Please chance me for these *reach* schools?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey guys. In the past, I’ve mostly asked for chances for UCSD, UCD, UCI, UMich, which are pretty solid match schools. However, now, I want to know my chances at some of these reaches…like do I have any chance whatsoever? Please be honest :slight_smile:

Please chance me for:

  • CMU
  • Cornell (I LOVE THIS SCHOOL SO MUCH)
  • Brown
  • Duke
  • UChicago
  • Berkeley
  • UCLA
    (in state for UCs)

Intended major: Biochemistry

GPA:
9-12: 4.35/3.80
10-12: 4.57/3.80
HOWEVER ~ hoping all goes well this quarter, my GPA when I apply will be:
9-12: 4.40/3.81
10-12: 4.63/3.81

Test scores:
35 ACT, will take SAT in Dec.
SAT Math II 770, Chemistry 720
APs: Physics 2 3, Bio 4, Chem 4, World 4, APUSH 4, Lang 5, Psych 5, Calc AB 5, Calc BC 5

Extracurriculars:

  • Hospital volunteer (~150-200 hours)
  • Co-editor of newsletter
  • Vocal musician of 12+ years
  • Interned at UC biochem lab over summer/did cancer research
  • Quiz Bowl
  • TA in chem lab

Awards:

  • AP Scholar with Distinction
  • Natl. AP Scholar
  • National Merit Semifinalist

Thanks so much!

2

What is your UC GPA capped weighted and Fully weighted? https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

3

Capped: 4.07 / uncapped: 4.57

4

How much can you pay? UCLA and Berkeley will most likely be the most cost effective. (I’m from TX and I would kill to go to UCB, but I cant afford OOS 55k/year) I think you have a good chance at all of the schools listed except Chicago and Cornell (low reaches).

5

@Jpgranier Money is not really an issue. And thank you! Just curious, why would you say Cornell is a reach but not Duke/Brown? I thought Cornell is generally considered the “easiest” Ivy to get into?

6

Your capped GPA for UCLA and UCB is on the low side, but I think your ACT score combined with your state residency will get you into all of the UCs. What’s your unweighted GPA? That’s important to know. I think you’ll get into a couple of your remaining schools. The “weakness” in your app, compared to the rest of it, is in your ECs. To be brutally honest, they aren’t very spectacular. Combat those with good essays. Good luck!

7

Hey, thanks for being honest. And I agree with you, I don’t have the best ECs, but there’s not much I can do about it at this point.

Yeah, the capped is a little low but I took the most rigorous classes (11 APs total by end of junior year) which is why my uncapped is pretty high. Unweighted is 3.8.

Thanks once again!

8

I didn’t see duke haha

Your ECs definitely aren’t up to average, but, like ap0 was saying, stellar essay should help balance it out a little. I’d think you’d get into at least one of the three I said were reaches.

Schools love rigorous schedules. Very nice on 11 AP’s in only junior year! I don’t think you really need to take the SAT but it’s up to you. You would need a perfect score for it to be worth more than a 35.

9

If you are from OOS, UMich is definitely NOT a solid match for you. Your GPA is below admission average while their OOS admission rate is around 20%.

10

@Jpgranier Right, thank you. And I’m only taking the SAT for Natl. Merit purposes haha I’m not particularly looking forward to it

11

@billcsho OK, thanks!