<p>So I’m still kind of new to CC and am still confused about the rankings that people use to rank whether or not a person is likely to get into a particular school, such as “high match” and “low reach.” Haha I know it’s a noob question but if someone could please clarify for me that would be great.</p>
<p>Anyway, here’s my stats please chance me for my top schools and I’ll chance back if you post your link</p>
<p>Secondary school: will be first graduating class of a newly established science/mathematics magnet program in MD
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Asian
College class: 2014</p>
<p>Major: want to major in bioengineering or mechanical engineering while still taking pre-med courses if I choose to apply for med school</p>
<p>SAT: 2360 (800 cr, 780 m, 780 w)
SAT 2: Math 2 800, will be taking bio and physics in Oct (aiming for 750+)
Rank: school doesnt rank but definitely top 5% or maybe higher
GPA: 4.0 UW on 4.0 scale, 4.82 W
APs: 8 total depending on senior schedule
Rigor of course: pretty hard, I’ve been taking advantage of AP’s and the special magnet science courses such as analytical/physical chemistry, genetics, and optics</p>
<p>Awards:
National merit commended (maybe semifinalist)
Honor roll/All A’s award for 3 years
AP scholar
Perfect attendance award freshman and sophomore year (cheesy, I know)
George Washington University Engineering award for excellence in study in science and mathematics</p>
<p>EC's (definitely my weakest point):
JV/varsity indoor and outdoor track
Conducting a research project at the National Institutes of Health – NEI (National Eye Institute) this summer, 8 weeks 40 hrs a week
CIT (counselor in training) at various summer camps, volunteer at libraries
Part of MCR (Montgomery County Regional Government) Executive Board – Voter Registration Director
Asian American club – active member
Officer in school Robotics Team
Math team – active member
Investment Club/Ping-Pong Club
Work- tutor at Kumon Math and Reading Center 3 days a week for 3 hours per day
just 148 hrs of community service, trying to get more </p>
<p>Schools:
MIT (EA)
Cornell
Johns Hopkins
Duke
Washington University in St. Louis
UMD – College Park
Princeton or Harvard (reach, just for kicks)</p>
<p>As for the question about chance rankings:
Safety - Sure thing
Low Match - You’ll probably get in, but its not a sure thing
Match - 50/50 shot
High Match - You probably won’t get in, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you did
Low Reach - Low chance of getting in, but not that low
Reach - You’ll most likely get rejected, but your chances aren’t impossible
High Reach - An adcom might accidentally stamp accept instead of reject, and be too lazy to fix his mistake</p>
<p>At least, that’s what I mean by them. Other posters might have different definitions. </p>
<p>MIT (EA) - Low Reach
Cornell - Low Reach
Johns Hopkins - High Match/Match
Duke - High Match
Washington University in St. Louis - High Match
UMD – College Park - Safety
Princeton or Harvard - Reach</p>
<p>The method that I think is most used for ranking here on CC is this: if you have higher stats than the responder, you are a shoo in for HYP.</p>
<p>You have excellent stats and are a reasonable candidate for any school. Many with your stats get into the very top schools and many don’t. Your essay and recs will differentiate you–focus on making sure both are unusual.</p>
<p>Hello! I’m new here as well, but here it goes:</p>
<p>Great SAT scores, and for Biology (assuming molecular), you should aim for at least 770+. Definitely maintain your GPA. Actually, I would consider your EC very strong. You have some interesting activities there, such as your bio research and role in your county government.</p>
<p>However, one thing that I have to point out is your lack of leadership positions and focus in your ECs. </p>
<p>However, I have to warn you that many Asians will have numbers and activities very similar to yours, and since it is too late to gain leadership positions or join more clubs, you have to packages yourself well in essays, interview, and whatnot.</p>
<p>MIT (EA)- High Reach (MIT admissions are known to be skewed)
Cornell-Low Reach
Johns Hopkins-High Match/Low Reach
Duke-Low Reach
Washington University in St. Louis-Not quite sure
UMD – I am not familiar with the MD Public University System
Princeton or Harvard (reach, just for kicks)-High Reach/High Reach</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses guys, I know it all pretty much depends on my recs and essays now.<br>
Yeah I figure the schools I’m applying to may be a little out of reach for me, but I figure I either apply to some of the top tier schools, or just go to my state university in MD, which doesn’t provide that bad of an education either, and its cheaper</p>
<p>Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck. It seems that we are in CC find solace in others who are worried about the same thing. As mentioned before, your numbers are great and puts you at a great competitive range.</p>
<p>I think you’re selling yourself a bit short. Your stats are competitive at highly selective schools, including the Ivies. Your ECs are good. My concern with your college list is that I’m not sure you have enough. Despite what others have suggested, MIT, Cornell, Duke, Princeton and Harvard are reaches for everybody. They aren’t out of reach, necessarily, but you could add a couple more schools in that category, because you just can’t predict which ones will take you.
Hopkins and Wash U are also highly selective, but I think you stand a very good chance there. UMd is almost certainly a safety. I would consider adding a couple of schools between UMd and Hopkins in selectivity.</p>
<p>MIT (EA) - mid reach/low reach
Cornell - high match
Johns Hopkins - match
Duke - match
Washington University in St. Louis - low match
UMD – College Park - in probably
Princeton or Harvard - reaches, esp. w/ your ECs.</p>
<p>Very nice all around profile. I’d say hpm are mid reaches, cornell duke and jhu are high matches. The rest are in or low matches. Thanks for the chance!</p>
<p>This is my chacne back. Your test scores and grades are great. I think if you write stellar essays you will definitely get into most of them and maybe one of HYP.</p>
<p>I’m guessing you go to RM? MoCo ftw lol. Anyways your stuff looks good!</p>
<p>MIT (EA) - Reach
Cornell - Low Reach
Johns Hopkins - Match
Duke - Low reach
Washington University in St. Louis - IDK about this one
UMD – College Park - Safety for sure.
Princeton or Harvard - Reach</p>
<p>Schools:
MIT (EA) - low reach<br>
Cornell - high match
Johns Hopkins - safety
Duke - high match
Washington University in St. Louis - high match
UMD – College Park - safety
Princeton or Harvard (reach, just for kicks) - reach</p>
<p>you have excellent grades, scores, EC’s. Of course nothin is guaranteed, but I’d say you have a solid shot anywhere you apply, barring HYPS, which you definitely have a shot at, just more of a reach.</p>
<p>Guys, PLEASE stop posting that Duke and Cornell are matches, or that MIT is a low reach! This just isn’t true for anybody. These schools are all reaches for virtually everybody. People with better stats than the OP are rejected in significant numbers at these schools every year.
And Hopkins a safety?
Really, you aren’t helping anybody with these overly optimistic chances, and you might contribute to somebody failing to make a list with real matches and safeties. It’s almost as bad as the posts saying that somebody has no chance anywhere and should go to community college.</p>
<p>I think you have an extraordinary shot. In such case, do make your essay and interview stand out, as those will be the last important factors you’ll have to deal with.</p>
<p>MIT (EA): reach, thought ur ECs are good u don’t have any big national awards that make u stand out
Cornell: low reach
Johns Hopkins: low reach/ match
Duke: mid reach
Washington University in St. Louis: low reach
UMD College Park: in
Princeton or Harvard: haha reach</p>
<p>Hunt, I appreciate your honesty. Yes, many of these schools are harder to get into then most people give them credit for. I’ve taken your advice keeping in mind that I would like to stay on the east coast and have tried to expand my list to other schools in midtier:
Carnegie Mellon
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
UNC-Chapel Hill
Georgia Tech</p>
<p>If anyone else would like to offer their opinions on these schools as well as my other ones that would be great.</p>
<p>MIT (EA) - Low Reach (worst case senario, I think you’ll get deferred EA…no way rejection)
Cornell - I’d say in…
Johns Hopkins - Match
Duke - High Match
Washington University in St. Louis - Match
UMD College Park - Safety
Princeton or Harvard - Reach (as they are for everyone)</p>