<p>Bumpbumpbump</p>
<p>Have you checked common data set for these schools?</p>
<p>What do you mean exactly by common data set?</p>
<p>Your scores and grades are great.</p>
<p>I’d say you could consider NYU and Michigan as safeties. Cornell ED would be a match. Johns Hopkins and Northwestern would be low reaches. With UPenn/Duke, you’re definitely a competitive applicant, but those schools are reaches for anyone that applies. </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1529971-chance-northwestern-washu-columbia-ed-others-thanks.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1529971-chance-northwestern-washu-columbia-ed-others-thanks.html</a></p>
<p>If I get recommendations from my principal and a city councilor, will that help? I’m actually quite concerned about the letters of recommendations because I’m not sure if they will be stellar. And from what I’ve read on various threads, recommendations are very important in selecting those who stand out. I didn’t realize this until the end of my junior year, so I may not have made the best impression on my teachers. Can someone please clear this up for me?</p>
<p>Also, from whom do you get your recommendations from and how many? Only teachers and guidance counselors? And how is this different from the teacher evaluation?</p>
<p>bumppppppp</p>
<p>I’d chance you the same as dancingk, so I won’t repeat that here. But as for recommendations, schools usually want no more than 3, and some specify that they will not take more than two. Additionally, some say they won’t take letters from anyone who didn’t teach one of your core classes or wasn’t your guidance counselor. Play to your strengths, get letters from whoever will give you the best recommendations at this point, but definitely look at each school’s individual stance on the issue. </p>
<p>Best of luck, and I’d appreciate it if you could chance me back!</p>
<p>Well, a 92 percent average is seeming a little low for a 4.0 in my point of view. What will really matter to colleges in your case is your class rank to compare you to your peers. </p>
<p>From what you have listed, your EC’s seem a little weak, since here in the States, college advisors tell us to choose quality over quantity. You have a lot of activities, but few that you excel in (i.e. receiving recognition). </p>
<p>Your SAT scores are your strongest suit, but they can only take you so far. The core of your app lies in your EC’s + GPA.</p>
<p>A lot of this hinges on your class rank, as I mentioned be4. If your are top in your class, I put the Ivies and Duke at low - mid reaches, UCB and Northwestern at low reach, and NYU + U Mich at high Match.</p>
<p>Take what I say with a grain of salt though, I am only 16 and a rising senior.</p>
<p>By the way, could you chance me back? I would really appreciate it! ^_^</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1523385-chances-hypsm-ivies-will-chance-back-d.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1523385-chances-hypsm-ivies-will-chance-back-d.html</a></p>
<p>I’m from Canada, and I’ve read and heard from others that since we canadians don’t use the GPA system, American admissions offices boost our averages by 5-10%, making my 92% a 4.0 in their eyes. My guidance counselor also told me this. He said they do this to level the playing fields, since Canadians will essentially be competing against each other. Also, I’ve heard that the Canadian curriculum, especially Ontario’s, is more rigorous (a level 4, which is equivalent to a 4.0 in America, is 80-100% or an A grade). My school is a very competitive public school in Ontario as well, with many alumni who have gotten into American universities. Also, my 92% average is “unweighted,” considering that I’ve take 4 out of 6 AP courses at my school (AP courses are very rare in Canadian schools). You Americans are very lucky to have all the resources available for you from your guidance counselors!</p>
<p>Barely, if not any, Canadian schools rank their students, which is also why American admissions treat Canadian grades differently. But if my school could rank, I would definitely be in the top 10% of my grade considering that I have cumulative average of 92% while the highest is 94-95%. :)</p>
<p>I thought my ECs were strong, especially from what the other CCers told me. Have you realized, @lastspartan, that almost all of my ECs are leadership positions and/or have to do with my intended field of interest and passions (politics and human rights)? Keep in mind that Canadian schools BARELY have any ECs compared to American schools, meaning that these positions were hard to come by. As for recognition, do you mean awards? </p>
<p>For DECA, I won regional awards and placed in Provincials, while my chapter placed in Internationals. For Model UN, I forgot to mention that I helped found the club last year. My team has gone to quite a few conferences/events and we have won awards.</p>
<p>*Also remember, this is hard to come by, since Canadian, especially public schools here, don’t have as much opportunity for “recognition” as American or even Canadian private schools.</p>
<p>As for standing out, I’m very confident in my essays, as they hinge on my field of interest and passion for human rights very well. I think they will be very unique and passionate :D</p>
<p>Bump10char</p>
<p>Bumppppp :)</p>
<p>Bumpbumpbump</p>
<p>You’re a match for all schools! Chance me back?</p>
<p>For me:</p>
<p>Cornell: Very low reach - high match
University of michigan: Low match (safety)
John Hopkins: Match
UPenn: Low Reach - match
NYU: Match
Duke: Low match
Northwestern: Match</p>
<p>Please chance me back <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1530189-my-chances-getting-into-rice-university.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1530189-my-chances-getting-into-rice-university.html</a> :)</p>
<p>Yeah, I mean like awards/ other forms of recognition for your activities. You founded your own club, which is good, and are the executive of your UN club, which is good, but other things (i.e. staff writer, student grade rep) carry little weight. Of course, I am assuming student grade rep refers to an unelected position (in comparison to grade president, treasurer, etc.). </p>
<p>It WOULD be hard for you to compete against American applicants, but you might have a chance against your Canadian counterparts.</p>
<p>Your grades are awesome. You are most likely be accepted into a great college like the ones you listed. Especially if your from Canada and want to get into an American school, colleges love to be very diverse.</p>
<p>Once again, thank you for the input!! </p>
<p>And @lastspartan, by grade rep, I mean class president 
Yes, I was elected by my grade. That’s what they call them here in Canada.</p>
<p>Oh and I forgot to mention that I am a member of my region’s Presidents Council</p>
<p>Bump10char</p>