So nervous, applying to CMU,Cornell,Columbia,Brown,MIT; any chance I'll get in?

<p>Applying for Engineering in all but Cornell where I'm applying for Arts & Sciences. Want to double major in Comp Sci and Cog Sci</p>

<p>SATs: 2280 Total - 760V/740M/780W
SAT IIs: 800 Math IIC, screwed up on the physics exam (690)
GPA: 3.63 or 3.69 weighted (forget), my school has a weird weighting system; the highest weighted gpa in the past 20 years was a 3.8.
Rank: 18/400 (Top 5%)
3 APs last year, maximum offered: AP Calc 5, AP US History 5, AP Physics 4</p>

<p>One of 3 kids taking AP Stats at another school; I've already taken all the math courses offered at mine. Also taking AP Bio, AP Russian (Independent Study), AP Art History, AP English, and AP Psych</p>

<p>ECs:
I founded a program called Computers4Children in 8th grade. Its basically a service organization where we take in donated computers and give them to kids in the community. I'm currently the president and I've been running the program ever since. The program won the statewide Challenge to Educational Citizenship Award end of last year.
Taekwondo for 8 years. I'm now a black belt instructor. Won gold, and 2 bronze in regional competitions.
Yearbook for 3 years - Senior Technology Editor
Marching/Concert/Jazz Band for 4 years
Wind Ensemble for 3 years
Head of Academic Tutoring for NHS - 2 years
Outdoor Track JV last year, Varsity this year
Tech Assistance at the Public Library - 1 year
ITLA (Information Technology Leadership Academy) - 2 years
Started designing a website for a non-proft during the summer
Also a National Merit Semi-Finalist</p>

<p>Oh and I don't know if this will help but I'm a Russian jew, haha. My family immigrated when I was 3. I still speak Russian fluently.</p>

<p>I hope I can get into at least one; I have safeties, but these are my dream schools.</p>

<p>-Thanks</p>

<p>GPA is really on the low end for all of those schools</p>

<p>Yea I know, but compared to the rest of my class it seems pretty competitive. I'm not really sure if it's weighted or not, seeing as the valedictorians for the past couple of years have been landing straight 3.8's. I hope this won't completely ruin my chances.</p>

<p>I'd say you have a good chance since your rank shows how hard it is to have a high GPA at your school. If it was a school that was totally formula based like a state school or something, i'd say you'd be screwed, but since the privates take a lot into consideration, they would probably understand why your GPA isnt as high as others. Your coucilor also has a say, and are usually required to put what the highest GPA is in yout class</p>

<p>Thanks, I was also wondering, my sister's currently at Cornell Law. Will that affect my chances of acceptance?</p>

<p>Not sure on that, I know there's a place in applications where you put where your siblings are going, so maybe it counts for something. Maybe someone else knows.</p>

<p>Just found my transcript, it says my GPA is a 120.47 out of 130. Rank is the same.</p>

<p>I think you are ok at Cornell A&S, the others are up in the air. </p>

<p>Any chance you could retake physics in January?</p>

<p>I probably should; will they consider my new score?</p>

<p>You are going to need to check on a website by website basis to see if they will accept the January date. I think that some may consider it if it gets there before the application is reviewed. </p>

<p>If the date itself is ok, then yes, they will look at the newer, shinier score and take that. Anyone can have a bad day.</p>

<p>Realized that my midterms are the same week as the sats so I probably won't be able retake the physics exam. so long brown</p>

<p>No, don't give up entirely - I think you might have a shot because you are interested in engineering. Just do your best on your midyear grades, and the applications themselves if you haven't completed them. Your class rank is a little low for Brown, but the rest of your profile is pretty strong.</p>

<p>Wondering, should I even waste money on the MIT application? It seems like too much of a longshot.</p>

<p>Hey guys, so I just realized that CMU has an early decision II deadline for December 15. Unfortunetly it's the only school I haven't visited on my list but I know that the computer science program is one of the best in the country, comparable to mit. You think I should still apply?</p>