Please chance me - Ivy Leagues and scholars programs

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Please give me your honest opinion on my chances - really need to find out what ground I stand on.</p>

<p>Colleges:</p>

<p>Top choice is a scholars program like Morehead-Cain. Have legacy at one of these programs, my brother goes there currently.
Princeton (legacy, mom went there)
Columbia
Rice
Stanford
Vanderbuilt
Dartmouth
Swarthmore
Duke
UNC Chapel Hill</p>

<p>Me:
I am a white female from a smaller city in Missouri. </p>

<p>School:
Pretty competitive (1 or 2 kids get into an ivy league every year or so), IB program, class size is roughly 330</p>

<p>Grades/class rank:
Mostly As, some A minuses and one B+. Most of those were from middle school though - I took high school classes in middle school and unfortunately they harm my GPA. Because school is competitive my GPA (4.9 W, 3.9 UW) puts me barely at the top 5%.</p>

<p>Scores:
ACT - 32
SAT - 780 english, 740 reading, 720 math
SAT 2 - 740 literature, 740 math I
IB - 7 in SL math, 5 in SL spanish</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Writing nonfiction book, Model UN, FBLA, state's Scholars Academy, city's Leadership Academy, Girls State, broadcast journalism, debate, student council, 3 service volunteer/clubs, varsity ice hockey, Student council </p>

<p>Leadership:
Key Club President
Founder/President of program to help homeless youth - on advisory board of local homeless shelter
Former class President
Varsity debate team captain</p>

<p>Service:
Key Club
Club to promote women/girls internationally
My club to help homeless youth - volunteer often </p>

<p>Awards:
Superior award (1st) in national broadcast journalism competition for short documentary, nominated for MidAmerican Emmy, team won a pacemaker award
4th at state in debate, 13th nationally
National Merit Scholar commended student</p>

<p>Senior classes (IB):
HL Chemistry
HL English
HL History
SL Psychology
Debate
Cabinet
Calculus </p>

<p>My recommendations will probably be very good, I know the teachers/counselors well. </p>

<p>I'd really love to know if I actually stand a chance at getting into one of the scholar's programs or Ivy Leagues. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>*I’m also in National Honor Society and participate in Relay for Life and Walk to Defeat ALS</p>

3

<p>And I will chance you back if you link me!</p>

4

<p>Your SAT scores are impressive and it certainly looks like you have a decently well-rounded group of extracurriculars. Also, the classes that you took in middle school are something that I would not worry too much about. Yes, they bring your GPA down. But at the same time, you challenged yourself early on in middle school and have continued to do so, which shows consistency and early maturity. I would say that you have a pretty good shot at any of those schools, especially those with legacy. Still, the schools that you’re looking at don’t just go off of scores. Do you have anything that REALLY makes you stand out? I’m still searching for what makes me stand out…and I may not find anything. But in order to get into schools such as Stanford, Dartmouth, UNC Chapel Hill, and Columbia, you’ll probably need something that makes you stand out. For example, I see you have Varsity Ice Hockey on your list. At my school, there is no girls team, but several girls play on the team with guys. In my mind, that would make you stand out as a strong individual if you were in the same situation and playing in a league with guys.</p>

<p>To sum it up, numbers aren’t everything. Class rank and GPA won’t be a problem for you. It’s the other that will make the difference from a “maybe yes” to a definite “yes” in a college admissions officer’s mind.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the reply, much appreciated.
I did play on an all male team (I was the only girl) up until this year when it simply go too dangerous. I also played a year on an all male lacrosse team as the goalie which was incredibly challenging.
Hopefully what will help me stand out will be the book I’m currently writing - if I can get that finished that should give me quite a boost in the admissions process.</p>

6

<p>I also am basically fluent in Spanish and studied abroad in Costa Rica last summer. Sorry for all the add-ons, just forgot a few things! </p>

<p>And I will definitely chance you if you chance me, promise :)</p>

7

<p>Looks generally good, especially extra curriculars which seem really strong. I’m not confident enough in my knowledge of this stuff to try to give specific chances, but I think my backgrounds on a similar level and I’m hoping for some of the same schools if that helps. Also, what’s the book on?</p>

8

<p>I have spent hours recording the stories of the homeless youth, which are just incredible (homeless while pregnant, boy looked in room for a year, etc.). I’ve transcribed them and am now editing them to make them fluid/coherent. I will also be writing a portion of the book that gives statistics/suggests public policy/demonstrates the needs of the youth. It’s something I’m really passionate about - all proceeds of the book (if I can get it published) will go to the program that helps the youth or a foundation I set up to help them.</p>

<p>Thanks for the reply.</p>

9

<p>I think your scores and ECs definitely qualify, but you just never know with these schools. Legacy will definitely help! I think you have above average/very good chances everywhere. Good luck!</p>

10

<p>sounds like an interesting - if depressing - read. Hope you can get it published!</p>

11

<p>As I’m not well versed in the requirements for Ivies, I won’t be able to give much detail. But from what I know, your record is quite impressive. Writing a nonfiction book is great. If you can get it published somehow, it’ll be even better! Your SAT scores are quite good but you should try to get a higher SAT math score in my opinion. Though your stellar extreacurriculars may make up for it.</p>

12

<p>Your ACT and SAT are a bit low for ivies (aim for 34+ and 2300+, respectively i’d say), but everything else (GPA, ec’s, service) is quite solid. The book would definitely boost your chances. Overall I think the ivies are still reaches but not high reaches.</p>

13

<p>I’m retaking the ACT to try and get a 34 or 35. I’ll probably keep that SAT though.</p>

<p>Thanks for the replies!</p>

14

<p>I don’t think your school is competitive. Remember, some of us go to schools that have dozens of ivy league students. What’s your schools rank according to us news.</p>

15

<p>We’re like #327th in the nation but there’s some explanation that comes with that. Our school is this incredibly diverse mix of pretty smart IB students and then druggies/teen moms/kids that don’t care that much about school. That brings us down quite a bit. But the IB side is quite competitive - we’ve had a number of national merit scholars, perfect ACT scores, kids have gone to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc. If you get an A- there’s no way you will be valedictorian. We also got the gold standard national award or something like that this past year. We have a debate program that’s in the top ten in the nation and our broadcast journalism program is first in the nation.
So while it’s not a top school by any means it is pretty decent.</p>

16

<p>Also *Vanderbilt, I just caught that</p>

17

<p>I think the scores are great and even the decent 720 on math is somewhat negated by the 740 in math 1 since they test equal subjects.
I would really really work on getting the book published because it will show how much time you’ve put into it. Additionally you might consider writing about this endeavor in your meaningful activity essay since you’re so passionate about it. An Ivy league is certainly a possibility and the fact that you were a female on all male teams will help you stand out as well. Good luck with everything and thank you for chancing me!</p>

18

<p>The ivies, Stanford, Duke, and Rice are very random in admission, so those are iffy. Hopefully your legacy at Princeton will give you a good boost? However, I think your ECs, GPA, and test scores will give you a good shot at getting into Vandy. I don’t know much about Swarthmore and I heard UNC is really picky about out of state applicants, so I can’t help you there. You don’t need to worry, though, you’re scores are good. Try to find some more match schools/safeties. Emory, Wash-U, Northwestern? Tufts would be a good safety if you are interested in liberal arts, since you have Swarthmore on your list.</p>

<p>Chance me back?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1364385-uchicago-duke.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1364385-uchicago-duke.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

19

<p>Oh I have a ton of other schools that are more my level or safeties - I need to narrow my list down. This was just a what are my chances of getting into a top school type thread.</p>

<p>Thanks for the reply. Honestly a lot of people on here intimidate me. They have like perfect SAT scores, tons of extracurriculars, etc…</p>