Please Chance Me!!!

What are my chances for Tulane, Mount Holyoke, Lehigh, Bryn Mawr, Rutgers, TCNJ, NYU, Emory, Urbana Champaign, Case Western, Smith, Middlebury?

Stats:
3rd Quarter, Junior
Indian (like the India in Asia) student in a RIDICULOUSLY COMPETITIVE high school that was ranked one of the nation’s top 2000 hardest public schools. Will the fact that my school is so competitive factor into admissions? Everyone here is Asian and cutthroat competitive and would resort to the worst possible measures to make sure they have a distinct academic advantage over you. I was totally unprepared for this when I moved from a small all-girls private school.

GPA Weighted: 3.562
GPA Unweighted: 3.3something
SAT Superscored: 2070
ACT: will be taking in a month, 90% chance it will be a 33 because I’ve been consistently getting that on practice tests

My GPA is VERY low, but I’m hoping that my harder courses and the competitive nature of my school will add some substance to it.

Classes Freshman & Sophomore years:
Freshman year:
Honors English - B+
Honors American Gov’t - B
Conceptual Physics - B
Geometry - B+
Spanish 3 - A
Honors Bio - B
Honors chem - B
Honors US History 2
Alg. 2 - C+
Hon. Spanish 4 - B+
Honors English - B

Junior year:

AP Physics 1 - D
Honors English - A-
AP Spanish 5- A-
Honors global studies - A- or A
Honors computer science Principles - A-
Honors chamber orchestra - A
Adv. PreCalc - B or B+

So… I’m generally doing a lot better junior year than I did my first two years, but physics is preventing me from pulling my GPA up. My teacher teaches his own version of AP Physics at a really fast pace (he teaches more than the AP B and AP 1 curriculum mandate and even introduces some AP C calculus material during the E&M unit). Unfortunately, colleges will not know this and will see the class as an AP Physics 1 class, which covers less than 1/2 the material my class covers and moves at a much slower pace. The truth is, although I’m not bad at physics, I am certain that I could have mustered up at least a B in a regular AP 1 class. The AP exam is in appx. a month, and I have been preparing my butt off this spring break so I’m expecting at least a 4 (which is fairly good because last year a majority of the students got a 2???) - worst case a 3 because I have it right after the Spanish AP exam and I could be completely mentally exhausted.

Senior year classes:
AP Biology
AP College Composition
Calculus
AP Statistics
AP Psychology
Chamber Orchestra

Total APs: 6
Total honors: 11

I am a very good writer (contrary to my grade in honors English, an extremely demanding class my sophomore year) so I’m expecting to write a good essay. I think I might mention in an essay how this physics class has helped me grow academically and personally and taught me to make better decisions.

I also plan on taking a physics course at a local community college to show that I am indeed proficient in the subject when I learn it an a reasonable pace.

Potential Subject SATs:
Math II (math isn’t my strong area so not sure what score to expect)
US History or Literature*

*Can I take the Literature one without taking AP Lit? I’m afraid that I won’t have enough literary knowledge if the exam is solely based upon literature

ECs:

  • played cello since 3rd grade, I now play in local youth orchestra and honors school orchestra
  • learned classical Indian dance since 1st grade, plan on performing 3-4 hour debut solo performance summer after senior year, have performed in a couple of charity and local events
  • involved in Amnesty International club sophomore, junior, and senior years. Hope to have officer position senior year.
  • volunteered at local hospital since freshman year
  • volunteered at a courthouse where I give sentences to minor juvenile offenders - a really unique and jarring experience
  • Earned either Bronze or Silver medal Congressional Award
  • Started racquetball my junior year, probably will join a league (mostly just for recreation though)
  • Will probably start a job at a local record shop, as a pharmacy tech, or at a local supermarket the summer before senior year

I’m fairly sure I want to minor in music at college just so that I can keep it in my life, but not to pursue as a profession. I am interested in pre-law, education, political science, international politics, health administration, and maybe something STEM but I’m not sure yet.

Also, by how much will my chances increase if I apply ED or EA to any of above colleges? If all of these colleges are unattainable, what caliber of colleges should I be looking at?

THANK YOU SO MUCH SERIOUSLY IF YOU READ THIS FAR YOU ARE MY HERO
I really really really appreciate any feedback and comments and answers because I am hella stressed and freaking out right now :frowning:

Sorry - forgot to include Skidmore and Colgate as well.

Could someone please reply? Thanks :slight_smile:

Okay, one suggestion. You miight want to try to narrow your choices down a little, because right now they’re all over the place. Take some time to reflect on what you want and why you’re applying. Talk to your parents about your choices. I did that, and went from wanting to go to this one super-focused school to applying to ten schools.

Also, from your ECs, it seems like you’re also taking a shotgun approach there. What are you passionate about? What do you WANT to do? Think on it, it’ll help you focus your essays towards actually reflecting on yourself as a person.

Do you have a preference towards a specific major?

Echoing above^ seems like an extremely wide range of schools you’re applying to try to narrow it down. Not necessarily decrease the # of applicants but really see what type of shool you want.

As far as i can tell though, your gpa seems too low for Emory and Middlebury as for the rest i have no clue since I havent had experiences with those colleges.

Overall If you want to improve your chances, focus on 2-3 extracurriculafs so they really shine, get a perfect on the ACT to offset your gpa. A 33 is solid but won’t out balance the gpa.

@thecoolboy1234 @BoggieMilk Sorry it probably does seem like I’m a mess! I definitely won’t be applying to all those schools, but since I’m a junior I wanted to get an idea about what caliber of schools I should be looking at. Ultimately, I’m considering a lot of nearby Liberal Arts schools such as Mount Holyoke, Lehigh, and Bryn Mawr and recently Tulane has caught my interest as well. I really want to major in education because I really dislike how public schools are moving toward standardized and common core curricula and eventually want to become a superintendent or something, but my parents don’t really approve and are pushing me toward anything STEM, Pre-law, Pre-med or pharmacy. My main ECs are cello and dance, and I’m the most passionate about cello and Amnesty, I guess. I hope my ECs don’t make me seem all over the place! But thanks for your advice! Since I’ve lowered down the list to Tulane, Mt. Holyoke, Lehigh, and Bryn Mawr, (Middlebury was always my dream school but it seems highly unlikely now) would you possibly be able to chance me? If not thats totally fine! Thanks for replying!

@thecoolboy1234 @BoggieMilk oh sorry and Skidmore!!

Any more replies please?

Make sure you get that 33 and 700+ on subject tests. Also try to get more leadership roles! It helps a lot. Otherwise, if you keep increasing your grades, you should have a good chance at any of these schools. Some of them are much more selective (Middlebury, Skidmore)

@therealdoor thanks!! However I’m a junior so its pretty late to increase my grades and I’m doing fine in everything but my physics grade is preventing my GPA from going up. With my current GPA, I probably don’t have a chance?

Any other advice? :))

Anyone?

anyone please feel free to comment as writing this took me quite a bit of time and id like some feedback in return

Idk much about all the schools you listed but I know you have a decent shot at all of them as long as your essay is outstanding and so are your teacher recs and what about your ACT/SAT scores? I think NYU and Emory will definitely consider you and at least one of those two could accept! Chance me back?

hiii

Wow, you seem quite worried about this beautiful thread being forgotten. In my experience, which is not much because I’m a senior in HS, I think you have a pretty good chance.
Just keep the GPA going up, good standardized test scores, essay, basically everything you are able to control.

You could also become a STEM teacher? That would fulfill the role of STEM and your urge to teach.

Well I had a 3.21 unweighted and a act of 31( I did IB). I was waitlisted at Mount Holyoke and Smith, and rejected from Bryn Mawr. Are you applying for financial aid? These colleges become very need aware for student who are on the edge grade-wise. I think that’s what did it for me.

also i come from a very reputable and competitive school, it didn’t seem to help me very much in the admission room, i wouldn’t rely too much on that.
Feel free to message me with any questions since we sort of have the same stats and schools!

@HPHstudent220 Thank you! I don’t think I’ll be applying for aid because my family is in that annoying middle class spectrum where we aren’t wealthy enough to influence admissions or impoverished enough to qualify for financial aid… And it really sucks that they do not recognize that a 3.21 unweighted in a high competitive school is not the same as a 3.21 in a normal, public school. Thanks for replying, and I’ll definitely contact you if I have questions!

@SantiagoAlverez Hahaha sorry I’m just your typical stressed out junior :frowning: I seem to be relying on this thread a lot because my school guidance councillors are a waste :? But thanks :slight_smile: Good luck to you

Coming from a competitive high school doesn’t help at all, in fact it places you at a disadvantage since the majority of the students are excelling in academics. I mainly know about NYU because it is also one of my top schools and I think you have a shot, however your ECs are kind of all over the place. It’s great to have lots of interests but colleges really want to see that you’re taking action on what you’re most passionate about. I would try strengthening those and focus on what you’re primarily interested this summer and fall. Also you still have time to improve your GPA don’t doubt yourself! I had a cumulative 3.65 the beginning of my junior year and now I have a 3.857 and the year isn’t even over yet. I think you’ll be okay just try and do your absolute best on SAT/ACT and your essay and rec letters.

Chance me back?:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1877528-chances-for-nyu-georgetown-barnard-sarah-lawrence-boston-college.html#latest