Scared, Lonely, and Insecure: The Life of a High School Senior

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Status: Asian (Korean, special right? :P)
Gender: Male
Parent’s Income Bracket: Does this matter? Let’s just say above average</p>

<p>I go to a public high school in Pennsylvania. It’s just a normal public high school, we have had kids go to MIT, Upenn, and others.</p>

<p>UW GPA: 3.543
W GPA: 4.047</p>

<p>I’m not sure what type of GPA system my school uses but I believe an A+ = 4.33 and its on a .333 increment scale. So like 4.0 = A and 3.66 = A- and etc.</p>

<p>Most Rigorous Schedule Offered</p>

<p>SAT I: 690 Reading, 720 Math, 700 Writing, Total : 2110</p>

<p>SAT II: Have not taken them yet! Will probably take Math II, Chem, U.S. or maybe instead of U.S. Math I</p>

<p>AP’s: Only took two last year and scores were not too great. 3 for U.S., 4 for Comp.</p>

<p>Rank: 49/498 (barely top 10%)</p>

<p>“ Notable” ECs:
3 Years of Cross Country,2 years JV, this year varsity</p>

<p>This is the third year of tennis for me, unfortunately it is in the spring so I’m not sure what I will write on my college aps. Maybe captain this year and def. varsity this year. I was varsity last year and JV two years ago.</p>

<p>Other random sports for school: 1 year winter track (JV), 1 year swimming (I think everyone is varsity on swimming), 1 year regular track (JV)</p>

<p>3 Years of FBLA
3 Years of Key Club
3 Years of SADD
NO LEADERSHIP positions. WOW.</p>

<p>I just got a job at CVS as a pharm tech! wooh</p>

<p>Pathetic amount of volunteer hours… maybe around 20.</p>

<p>Other random stuff I did:</p>

<p>I have played piano for maybe 4-6 years, who knows. I’m not that great though.</p>

<p>Went to a John’s Hopkins’ Summer program this year and got a college credit.</p>

<p>Won first place at a FBLA competition for public speaking.</p>

<p>Received first place in my category in a few science fairs during freshman year. Nothing special, it was more in my county/city, not as big as state. I did go to state but I forgot what place I received, it obviously was not 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.</p>

<p>Went to some random summer program during freshman summer to study biology and genetics. <- I really don’t think its note worthy.</p>

<p>I’m sure I did some other stuff too but I really cannot remember right now. CC has taken away all the confidence and pride which I once held dear to me and now I am a weak and insecure high school senior stressing out about college. I have no clue what I want to do in my life or what college I want to try to get into this year. I’m at a complete loss, someone help me!</p>

<p>But I wouldn’t mind trying to apply to:
NYU
Carnegie Mellon
VA Tech
Penn State (Safety) <- It is incredibly easy to get in there if you live in Pennsylvania
Johns Hopkins <- why not try? Probably will not get in though.</p>

<p>Any other recommendations as to which college/university I should try to go to would be greatly appreciated!</p>

<p>Thanks! And don’t hate!</p>

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<p>bump! ten characters!</p>

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<p>Hi ahoyhoy (I love Chips Ahoy cookies!!!) … I’ll chance you, but can you return the favor? </p>

<p>Your UW GPA of 3.54 is slightly low, but I’m getting the feeling that you made a mistake when you calculated your GPA. A UW GPA is calculated by adding up the semester-end grades of all your classes, where A=4 points, B=3 points, and etc., and dividing them by your total number of grades. No extra points are given for Honors or AP classes. Aside from that, it’s good to see that you’ve taken advantage of what you’re school has offered. Your ECs are decent, and it’s not necessary to hold leadership positions in them (contrary to popular public opinion). </p>

<p>Overall, you’re a decent student, but your GPA is questionable. </p>

<p>A note about CC and your “health”: The kids you see on CC are very competitive and they don’t accurately represent the applicant pool of the colleges you’re applying to. Why? Because people on this site are so motivated and driven that they want to get some assurance that they can get into the top schools. In a way, all members here are self-selective, so it seems like everyone else is better than you. It’s okay to have that inferior feeling. </p>

<p>Chances:
NYU: Slight reach if a 3.54 UW GPA –> Match if 3.75+
Carnegie Mellon: Slight reach if a 3.54 UW GPA –> Match if 3.75+
VA Tech: Safety match
Penn State: Safety because IOS
JHU: Far reach (sorry …) </p>

<p>Good luck, and remember to chance me in return. If you have any questions or you need more help, feel free to PM me.</p>

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<p>if i reconfigure my GPA should I include classes like PE and Health?</p>

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<p>^^ No, the schools you’re applying to simply don’t care about those.</p>

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<p>NYU–Slight Reach
Carnegie Mellon–Slight Reach
VA Tech–Safe Match
Penn State–Match
Johns Hopkins–Reach </p>

<p>You’re test scores will help at both NYU and Carnegie Mellon, but probably not enough.</p>

<p>I’d say you should plan on going to Penn State, but shoot hard for Carnegie Mellon (do lots more on this application to make yourself look good, because it may pay off).</p>

<p>Other schools to apply to Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Lehigh, Villanova.</p>

<p>If you don’t mind going out-of-state (and not just to Ohio), consider the University of Washington as a match and USC as another slight reach.</p>

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<p>bummmmmpppp!</p>

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<p>Can you guys chance me at Boston College and UMICH also? thanks!</p>

9

<p>another bump!! come on guys</p>

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<p>last bump. !</p>

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<p>Finally, someone who’s like me! </p>

<p>All I see in the CC forum are extremely talented people with perfect GPAs and internships at Fortune 500 companies. </p>

<p>Your college resume looks realistic - like my own. </p>

<p>I never thought I’d celebrate academic inferiority, but its nice to see people who are comparable to myself.</p>

<p>P.S. Don’t freak out. As mentioned, most of the people at CC are the top-performing students. You’re still an above average student, and be proud that you did well and didn’t overwork yourself. I know if I cut out more of my leisure time I’d have an Ivy-League worthy GPA, but I honestly don’t care - a good experience in high school is more important to me.</p>

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<p>i’m not sure if i should feel good or bad right now runtime. haha! thanks for the reassurance.</p>