PRO: SAT + Hooks. CON: GPA + EC's. Chance me!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Alright so here we go. </p>

<p>Location: Decent public school in Miami, FL
Ethnicity: Latino</p>

<p>Hooks:
-Other than URM status, grew up in my parent's home country (The DR, grades 2-7).
-Low income (Does that count as a hook? How would schools with need-blind admissions take this into account?).
-First in my immediate family to go college (my older cousins have).</p>

<p>GPA: 3.4 UW, 4.6 W</p>

<p>What really brings me down, due to absolutely not giving a crap about school the first years of HS. Have changed in a big way.
From 3.00ish freshman and sophomore years to straight A's junior year, so huge upward improvement.
By the time I graduate, I'll have taken 9 APs, about half of those senior year.
Class rank won't be great. I'm guessing top 10% somewhere.</p>

<p>Senior year: AP Stats, AP Calc AB, AP Physics, AP US Gov. & Poli., AP Literature, Ceramics (needed the art credit, my school doesn't offer AP Art History).</p>

<p>SAT: 1550/2330</p>

<p>Strongest part of my app. Took it twice, the first time it was 1380/2090.
Haven't taken my SAT II's yet. I'm guessing I can put together some 700+'s.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Next year will be president of my school's STAND chapter after Junior year being my first year in the club. Something I'm actually passionate about. Am going to STAND camp, a meeting for the chapter leaders to be "trained" in a way, at the end of July.</p>

<p>That's pretty much it. Member of some other clubs. Some community service hours. Extracurriculars another weak part of my app. </p>

<p>Essays: I'm a pretty good writer and have some good ideas going in where I can incorporate some of my world views and growing up in the DR.</p>

<p>Recs: One from my AP Psych teacher this past year; he is the sponsor of the STAND club and was one of the few students who stood out in the class, along with two seniors, one going to Harvard, the other to MIT. If I need a second one, I did awesome in my english class and the teacher thought I was some sort of genius/loved me, so that could be another good one.</p>

<hr>

<p>Schools I'd like to be chanced on:</p>

<p>Columbia University (ED, dream school)
University of Pennsylvania
University of Chicago
Brown University
Georgetown University
Boston College
New York University</p>

<hr>

<p>Sometimes I'll think, "Those SAT scores with those hooks? You're looking pretty good!" But then it's, "That GPA and no outstanding extracurricular's? GTFO." I'll let you guys try!</p>

<p>If you ask me to chance back, I'll give it a shot, but I won't pretend to have a very nuanced knowledge of this stuff.</p>

2

<p>I’m sorry, but with that GPA you have a very low chance of any Ivies, even with URM and the other hooks. Chicago and Georgetown are probably low reaches, but NYU I think you have a pretty solid chance, though they don’t offer much aid so it’s not the ideal destination for a low-income student.</p>

3

<p>That’s fair. Also should have specified, 770 CR/780 M/780 W for the SAT.</p>

4

<p>I’m guessing you get in most everywhere – not many URMs have such high SATs and the colleges go crazy these days for Hispanics. Why? Over the next generation, hispanics will beceome the dominant minority in the US and the colleges needs to “tag” quality hispanics early to catch this trend. Black people are o so yesterday in terms of URM. Hispanics get a huge boost. Just don’t apply to any California schools, as they have more than enough of their own hispanics – the private schools on the East Coast will love you and will give mucho aid.</p>

5

<p>Thanks! Forgot to mention, also taking both AP econs, one over the summer/online.</p>

6

<p>Bumpity bump bump bump.</p>

7

<p>I think that despite your average ECs,your URM position and high SAT gives you a good chance among the sea of applicants(esp Columbia). However I am curious to know how you got a 3.4UW GPA but a 4.6W GPA. Are they the cumulative GPA, GPA from Jr year or a typo???</p>

<p>BTW can you please tell me how you went from a 2090 to a 2330? I’m desperate to know because I got a 2100 the first time and desperately need to get into the 2300+ range. Thanks in advance!!!</p>

8

<p>My school has a pretty weird system I guess. Honors and AP courses bump you up tremendously - this past year’s valedictorian had a GPA over 6. </p>

<p>As to how I improved so much, I don’t think I’m the best person to ask. I didn’t study at all for this one. I planned on not improving much and then busting my ass for it over the summer. However, after the first few sections my confidence was running sky high, I started to think about 800s and such and was very excited all through it. I actually think that helped, as opposed to last time where I kinda slogged through the whole thing.</p>

<p>I guess my two cents would be to make sure you’re in your best possible state. Sleep well, stay confident through it, don’t try to stress it to much. Wish I could say more.</p>