
-2011 National Demonstration Team Member
-2011 US Open (hardest international competition in the country): 7th
-2011 US Nationals: 2nd
-2011 World Taekwondo Hanmadang (World Championships): 1st
-2012 US Nationals: 7th
-2012 Colombian Open (international competition): 1st
-2013 US Open: 3rd
-2nd Degree, Instructor
-Captain of Taekwondo team
-Personally acquainted with Taekwondo coach at Stanford</p></li>
<li><p>Piano (10 years)
-Superior six years straight for solo event at District Festival
-Excellent this year for Concerto at District Festival
-2nd Place at State Convention for solo event (last year)</p></li>
<li><p>Future Business Leaders of America (10th, 11th grade)
-1st for two years at Districts
-2nd at state competition last year
-Treasurer for 2 years (trying to be president next year)</p></li>
<li><p>Korean
-I've been self-teaching myself for two years, I have basic fluency</p></li>
<li><p>Youth Literacy Initiative
-Helped start a student-led national volunteer organization that promotes literacy in children
-Head of Finances</p></li>
<li><p>Club memberships: NHS (11th), Beta Club (10th, 11th), Red Cross (10th, 11th)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>SUMMER:</p>

<p>-Spent one summer in Korea training with the Korean National Team, was the year that I won worlds
-Spent the next summer interning and volunteering at the hospital
-Spent the second half of that summer in Colombia for Taekwondo, performing and competing</p>

<p>OTHER:
State: FL
School type: Public
Ethnicity: Asian (Vietnamese)
Gender: Male
Hooks: Grandpa went to UPenn for medical school (does that count for legacy?), Cousin currently attends Stanford but I'm not sure if that would count for anything</p>

<p>A few questions:
-Would it be worth it to retake the SAT? My friends all make fun of me because my score is too "low" for an Asian...
-Is it bad that I have such an emphasis on Taekwondo?
-Planning on starting a club at the beginning of my senior year, will that help me at all?
-Are these colleges within reach at all? How do I better my chances?</p>

<p>Thank you so much! Any advice would be much appreciated!</p>

2

<p>Your ECs are fantastic! You seem to be very dedicated to all your extracurriculars, and that this something colleges will love. Your stats are amazing as well. I didn’t even know weighted GPAs could go above 5.0, let alond 6.0. To answer your questions:</p>

<p>-I would not retake the SAT unless you believe you can score significantly better. Also, even though you are Asian, it’s not like colleges will immediately dismiss you for not having a 2400 on the SAT.</p>

<p>-I don’t think it is bad that you have so much emphasis on Taekwondo. I think it’s great, as I previously mentioned, that you really show your passion for something.</p>

<p>-I think it depends on what the club is. If it as a club that can be related to your current ECs, then it will help you. If it is not at all related and if you are starting it just to be able to say you started a club, I would say it would not really help you.</p>

<p>-I think that all of these colleges are within your reach. They will still incredibly difficult to get into, as they for any applicant, but I would definitely apply! You seem to have a fair chance of getting accepted to at least one of the schools you listed. If you want to better your chances, just keep up the good work. Your profile is already amazing. Make sure you write stellar essays and that you get recommendations from teachers who know you best.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you in applying next year!</p>

3

<p>Thank you very much, good luck to you in applying as well! Do you know if my cousin’s going to Stanford would help at all in my admission chances there?</p>

4

<p>The passion you have for your ECs is definitely an advantage with college admissions. I wouldn’t retake the SAT, after a point the colleges don’t care whether you got a 2250 or a 2320, you’re fine. Your essays will be very important, particularly for Stanford. I’d say reach for Stanford (for everyone really, but you’ve got a shot), high match at Penn, high match at Northwestern. Your cousin’s attendance won’t have any impact on your Stanford chances, and I doubt med school will help you with undergrad admission at Penn. Good luck!</p>

5

<p>@littlebuilder Thank you and good luck to you too! I think I forgot to mention that I’m two years younger than everyone in my grade. Would that affect my admissions chances at all? And, sorry I’m new around here, what does high match mean?</p>

6

<p>bumpppppppp</p>

7

<p>First off, congratulations and best of luck you are a very strong applicant! My dad is on admissions at Penn I want to make him let you in!!<br>
Stanford- low reach. You are very qualified but Stanford is pretty much a reach/ gamble for anyone.
UPenn- low match
Northwestern- high match</p>

<p>Please chance back? (:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1471006-georgetown-notre-dame-gw-bc-nyu.html#post15592210[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1471006-georgetown-notre-dame-gw-bc-nyu.html#post15592210&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>Safety means you’ll be in, match means expect to get in (but no gaurantee), high match is slightly harder but still within reach, reach is, well, reach, high reach is total gamble/very unlikely. I don’t think age should effect you too much (I’m a year young, did my Stanford app at 16 and was accepted SCEA in December). Just show maturity in your essays and try to impress if you’re in an area that interviews</p>

9

<p>@littlebuilder Congratulations on getting accepted!! You’re living my dream :slight_smile: do you mind if I read your essays? I don’t really know how to convey maturity in my writing without sounding pretentious if that makes any sense…</p>

10

<p>No problem! Just private message me your email, I can send you the pdf of my supplement</p>

11

<p>Thank you so much!</p>