So i am a junior and now i should think about college...

<p>Can somebody please chance me?
Thanks!</p>

<p>Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): just took em in may: hoping for 2150-2190. Will retake next oct for 2350+
ACT:
SAT II: 800 Math2 (took in 10th grade) , will take Bio in june (expectin 800). Do i need another one/will it help me out?
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.91 at the end of junior year
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): #2/352
AP (place score in parenthesis): will take 5 this year, one of which is self study (AP psych)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: Taking 3-4 AP classes and the rest are honors/accelerated
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Commended? i don't have any others</p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): I have been in a bio club, in which im a mentor for the members in that club, (can't reveal the exact name for identity issues) for 3 years, founder/pres. of debate club, and co-capt (will be capt nxt year) for academic team. I have done summer research at rutgers and was published on a prestigious website (can't reveal any more).
Job/Work Experience: none.
Volunteer/Community service: did 120 hours being camp counselor and the other 20-30 hours doing library/ and charity stuff.
Summer Activities: science research last year and this year i will take college courses at rutgers on nueroscience to develop my passion for nueroscience.
Essays: assume they're good
Teacher Recommendation: assume they're good
Counselor Rec: assume it's excellent (i know him very well)
Additional Rec: none
Interview: didn't have one </p>

<p>Other</p>

<p>Intended major?: nueroscience
State (if domestic applicant): NJ</p>

<p>School Type: Public (a really lousy school)
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: M
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None</p>

<p>What schools do i have a shot at? Any ivies perhaps?
Remember that i go to a not good public high school. Does that give me a boost for college admissions or something? </p>

<p>name all competitive and top-tier schools i'd be a good contender. </p>

<p>And here are some of my dream schools:
Stanford
Yale
Caltech
MIT</p>

<p>Oh also, remember that from my school, we NEVER had a student applying to MIT, CALTECH, or STANFORD. I'll be the first. Idk if that helpsl</p>

<p>bump! bumpity bumpity bump bump</p>

<p>youre asian so its not good enough</p>

<p>Lots of competition being Asian from NJ. From a not great school the expectation is you knocked their socks off taking by far the hardest course load, being a true leader at the school, teachers checking best in career box.</p>

<p>Will help if you’re low income and parents are not professionals.</p>

<p>Idk if teachers will check off the “best” but i can assure i’ve done the first two things ^ you listed.</p>

<p>bump~!!!1
and i do not have low income. It’s more like middle class income. My mom is not a proffesional but my dad is an engineer.</p>

<p>Chances for someone who can’t spell “neuroscience” – 0%.</p>

<p>All kidding aside, you’re talking about schools that reject people who prepare starting back in middle school. If you’re really starting to think about colleges now, do you really think you have a shot?</p>

<p>Well, actually, my dream school is Yale and I’ve dreamt of going there since the 8th grade. The other schools are just recent ones that i’ve attached feelings for. </p>

<p>Although my title does say "So i am a junior and now i should think about college… ", I really meant to say that instead of worrying about school now, I should start seeing where i stack up, considering i’ll be applying to colleges next fall. That doesn’t necessarily mean that my dream schools listed are ones I just thought of at the spur of the moment. They are schools I’ve really wanted/want to attend. So are you implying i have no shot at these schools?</p>

<p>If all the chancers could name some competitive schools I could be a good contender for, I’d appreciate it. Thanks!</p>

<p>Dreaming does NOT equal preparing. Big difference.
What I am saying is that you should’ve started doing stuff that colleges want much earlier, and planned your entire high school accordingly. Tens of thousands of people dream about going to Yale every year. How many of them actually do go? A tiny fraction.
Maybe I’m being too harsh, but I am having a hard time seeing you in any of the four. I’d look into UChicago if I were you.</p>

<p>Did i not?
What do u mean doing stuff that colleges want?
I took the hardest courseload, I have leadership positions, hopefully i’ll have 2350+ SAT score, blah blah blah. There’s not much I can do considering the limited opportunities my school offers.</p>

<p>and fyi, there was a girl from my school who got into Yale in 2007 with similar stats (well, she had a 2350 SAT score) but i think she got really lucky. She might have done more things but im not familiar with her anyway.
Does going to a lousy high school bring down my credibility?</p>

<p>and also, we have about 3-4 people going to ivies every 5 years or so.</p>

<p>See? Look at yourself.

That’s the wrong attitude. Top 10 schools want students who go above and beyond the limitations of their environment. </p>

<p>

Oh dear…</p>

<p>have i not gone above and beyond in starting a club, participating and being published in research, and taking college courses (or will be taking college courses this summer)?</p>

<p>Don’t misconstrue this as bragging; I’m not.</p>

<p>well what do you suggest i do to improve my application?</p>

<p>Is it the wording of the title of this thread that’s ticking you off? lol</p>

<p>passion for “nueroscience”…really?
no offense, but i wouldn’t talk about that in my essay if i were you…
you seem to be good at math (800 on Math II) so I would say that you might have a chance at MIT or CALTECH. just make sure that when you apply, show them that you have a lot of creativity that makes you stand out from everyone else. that’s the main thing that these schools are lacking in applicants.</p>

<p>Oh sorry if you misunderstood but i wasn’t going to talk about neuroscience at all.
And thanks for the reply!</p>

<p>Look at the caliber of schools you are applying to. Research does NOT make you stand out. Especially at MIT or Stanford. Starting a club is good but that alone won’t get you anywhere. Do more that gives you ammo that others won’t have.</p>

<p>Oh, ok. sorry about that!</p>