Student with a dream, can it be a reality too?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am about to enter senior year this fall and will be applying to college. Here's where I'm thinking:</p>

<p>Stanford, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern, U of Michigan Ann Arbor, U of Minnesota (I live in MN)</p>

<p>Let me know what my chances are and if there are other places I should consider. I am primarily interested in engineering but will probably do some minor studies in business. I would perfer a school that is good at both but a good engineering program is more important. My dream would be to get into Stanford but I think this might be a long reach *sniff. Here's what I have to offer:</p>

<p>Rank: 3 of 298
GPA: 3.98 Unweighted, 4.19 Weighted
ACT: 31 English, 35 Math, 24 Reading (darn), 33 Science, 31 Overall
SAT: 690 Reading, 790 Math, 570 Writing w/ 10 Essay, 2050 Total
SAT II: 790 Math II, 720 Physics, 750 US History</p>

<p>AP's Scored: World History 5
AP's Pending: Calculus, US History, Physics, I'm guessing a 5 on calc, 5-4 on History, and 4-3 on Physics
AP Next Year: Lit & Comp, Chemistry, Psychology, Statistics, Economics (Not sure Micro or Macro yet)</p>

<p>Volunteering: Soccer coach for a summer, Social Justice Conference planner for 2 years
Work: Computer Salesman & Technician at Circuit City, 20-25 hrs a week. Will be getting A+ and Microsoft Windows certifications, not sure if that matters
EC's: Varsity Track (2 years), Soccer (3 years JV), Math League (2 years, State Tourney both years), Future Problem Solving (1 year), NHS (Treasurer & Committee Leader), Liberal Action Committee (co-founder, 1 year), Speech (1 year)</p>

<p>If you could let me know what I could do to improve my chances. I will definitely retake both the SAT and ACT. I think I can get a 2100-2200 and a 33-34 if I don't completely miss a reading passage again. Thanks for your help.</p>

2

<p>Anyone plz help me out. Thanks.</p>

3

<p>Rank and GPA look good. Just get the scores up and you'll be competitive, but again there's no guarantees anywhere, but if you can do that I wouldn't rule out any of your schools, and you'd have a great shot at some of the lower end ones.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for your input. I guess Stanford might not be totally out of reach.</p>

5

<p>You could use UW-Madison as a safety. I think there is a reciprocating agreement with Minnesota that would give you in-state tuition.</p>

6

<p>I'm very surprised Madison is not on your list. In state tuition + 12th ranked business and engineering departments and several ways to combine both. It's a safety for you as well. You'd have a shot for some $ and get into the honors college(s).</p>

7

<p>Good shot everywhere, I think!</p>

8

<p>Michigan is a safety for you, as is Minnesota. I'd say Carnegie Mellon is a safety too, although not as easily. Stanford, Cornell and Northwestern are all a crapshoot, although Northwestern not as much, I think you have a decent chance there. Kids from my school got in with similar grades/test score combinations.</p>

9

<p>I thought to get into a school like Stanford you'd have to like find a cure to aids or something. I guess I might have a shot.</p>

<p>I didn't know UW-Madison was good in engineering or business. I thought they were only known for being the #1 party school according to playboy. I'll have to give them a second look.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice everyone.</p>