Shot in the Dark: Rising Junior's Chances

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi! First of all, I'd like to thank you for reading this. I'd like to know what you would think my chances are for a good engineering school when I graduate in two years. I'm also looking for things to do next summer, since this one will be dedicated to dance camp. I was thinking of applying to RSI but I dont know if that would be a great idea, but I figure there should be some other interesting things to get involved in. Again, thanks for your time!</p>

<p>Stats:
female/NJ/decently competitive private school
interested in chemical engineering</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 uw/4.65w
Ranking: top 5%/400 (school does not provide exact rankings)
PSAT: 208
SAT: (april) 2210- 740CR/750M/720W (will retake end of next year, I want a 2300+)
SAT II: Chem 800
taking us history and matt IIC
AP's: 11 by grad
sophomore: chem (predicting 4/5)
junior: us history, biology, psych(self-study), stats (self-study), comp sci AB
hardest courseload in school (all honors/aps)</p>

<p>Junior Year Schedule
Religion 3 (no honors offered)
English 3 Honors
Pre Calc H/Calc AB (accelerated course)
Spanish 3 Honors
AP US History
AP Biology
Physics Honors
Comp Programming Honors</p>

<p>Awards:
NEMA
Departmental awards in school (bio/chem/english/world/us history)
NHS
International Language Honor Society
Various Dance Awards (tap/lyrical)
Principals Honor List</p>

<p>ECs:
Sports:
Dance (tap/jazz/ballet) since age 4
Competition team
Varsity Swim Team(10)</p>

<p>Clubs and Tutoring:
Math/Science Tutor (9-10)
Quiz BowlTeam (9) co-captain (10)
Debate Team-founding member (10)
Science Club VP (10)
Robotics Club-founding member (10)
Math League (10)
Writers Club (9-10)
Literary Magazine-writer/artist (10)
ambassadors/diplomats club (9-10)
student gov representative (10)</p>

<p>Volunteer/Community Work
Sunday School Teacher (10)
Vacation Bible School Teacher (since sixth grade)
RISE Mission Trips (10)
Volunteer at NJ Developmental Center (9-10)
Habitat for Humanity (9-10)
Healing the Children Parties (9-10)
Total Hours: 200+</p>

<p>Work Experience:
file clerk at real estate office (9)
graphic designer (9-10)
webmaster (design and management) (10)</p>

<p>Schools:
MIT (EA?)
Caltech
Cornell
Carnegie-Mellon
UofI-Urbana
Rutgers Engineering
WPI</p>

<p>once again, thanks for reading this. Any input would be appreciated.</p>

2

<p>Decent chances everywhere, except MIT, which is a reach.</p>

3

<p>Good Numbers
Not so special ECs.</p>

<p>MIT--reach
Caltech--reach
Cornell--less of a reach
CMU--match
rest are safeties</p>

4

<p>why wouldn't her EC's be special? as a dancer, i can pretty much vouch for her that the dedication put in dancing leaves very little room for other activities. </p>

<p>obviously, you have good numbers. if dancing is something that you truly care about, highlight it in your application :)</p>

<p>oh, and i agree with Bill's list.</p>

5

<p>^I agree dancing takes many hours a week. However, she is not the only dancer applying to top schools. Unless your ECs in the arts are good enough to get you into the likes Julliard, they will not make your application stand out at HYPSM.</p>

6

<p>true. but, competition dancing is very different from Julliard dancing.</p>

<p>i am curious as to what you would consider a "good" EC? i was just thinking about this question.</p>

7

<p>I could write a book on this.
Basicly a good EC is one that is hard enough to achieve that it is unique among the cream de la cream that apply to top schools.</p>

8

<p>i swear i'd read it.</p>

<p>it just seems like calling a certain EC mediocre is fairly presumptuous (not that you did). i understand that such activities as debate, model UN, etc. are listed frequently, but that shouldn't take away from the importance of it in the applicant's life. i also understand that something like underwater sumo-wrestling would be unique and eyebrow-raising, but that doesn't necessarily mean this person is amazing at it because how many underwater sumo-wrestlers do you know? however, there are GAJILLIONS of debaters-- such that being a top debater clearly signifies talent in that particular activity.</p>

<p>i understand what you are saying, though. and sure, my opinion is relative to the school and applicant in question.</p>

9

<p>ECs are kind of weak. Dont underestimate Cornell though. I say MIT/Caltech are still reaches with Cornell being a slight reach.</p>

10

<p>Thanks everyone! I understand what you all are saying about my ECs, but there is very little time left for me to do anything else. Usually, I have an hour in between school and dance, and I do not come home until after ten when I have to finish my homework. Right now, I'm on break, so it's different. Also, Julilliard dancing is very different from normal competition dancing. My dad went there, (musician) but I there is no chance I would get in even if I was interested.</p>

<p>Anyway, that was a brief, mostly not helpful explanation of where I stand. Any ideas for "better" EC's could provide insight...but I value your opinions thus far.</p>

11

<p>I'd say, if you get that 2300+ and, keep your grades up and get involved in some research (like chem. engin.), then cornell will be a match...
and MIT/Caltech would be less of a reach</p>

12

<p>Dance is probably ho-hum for a LAC...but it's probably NOT a common ec in (for example) MIT's applicant pool. If that's what you love to do, do it. Maybe you could teach children dance or do some ec that involved the dancing but was also a bit unusual and distinctive.</p>

13

<p>
[quote]
"MIT--reach
Caltech--reach
Cornell--less of a reach
CMU--match
rest are safeties

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I agree 100%.</p>