Please Chance Me!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi everyone! I'm currently a junior at a competitive high school. My counselor was very vague about which schools I would fit in with my stats and I wanted a better idea of my chances. I want to major in sociology or history, and I'm looking at UChicago, Cornell, USC, UC Berkeley, and UCLA.</p>

<p>GPA (unweighted): 4.00
weighted: 4.34</p>

<p>3 AP's this year, planning to take 5 next year (average/above average amount for my school)</p>

<p>Current grades:
AP Chem: 92
French H: 95
APUSH: 103 (I really like history haha)
AP Calc AB: 95
English H: 91 </p>

<p>SAT I: 2310 (CR: 780, M: 780, WR: 750)
SAT IIs:
Bio (took freshman year): 770
Math II: 760
Chinese: 790
Planning to take SAT USH in may</p>

<p>Sports
• Swimming (JV: 9; Vars: 10,11); Awarded Most Valuable Player (swimmer?)
• XC (11); qualified for CCS and awarded Most Valuable Junior </p>

<p>Community Service:
• Special Events Coordinator at local organization that helps kids with mental disabilities. Personal Helper for a ten-year old for 2 years.
• Vice President (president next year) for community service club that applies Buddhist philosophy to volunteer work. We discuss secular Buddhist philosophy in addition to volunteering.
• Organized a Health Fair (Summer '10) for a nearby large city</p>

<p>Academics:
•District Honor Roll for all semesters</p>

<p>Publications/Editing:
• Published in three national literary magazines
• Published twice in high school's art/litmag
• Artwork displayed at annual district art show (9, 10, 11)
• Editor for Polyphony H.S., a national lit mag run by high school students</p>

<p>Employment/ Internship:
• Summer '10: Interned at State Assemblyman office
• US history tutor ($25/hour)</p>

<p>Misc:</p>

<p>• Mentor for incoming freshmen (hoping for committee position next year)
• founding member of philosophy club
• member of French Club, HPB Awareness Club, and Photography Club
• Attended Cornell Summer College ('11) for Democracy course; got an A without taking APUSH beforehand</p>

<p>My mother divorced an abusive partner late in my freshman year. The family conflicts and my mother's unwillingness to send me to some sort of family counselor to figure things out led to my depression during my freshman and half of my sophomore year. As a result, I didn't really try to integrate myself into my school until the end of my sophomore year. </p>

<p>This year, I am planning to:
• start a history bowl team
• participate in National History Day (and win something, haha)
• work with a Stanford history professor over the summer</p>

<p>I know that my ec's are quite weak, and I would really appreciate any advice you guys can offer. Thank you!</p>

2

<p>bump 10 char</p>

3

<p>UChicago- can’t say
UCLA-good chance
USC- good chance
Cornell-to be honest, you don’t have great chance</p>

4

<p>thank you! do you know of any other schools where I would have a good chance?</p>

5

<p>You could try Brown…I think you are great candidate for that. What about some great liberal art colleges?</p>

6

<p>I think you have solid chances at UChicago and Cornell, you are a solid match at UCB and a low match for UCLA and USC (which could almost be consdered a safety). I do not think your ECs are as weak as you think they are. If you are a NMSF, I believe USC will offer you a half-tuition scholarship. You have a sad but interesting story to tell re. your family situation and that should help offset any “shortcomings” with your stats or resume (that I really cannot find from what you listed!).</p>

<p>I agree with kdines and would also add another reach school or two because your profile supports getting a little more reachy in your college search. Good luck!</p>

7

<p>like pomona and swarthmore?</p>

8

<p>thank you all so much for the help!</p>

9

<p>does anyone else have any suggestions?</p>