So, what are my chances doc?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I hope I'm not a hopeless case!</p>

<p>About me:</p>

<p>School Stats
Year: HS class of '08
School: decent suburban public high school (Tucson, AZ)
UW GPA: 4.0
W GPA (honors 4.5, APs 5.0): 4.5 (so far)
Rank: (currently) 1/~550</p>

<p>Courseload
All the honors and AP classes that I could have possibly taken.
By graduation, will have:
4 years English (all honors & AP)
4 years math (all honors, up to AP calculus)
4 years social science (including AP US history, AP government, AP econ)
3 years science (chemistry, AP biology, AP environmental)
3 years foreign language
+ a whole bunch of electives, etc...</p>

<p>Testing
SAT: 2220 (M: 770; CR: 760; W: 690) - don't want to retake
ACT: haven't taken
SAT Subjects: Biology M. 790, (waiting on 3 more tests)
PSAT: 208 (probably Commended)
APs: Biology 5, (waiting on 3 more tests)</p>

<p>Activities (yeah, this sucks, I know...)
1 year varsity swimming (in NZ - will explain later)
1 year j. varsity tennis
2 years varsity tennis
2 years NHS (president)
2 years academic decathlon (treasurer then vice president)
2 years peer tutoring
~100 volunteer hours
numerous memberships, and offices in "laundry list" clubs</p>

<p>Other notes
Asian male
Spent significant portion of education in New Zealand, including HS freshman year (this is why I don't have any "long-term" participation in any organizations here). Friends still claim I have an accent, lol! During the move, it seems like I've moved up a grade - will graduate at 17.
I can depend on getting good recs and I'll be able to put together a pretty good essay.
Relatively low-income family - will need financial aid.</p>

<p>What are my chances at these schools?</p>

<p>Long shots (I know):
Cornell
Carnegie Mellon
Duke
Emory
Northwestern
UVa</p>

<p>Safeties (in-state schools):
U. of Arizona
Arizona State
Northern Arizona</p>

<p>Since I know that I can get into my safeties with a bunch of financial aid, I'm planning to apply to schools that are probably a bit beyond my level. I'd appreciate it if you could give me pointers if I'm aiming too high, and suggestions for more reasonable choices.</p>

<p>Thanks a bunch!</p>

2

<p>are you sure those are your safeties? ASU is getting tougher to get into lately, you might want to look at some.... colleges more suited to you.</p>

3

<p>I wouldn't listen to him; those are very much safeties for you. As far as your "long shots," as you called them, aren't very much long shots at all. They are all slight reaches to high matches, and you have a very good chance at getting in to all of those schools.</p>

4

<p>sheesh people need to stop asking if they're "hopeless cases"...you're ranked 1st in your class with good SAT scores</p>

5

<p>Ok, so you'll definetely get into ASU, NAU, and U of A. Don't worry about those. I'd say that your chances are decent for the others. Duke is probably your biggest reach, and I think you'll get into UVA, and maybe Cornell (if you really love Cornell, try EDing, because they have a very high ED acceptance rate). Your activities aren't as consistent as possible, so make sure you write good essays/get good recs.</p>

6

<p>might want to look at Holy Cross or Colgate.</p>

7

<p>I think you have an excellent chance at all of those schools. You have a very strong academic record and good SAT scores to back that up. I would suggest capitalizing on living in New Zealand as that's a very unique experience that few other applicant will have had.</p>

8

<p>Cornell - reach
Carnegie Mellon - Match (high reach for computer science)
Duke - high reach
Emory - Match
Northwestern - reach
UVa - slight reach</p>

9

<p>Thanks for all the responses folks. I'd definitely like to hear more opinions and thoughts, especially about the possibility of some other schools - Rice and U. of Chicago in particular (yeah, they're pretty high).
Also, please contribute some ideas for other universities that may be of interest to me: academically within my range, and feasible, considering financial aid. I really need to sort my lists out!
Again, thanks - this forum is simply amazing!</p>

10

<p>northwestern's not a reach for you. you'll get in. your test scores,class rank, and grades will be plenty enough. duke won't be a high reach. maybe slight reach. they wanna see more EC's but your test scores are still very competitive there. although some kids in the grade above me got waitlisted w/ high test scores and gpa so you never know. you won't get rejected. emory's a lowmatch-safety. u'll get in uva. cornell is big on test scores so ur in there. don't worry dude. i'd say duke is your toughest customer though. u don't need so many safeties. ur a friggin valedictorian. pick one that you really know you like and gives good merit money and go w/ that.</p>

11

<p>Okay... judging by all the responses, it looks like there's a relatively clear course of action for me. Since the safeties are definitely "safeties," would it be advisable for me to apply to "high match to reach" schools and hope for the best for at least one of them?
Also, which schools would be reasonable EA/EC choices? I don't want to do it for a school that I know will be too much of a reach, but then again, I don't want to do it for a match, when I'd rather take my chances at a more competitive school. Does Cornell and/or something like U. Chicago seem like a good choice for this? Please advise. Thanks!</p>

12

<p>Yes, apply to high match and reach schools. Apply to U Chicago EA since it's non-binding, but only if you think it's a good fit for you. It's very different from your other choices.</p>

13

<p>Alright, I'm back - call me a jerk!
Anyhow, I was just wondering what my chances were for a few other colleges:
Rice
Georgetown
Johns Hopkins
NYU
Washington U. in St. Louis</p>

<p>In addition, how are some of the high-end public universities when it comes to OOS students and financial aid? I'd love to go to some place like UVa, UNC-CH, or UM-AA, but I don't know if I would have a fair shot at being admitted and/or be able to pay.
Thanks!</p>

14

<p>What! Arizona universities are easy to get into. If I were you I would apply to a couple more ivies, your stats are stellar and you have nothing to lose.</p>