Questbridge Ranking and Ivy Chances

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, I'm extremely anxious about the ranking process on QB, I need to finalize my list by tomorrow since it's due on Monday and I won't be able to see my counselor then and I was looking for advice, I have a great academic record, strong ECs, but somewhat middling test scores. I know all these schools are reach and extremely hard to get into but I'm disregarding that for now. So what are my chances for theses schools?
1. University of Pennsylvania
2. Columbia University
3. Yale University
4. Princeton
5. Stanford
6. Vanderbilt
7. University of Chicago
8. Brown</p>

<p>Academic GPA: 3.985 (unweighted) / 6.785 (Weighted weird MDCPS GPA probably useless)
Class rank: Top 1% out of <1000 in Senior Class
Recommendations:
AP English Teacher - I assume great, one of the nicest ladies I've ever met but I haven't kept in touch that much since 10th when I took her class. Was trying to find a better choice but it was very short notice.
AP Human Geo/Euro Teacher and Class Sponsor - Amazing, I'm a class officer so we've grown close, wrote about being like a second son, amazing individual, etc.
Counselor - Great, I'm one of the few students she actually knows so that's a big plus, I like her a lot, she helped me with some dual enrollment issues in the past and academics (forgot to input an AP course into my GPA).
Standardized test scores: Weak both taken June 2014, first time no studying (700 Reading, 660 Math, 560 Writing Ouch) - 1920 SAT, 30 ACT (28 english, 34 reading, 30 science, 29 math), Retaking ACT OCT 25. and SAT Subject tests on Saturday: US History, Literature, Math II(will probably downgrade to math I)
Essays: Good talked about family obstacles, moving to the US, etc.</p>

<p>Extracurricular activities--
President - French Honor Society
Vice President - DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) 1st place district winner Principles of marketing, State competitor
Secretary - SHAPE (students helping achieve philanthropic excellence) community service club, colombian school supply drive, liga contra cancer, honduras school supply drive, etc
Treasurer - FEC (ferguson environmental club), recycling program throughout the school, green activities
Treasurer - Senior Board (Class of 2015) - responsible for the planning and implementation of senior activities in school
Running for Secretary - IB Advisory Board
Mu Alpha Theta
English Honor Society
National Honor Society
Phi Beta Chi</p>

<p>Character / personal qualities -- I'm really affable but very awkward like in a social setting don't know how to react at times</p>

<p>Geographical residence-- Southeast
State residency-- Florida
Religious affiliation/commitment-- Catholic
Minority status - Hispanic
Volunteer work: Rick Scott Campaign for Reelection, I'm a democrat but I needed community service hours, SHAPE, FEC, Blood Drive, etc.
Work experience:
Crew Trainer - Mcdonald's, work <30 hours a week since beginning of junior year, help out my family, help train new hires, understand all procedures in Mcdonalds, etc</p>

<p>First generation college student: Yes (mother graduated from college in Colombia but not here)
Income: <40,000</p>

<p>Senior Year Schedule:
IB Contemporary History
IB Chemistry
IB TOK (Theory of Knowledge)
IB Film Studies
IB English
IB French
AP European History
AP Calculus AB</p>

<p>During Summer:
AP Macroeconomics
Dual Enrollment American Federal Government
Dual Enrollment English Composition</p>

<p>Would like to study Economics, Pre-Law, or Political Science. I also got into Penn's Early Explorers Program (PEEP) leave on Sunday :)</p>

2

<p>bump plzzzz </p>

3

<p>Bumppppp</p>

4

<p>Your SAT scores seem a little weak for the Ivy League. </p>

5

<p>I know but I’m essentially basing my testing on ACT, I don’t have time to retake the SAT, I have terrible grammar but if I can get it to the same level as my reading I can expect at least a 32. Would it be a bad idea to send my SAT scores…</p>

6

<p>Yes, sending your SAT will not be good for you but some schools require all tests taken to be reported (like Stanford). Also, QB recommended that you submit all test scores for their application so if you did that it doesn’t really matter at this point because all of the QB schools you applied to will see the scores.</p>

7

<p>The best way to waste your QB list is to do it the way you did: list schools because of prestige or because they’re household names.
5-8 should be redone. Include at least 2-3 LACs. Try to check for fit. Do you want a core curriculum? Then keep UChicago but not Brown. But then if you’re very intellectual don’t include Stanford. But if you’re entrepreneurial keep Stanford and place it in the 1-4 bunch, or remove one of the schools ranked 1-4 and place a LAC instead. Overall, you need to add the 2-3 LACs that match</p>

<p>Your course rigor is impressive and your general background is what most schools are looking for, but your odds are still 1 in 3 at the schools you ranked 1-4. You want schools where your odds are better than this (ie., not Stanford.) Ask your QB counselor what LACs would “fit” you best.
Onlythebest13 obviously doesn’t understand QB so don’t pay attention to him/her.</p>

8

<p>I can’t speak to the strength of your app…good luck. But as an FYI, your mom is a college graduate? I don’t think you are first generation. I don’t think it matters where they attended college. The fact that she graduated precludes you from the first generation column. I might be wrong. I’m sure others will chime in.</p>

9

<p>MYOS, I am confused as why you think you can tell the OP to add LAC’s to the list? The OP may not want a small school and although it is impossible to give “chances” for any schools whether for QB or not, there is no need for the OP to add in other schools that “may” be an easier chance of getting in. That is the LAST thing I would advise the OP to do considering that the decision would be binding. And yes, I do understand the QB process, my daughter was matched in 2007.</p>

10

<p>I thought the same thing but my counselor and the admissions people from Penn both told me that if they didn’t graduate from a School in the US I can indicate I am first generation.
Also I don’t like the liberal arts feel I like larger traditional schools</p>

11

<p>Because choosing “household names” for all 8 universities on the matching list is a recipe for disaster, as we’ve seen for the past 2 years when kids who tried this tactic ended up without any QB admit; if OP wants the academic reputation these universities have (and as OP clearly has the stats for them) the high-level LACs would provide prestige, networking, resources on level with the universities on the list. Also, I’m not sure how OP made his/her choice, since there are some clear differences between Stanford and UChicago (for instance), or between Brown and Vanderbilt, and an explanation would help: is it with IB work in view? Is it because of size? politics? a specific professor? As of now, the list seems a bit hodge-podge. If size is the issue with LACs, why not consider schools from the Claremont consortium (5 units of the 6,000 student university, each with their personality, ranging from McKenna to Pitzer on the extremes, to “types” like Pomona, HM, and Scripps), Rice, Tufts, UVA? In short, even though Op has a superlative profile, I’m afraid that list isn’t built properly to yield the best result, which is what I understood OP was asking about.</p>

12

<p>Myos, thanks for your reply it was a great perspective to be honest for the last few on my list I was just taking full advantage of the 8 spots. I thought long and hard about Pomona (excellent economics programs top lac) but decided against it since im still in the running for POSSE and that would be my first choice. Vandy also has a great econ/business program and I like its southern tradition. U Chicago was recommended by someone from our school who got in last year through QB. Stanford is the ivy of the west lol, great attitude, great programs, etc. Brown has that small college experience and i hear they have the happiest students in the ivy. But yes, I like larger more traditional schools esp. Wharton, the Penn visit gave me a lot of resources (admissions officers) and experience that is perfect for the why penn essay… They also suggested that test scores are quickky becoming more derivative as they are not good predictors for college performance… That said retaking Sat in November and Act this saturday wish me luck!</p>

13

<p>Bump!!! was notified that I was a Questbridge finalist and would like to best fit</p>

14

<p>CONGRATULATIONS!!!</p>

15

<p>Thanks Myos!!! Could I ask a huge favor from you? Would you be able to read my common app and Penn essay? It would be a huge help</p>