Hi again,
Last time I made one of these chance threads (http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1796146-native-american-outstanding-awards-but-decent-gpa-chances-p1.html), I was very pessimistic about my chances at any top college as my GPA was very low; so I quite honestly became a self fulfilling prophecy and left some rather crucial information out of my original post and I didn’t want to say anything (while also simultaneously miscalculating my GPA). However, after reading some of the uplifting and carefully crafted responses that people have said on that thread as well as having some , I decided to create another thread with all of my stats. I am trying for Harvard and Princeton and maybe Stanford
SAT: didn’t take
ACT-35 (36 M, 36 E, 32 R, 34 S,)
SAT II- Math II: 800, Chemistry:800
UW GPA- 3.6 ( I miscalculated this last time )
AP- 20 of them 18 5’s and 2 4’s (all self study except AP CS) (AP State Scholar)
Extracurricular- Founder of Gay-Straight Alliance in Catholic School (took some time to do),
Founder of Creators’ Club (centered around building random contraptions),
Created a website were people can share and invest in different startups/inventions (pretty professional if I do say so myself),
I have several patents,
Founder of MAO at school,
Created Native American interests council in my city where we celebrated Native American Heritage with powwows and stories and was on school board for some time
Built a cyclotron particle accelerator than donated it and created a mini lab where any aspiring, young physicist might go to run some nuclear experiments (this is the big part I left out on the last one for reasons stated before)
In the process of creating a Math book for elementary schools that will be probably be done before October
Summer Activities: Internship at renowned physics lab and engineering company, 300+ services hours at Feed My Starving and PAWS, building a cyclotron particle accelerator , MITES, Free AP and Math tutoring for kids living in low
Awards: USAMO Qualification (with 132 AMC 12 and 11 AIME), AP State Scholar, NMSF, Samsung Gear App
Hooks: REGISTERED Native American (1/8th)
Teacher Recommendation: One of the teachers who wrote one of the recommendations went to Harvard and the other is a physic teacher who helped me with my accelerator
Thanks again for any (even restated) comments on this
Also the low GPA is partially caused by a late diagnosis of ADHD in junior year after which I got a 4.0 in junior year
First of all, I must say you have one incredible application. Your GPA, while below average, is not going to keep you out of admissions and every other aspect of your application will likely boost you up. 20 AP Exams?!?!?!?! That is crazy good considering 18 were 5’s. Your ACT score is plenty competitive, SAT II’s are great. Your extracurriculars, while some seem to be a little lacking, I see that you wrote that you have several patents. If you aren’t lying, then that is one hell of an accomplishment, which not only should you take pride in but you should know that that will help you significantly in the application. Your volunteering is solid and your summer activities are decent. Most of your awards are somewhat typical, but they are good nonetheless. I’m not sure if 1/8 Native American really entitles you to being considered a Native American / URM, but if it is, I honestly believe that you have a decent chance of making these schools. I would say that it might not be a crapshoot for you. Congratulations. Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford - Reaches, but you have a better chance than most I would say. Please chance me back! http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1796275-what-do-you-think-of-my-chances-are-at-these-universities.html#latest Good luck!
@jarrett211 You unfortunately reflect what is a western notion of being Native American. Blood quantuams are an entirely provincial purview and were made to either control the the population enrollments of tribes and/or their ability to transfer real property. Few few tribes utilize it as a criteria for tribal membership, and being 1/8 Native American does not make one less or more Native. You need to be a bit more educated and mindful of your comments…
@boolaHI do you have a comment on my chances?
@boolaHI I don’t think you understood what I was referring to. I was simply talking about whether 1/8 Native American is enough to be considered URM in college admissions. I am not saying that he is not Native American. I am simply talking about affirmative action. I’m sorry if you were offended, but I meant no harm.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Nowhere in the original post did the poster ask for a debate on what is Native American. Therefore, enough with the discussion on is he or isn’t he. He’s registered, so he is. What each individual college will do with the knowledge is up to them. Carry on.
Mathman, you present a compelling application despite your relatively lower GPA. That said, if you were to look at the rate of admissions for Native applicant say at Ivyplus schools, they are collectively much higher than the general population. For instance, Yale admission is near 6%, but for Native kids its closer to 17-18%, so your chance are greatly improved. Email me privately if you want some specific comments on how to tailor your application.
Would anybody consider these schools a far reach for my application?
Sadly, you have no chance.
Ha ha. Just kidding. 35 ACT. 20 APs. 3 freakin patents. And – this is the one where i laughed out loud – “Built a cyclotron particle accelerator, then donated it and created a mini lab where any aspiring, young physicist might go to run some nuclear experiments.”
So if you’re real, you’re in.
@SouthernHope Thanks that makes me feel better and I can assure you that I am real 
Of course. They’re a far reach for everybody
@skieurope by far reach I mean is my application on near equivalent chances with a ‘normal’ applicant who has a 2400 SAT, 4.0 GPA, etc. or do I have above average chances for the ED applicant pool?Sorry if there was any confusion
@mathman45 I mean, you have as good a shot as anybody. A big part will come down to the essays, which we aren’t seeing.
FYI, a “normal” applicant to these schools is not 4.0/2400. I’ll be attending one of them, and I did not have those stats. That said, plenty of 4.0/2400’s get rejected. So, none of us here will be able to chance you any more accurately. All you can do is apply and see what happens.
First off, you’re just amazing. 3 patents, built a cyclotron particle accelerator, 20 ap’s… how’d you even manage to do that? Colleges don’t really look for the 2400 SAT, 4.0 GPA, 36 ACT people- there are many of these students. They want students who will not only fit academically, but also contribute to the community in their own way (spoke with a Stanford admissions guy, he noted there were thousand’s of the ‘perfect’ students, but they were very one-dimensional in that all they do is study).
Although I haven’t even applied yet so I speak without experience… but I’m pretty sure you’re in. Any top college would love that kind of student.
This especially worries me since there has been so many varying opinions from users on CC as well as my guidance counselors
Thank you guys. Sorry to be relentless but anymore opinions on the matter before I go work on my essays?
" Would anybody consider these schools a far reach for my application? "
Yes, as post #12 said, they are a far reach for everyone.
If you have 17% chance compared to 6% for same qualifications but white only, that still isn’t as high as the admission rates for a legacy with the same stats at many colleges.
But my question is WHY are you worrying about this at all!?!?!?!? I don’t think anyone would encourage you not to apply to HYPSM, but other than that, no one can tell you if you will be admitted or not.
Work on your patent, maybe improve your grades, etc. Work on your essays, the Common App topics are posted already and some schools have their specific essay topics posted.
Stop worrying.
I think the question I am really trying to get at is if my EC’s, awards, etc. outweigh my bad GPA