Sophomore looking for advice?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>My stats:</p>

<p>Caucasian girl from KS, graduating in May 07</p>

<p>Class rank: 1 of 250 (approx.)
GPA: 4.0 unweighted (by graduation it will be around a 4.75 weighted)</p>

<p>Advanced Placement (ones I am taking/am scheduled to take):
-English Language
-English Literature
-American History
-Calculus
-Biology
-Chemistry
-American Government
College Courses (at the local comm. college)
-Spanish II, III, IV
-Latin I, II</p>

<p>ACT comp: 29 (35 english, 35 reading, 26 math, 29 science--I'm expected this to go up substantially after the Feb. test as have been prepping hardcore)</p>

<p>PSAT comp: 208 (doesn't count this year, but am hoping to raise it as well)
SAT: am taking in May.</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<p>-Sophomore class president, 2004-05.
-Nat'l Forensics League chapter president, 2004-05.
-Student representative to various committees/programs
-Very, very serious debater
-Forensics
-Member of several elite audition-only performance choirs
-Winner of several writing contests
-Swim team
-Presidential service award from 9th grade to present (totaling somewhere around 500+ hours before graduation)
-Library volunteer
-Tutor for Hispanic children at local elementary school
-Youth Court attorney
-Habitat for Humanity volunteer
-Am going to Costa Rica for a Spanish study program this summer (3wks)</p>

<p>Am expecting great recs and essays (hopefully).</p>

<p>Schools I'm applying to: Columbia (am considering applying ED), Northwestern, U of Chicago, Princeton, Cornell, Harvard, Stanford, the rest of the Ivies.</p>

<p>What are my chances as it stands now? I know the test scores are low but I'm fairly sure I can bring them up. I'm also planning on taking 8 of the AP tests and several SAT II's. I know it's a bit early to be concerned but I want to make sure I am on the right track. </p>

<p>I'm also sure that there are a billion people out there with stats just like mine. What can I do to stand out?</p>

2

<p>Actually there are many people with our stats, sry... I'm a sophomore as well with very similar stats, but I got a 225 on the PSAT's... It seems like our years going to be very competitive...
Columbia- Reach
Northwestern- Slight Reach
Chicago- Match
Princeton- Reach
Cornell- Match
Harvard- Extreme Reach (sry bout that)
Yale- Reach</p>

3

<p>What might make you stand out is to somehow parlay all of your ECs, interests, etc. into a cohesive statement about who you might like to become in the future. In other words, what are your goals, and how do your activities help you achieve them? What is your focus or primary interest? It's hard to tell this from your list, but I see hints of a future lawyer - perhaps for the hispanic community. If you can convince the adcoms that all this hard work is for a deeper purpose - not just getting into their college or another ivy, you'll stand out!</p>

4

<p>Actually, that's exactly what I would like to do--be a lawyer in the Hispanic community, preferably some kind of social work (such as representing people who can't pay much). How do I convey this to admissions officers?</p>

5

<p>Yeah, it definently looks like it's going to be a tough year for sophomores. :(</p>

6

<p>"Columbia- Reach
Northwestern- Slight Reach
Chicago- Match
Princeton- Reach
Cornell- Match
Harvard- Extreme Reach (sry bout that)
Yale- Reach"
How can you say NWern is more difficult than Cornell? Also, Harvard is not more difficult than Yale, Princeton, and Stanford. </p>

<p>You are applying to all very difficult schools. I would suggest adding a couple schools that are more in the match area. That said, you have a good shot at the non HYPS schools on your list, especially being from KS. </p>

<p>The fact that you say you're applying to the "rest of the ivies" makes it seem like you are applying more for prestige than for fit. These schools have very different atmospheres and I reccomend you visit some of them first. For example, Cornell is in the middle of nowhere and of course Columbia is in the big city. </p>

<p>Sophomore year is way too early to start worrying about colleges. Good luck.</p>

7

<p>You have a lot of really strong schools listed. However, you should also consider some safeties, just in case. I'm a sophomore with similar stats, and want to major in political science or international relations. While Georgetown and Princeton are at the top of my list, I added American and George Washington as safeties, because they have good politics programs, but are less competitive. </p>

<p>Also, be yourself. Don't suddenly join a bunch of other activities to cushion your application- an admissions committee will find this pathetic, and think that all you want is to get into a good school. Instead you should emphasize your passions (I think that someone made a similar reccomendation). </p>

<p>Finally, you listed a bunch of highly-competitive schools. Do you like these schools because they are elite, or does something else about them jump out at you? If your answer was the former, I suggest that you go on studentsreview.com and princetonreview.com, and read about students' opinions of their colleges. In addition, go on your favorite colleges' websites and read about what is currently going on at each school, and what sort of student organizations can be found at each school.</p>

8

<p>Thanks for the advice. I actually have a two week trip up and down the East coast and am hoping to hit a <em>bunch</em> of the schools for campus tours. Am hoping I can finalize my list then :) and I shouldn't have said "the rest of the ivies"... the only ones I'm seriously looking at are the ones listed.</p>

<p>Columbia is really the one I want to go for, though. I've heard nothing but good things about their creative writing program, which is what I want to focus on in college. Do you think that applying ED would increase my chances?</p>

9

<p>Applying ED almost always increases your chances. But watch out...Often, colleges seem one way when you read about them online, and another way when you actually visit them.</p>