School Recomendations?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, sorry to have to add to the ever growing list of people posting their stats, but I don't think it can hurt to hear some advice.
I'm a junior in Southern California and I'd like to hear what schools you guys think I should aim for. To give you some background, I'm brought up by my divorced mom(~60k) and both my parents are Romanian, although I was born in the states. Both my parents went to college in Romania but never finished their degrees.</p>

<p>So far I have straight A's and I'm expecting it to be that way. 5's On every AP test so far and again, I'm expecting the same except for maybe AP English</p>

<p>My teachers like me so I can expect good recommendations.</p>

<p>Practice ACT: 31 or 32 with superscore, I'm taking the real one in a few weeks.( I know its weak but I'll try to improve)</p>

<p>Subject SAT: Chemistry (780)</p>

<p>Class Rank: 3 from 705. Will hopefully end up as Co-Salutatorian</p>

<p>GPA (9-12): 4.0 UW ~ 4.6 W</p>

<p>Freshman:
AP Human Geography
PE
PreAP English
Spanish 1
Algebra 2
Chemistry</p>

<p>Sophomore:
AP Euro
AP Chem
PreCal(First semester) AP Calc AB (second)
PE
Spanish 3(I took year two over summer)
PreAP English</p>

<p>Junior:
AP Calc BC
AP Physics B
AP US History
AP English Lang
AP Comp. Sci.
AP Environmental (I was supposed to take AP Spanish but it conflicted with my schedule)</p>

<p>Senior:
AP Econ
AP Gov
AP Physics C (Started a big petition and organized a inter-district program)
AP Bio
AP English Lang
Calculus D</p>

<p>Extra Curricular:
~100 hours of community service
Science Olympiad(4 years) Current treasurer and will be President next year
^First place in regional Chem Lab. Hoping to do the same this year.
Chemistry Olympiad(3 years) current VP will be P next year( Placed 13 in Southern California)
JSA (3 years) will be officer next year
Mock Trial (2 years)
JV soccer (2 Years) Recieved student-scholar award
Club Soccer Captain (2 Years)
CSF (4 years) might be officer next year
Interact (3 years)
City recreation department(4 years)
Started Physics Club to tutor kids in the subject
NHS (2 years) Might be officer next year
Work experience as a Soccer Ref
Might do internship next summer at a company that installs solar panels</p>

<p>I'm planning to major in a field of Engineering (Either Aerospace or Engineering Physics) and then go on to get an MBA, and at this point I'm looking at Berkeley and Cornell level schools. My friends and teachers all tell me I can do better but I'm not too sure, since I'm the first in my family to go to college in the states so I'm a bit lost. Please list any schools you think I should look into based on the info above and my chances for getting in. Thanks and I really appreciate any help.</p>

2

<p>That’s really, really good. I would even consider applying to MIT even though it’d be a high reach for anyone. You’d definitely get into Berkeley and probably Cornell. I’d apply to Carnegie Mellon and CalTech too if I were you.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the kind words, but I’m afraid that the standardized test score might weigh me down, are they considered more important than GPA and course rigor (I consider these two my strengths) ?</p>

4

<p>Totally agree with hannegrazia. You really can do better, because your schedule rigor is crazy awesome. Your ECs seem pretty balanced as well. The only thing I can really see bringing you down slightly would be that ACT score. I would just pour a lot of effort into that, because if you score well on that, you’re solid for schools like MIT. </p>

5

<p>One more thing, my Physics C thing is hanging in the balance, so they might not offer it due to not enough people signing up… If I end up replacing it with an easier class like AP stats, would that hurt me too much?</p>

6

<p>No. You are judged by what is available at your school.</p>

7

<p>If you continue to get As and get at least a 32 (preferably 33+) I’d say you’d have a good shot at both Berkeley and Cornell</p>

8

<p>Your stats are solid, but your test scores are not yet definite, and you cannot assume anything. I would think you would easily get into Cornell and Berkeley. </p>

9

<p>Thank you all for contributing, if there is anything other than ACT I can do, please let me know. Also, how should I space out my Engineering + MBA? Should I get them both at once or work full time before going for the MBA?</p>

10

<p>what I’ve seen to noticed after pouring through many results threads is that students who are highly ranked (top 5) out of 500 or more students generally have very good admissions odds. In my opinion as long as you don’t screw up that act (a 33 or 34 would be perfect) you have a very good shot at many top schools including hyp. Although hyp and just about every one of the top 20s is a reach school, if you crank out decent essays and apply to alot of them, you should get it. Adcoms will be particularly impressed with 14 APs. Good luck!</p>

11

<p>I was at an MIT info session a few months ago, and the admissions rep said something really interesting: The average test scores of the total applicant pool are higher than those of the admitted students. That said, you’re chem subject test score is awesome. Do the same on Math 1 or 2 (I’d recommend 2. I took both this weekend and am pretty sure I did better on 2, and I’m only in calc AB.), and you’re as set as one can be in the nucking futs world of college admissions.</p>

12

<p>You r on the right track. Try to boost your tests scores a little bit. I’d suggest that you apply to UCs and some schools like GaTech, RPI, since they have really good engi departments and are less competitive.
As others say, you have a shot at MIT. It really all depends on how you portray yourself in your application. Focus on other intangibles - prestigious colleges reject walking 2400-SAT/36-ACTs.
Good luck!</p>

<p>Comments?<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1609820-urgent-help-am-i-really-doomed-to-lose-schooling-or-go-to-a-community-college-will-chance-u-back.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1609820-urgent-help-am-i-really-doomed-to-lose-schooling-or-go-to-a-community-college-will-chance-u-back.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

13

<p>Wow, thank you everyone, I’m getting much more help than I expected. Has anyone heard of RYLA? My counselor said it’s some sort of leadership conference.</p>

14

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1610008-trying-to-get-into-uc-s-help.html?new=1”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1610008-trying-to-get-into-uc-s-help.html?new=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

15

<p>What the hell is Calc D?</p>

16

<p>It’s college level differential equations and linear algebra. It’s a step higher than Calc BC, and I get college credit upon completion.</p>

17

<p>Hi! If you’re interested in Aerospace Engineering, there’s a few schools you should look into. I believe someone else has already mentioned the UCs and GaTech, but you should also check out Purdue, Michigan Ann Arbor, and Texas A&M. All three are well-ranked aero schools and your stats are well over what you’d need. I went to Purdue and just graduated, so of course I have to recommend it ;). Your class rank/SAT score qualifies you for some very nice scholarships through Purdue, and I’d imagine you’d get the same (big) one I did. Purdue also has some great ties with industry and some interesting research projects going on. Purdue also has a good business department, so you could also start working on some business classes.</p>

<p>Are you interested in space or aviation? If it’s space, you should take a close look at the course offerings at all of these schools. Some aero schools offer lots of classes in space, others offer hardly any. Another thing to consider is a major in engineering management if that’s more where your interests lie.</p>

<p>Your stats are impressive. You have an great shot at most of the universities mentioned here. Except for MIT, but that’s a crapshoot for anyone. A word of advice from back in the day when I applied to MIT: don’t underestimate the interview and essays. It can help you set yourself apart in a sea of folks with amazing stats. So can internships, awards, and independent projects. </p>

<p>I think one mistake HS students often make is they go for quantity, rather than quality of their ECs. It’s better to have one or two ECs that you have done some truly impressive work in, like won a big award or written a paper, than to have a laundry list of ECs and leadership positions. </p>

18

<p>Thanks everyone for posting, I just got back my ACT score from February and I got a 33, so it looks like that won’t be a problem anymore. Should I even consider retaking it? I’m pretty happy with my score.</p>

19

<p>If you’re a girl applying for engineering don’t be afraid to apply to those schools that are ‘reaches’ for everyone. I know 3 girls who got into Stanford this year who had equivalent if not a little worse resumes as you and each of them applied for engineering. Best of luck! I’m sure you could get an awesome scholarship. Also, I know this isn’t a top school but USC gives very nice scholarships to students like you. They have a fabulous engineering school, I highly recommend you apply there. </p>

20

<p>Thanks, but sadly no, I’m not a girl or a minority, so no affirmative action for me.</p>