terrible grades but soso EC's chance me for top 15

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>im most interested in mit and caltech
i am a junior in hs</p>

<p>SAT: not taken (will take in may)
ACT: not taken
AP: 5 on ap world, 4 on ap bio</p>

<p>sat II: Math II - 800
**GPA: 3.50 UW
Rank: N/A (not given)</p>

<p>Taken all honors/AP except for foreign language and english.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: Math, cello, robotics club, chess, dance, church related activities (visited all of the country and out of country over 100 community service hours)
Essay: not written
Awards:
starting with 9th grade
- co champion for state chess
- co team champion for state chess
- 3rd place at national chess championship for 9th grade
- 2nd place national chess team
other
- chess club president
- junior districts for cello
- Youth repetoire orchestra for New England Conservatory
- math team (did not take AMC though i forgot)</p>

<p>10th grade
- 2nd place state chess
- 1st place state chess team
- Rhode Island 2nd place state chess
- 8th place national chess team for K-12
- 16th for national chess K-12 (not significant probably hurts more than helps)
other
- FIRST robotics state PTC design award
- AMC10 school winner with 132
- Accepted into HOBY program (selective and school payed)
- MICCA gold winner for school orchestra
- Invited to play in Boston Symphony Hall</p>

<p>11th grade
- State chess champion
- 3rd place national chess team for 11th grade
- certified USCF TD, local chess coach
- teach for $60 an hour had 6 distinct students in total
other
- qualified for AIME
- finished multi-variable calculus at extension school
- invited by BBoy crew liquid swords to compete in WORLD BBoy (breakdance) championship (was in top 16)</p>

<p>[insignificant awards - before high school]
- 2nd place national science bowl team
- 1st place national chess team</p>

<p>OTHER: very competitive school. 30% (done by school administration) go to top 20 colleges.</p>

<p>Since school is a pain for me, i decided that stacking up on EC's would be the right choice. Do you think I have at least a shot at the top 15? (looking more at HYPSuMC though and more specifically MIT and Caltech)</p>

<p>oh yeah</p>

<p>ASIAN, MALE</p>

2

<p>While your ECs are awesome, top 15 schools place a greater emphasis on academics. They need to know that you can fit in academically if you get accepted to their schools. I’m sorry, but an asian male with a 3.5 GPA is really pushing it. All of your schools are really high reaches.</p>

3

<p>I’d say along with the GPA, not taking the top classes in Englih and foreign language will hurt you at top schools. MIT and Cltech have among the highest CR scores in the Country.</p>

4

<p>By “really competitive,” do you mean that a 3.5 is good for your school? Is there grade deflation?</p>