This is [probably] depressing: chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm an Asian female, no hooks whatsoever.
My GPA is subpar compared to many of the CC population, and the only things I have going for me at this point are my standardized testing scores. =/</p>

<p>SAT: 2380 (superscored)
GPA: it'll end up around 5.4/6.3 weighted (my school has a strange system--for comparison, the highest GPA of a graduating senior in our school's history was around a 5.8)</p>

<p>As for APs, I've taken Bio and Euro so far (5 and 5), and have three more on the way this May (US, Chem, and Comp sci) which will hopefully be 5's as well. My senior year will be an interesting sort of hell---Gov&Pol, Macro, English, Calc BC, French, Physics, etc. I've only taken the Bio SAT II at this point (760; will most likely not send this score in) and am planning on taking the US History, Literature, and Math II subject tests in the coming months.</p>

<p>I'm alright in math/science in my Asian-dominated classes (hate chem, love comp sci), strong in English/writing, and have some minor awards in creative writing/poetry. I'm on the editing board of our lit magazine, VP and co-founder of the Robotics club, four year participant of the local quiz bowl; as for activities outside of school, I have some volunteering experience at the library, community Chinese school, and am a "Student Ambassador" for the Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation, teaching sustainability and all that lovely jazz.</p>

<p>Basically, I feel that I don't have any particularly strong "oomph" factor that would set me very far apart from other applicants. What kind of colleges do you guys think I should be considering? What are your stats, which colleges are you evaluating, and where do you guys stand in comparison?</p>

<p>Thanks for reading all this. =]</p>

2

<p>If you don’t see your own value then neither will the University. You’re in dire need of an attitude tune up. GL</p>

3

<p>I think I see why people hate this site so much</p>

4

<p>Hm, spending a bit of time on CC does that to me, unfortunately. I’m pretty proud of what I’ve done so far, regardless of my pessimistic tone in the first post, and I was probably trying too hard to be modest and self-effacing in a place where all applicants need to be able to sell themselves well, so your point is taken. Presuming that I “see my own value” and manage to convey this, which schools do you think I should be looking at?</p>

5

<p>Yea you’re definitely being overly modest. Not sure why you think you’re weak outside of the classroom. You definitely have a story to tell with your interests in literature, and if you can articulate yourself well in your essays you have a shot anywhere with your academic record. Apply to the most selective schools. I get the feeling that you think being Asian is a disadvantage, but this isn’t true.</p>

6

<p>The GPA, for one, is below my school’s average for people that were accepted to many top schools, and I wish that I had a particular subject to focus on so that my ECs weren’t quite so scattered. Problem is that I don’t really have any extremely concentrated interest in single field, and I see many people with much stronger material rejected, which scares me, but won’t deter me from trying, of course.</p>

<p>I guess I’m an overly cautious person, and more sensitive to warnings of being overconfident than I should be. But thanks for your input! College searching is more of a soul-searching experience for me at this point.</p>

7

<p>Why wouldn’t you send in that 760? It’s a pretty impressive subject test score…</p>

8

<p>I agree with thelemonisinplay, a 760 is a very respectable score. Unless you get better grades on the other SAT II’s that would not be a bad grade to send in. </p>

<p>You are being too down on yourself… Way way way too down on yourself. Although that SAT score itself is not everything, the fact that you have very good grades and activities elsewhere should put you in candidacy to some top schools. Your “oomph” factor can very well be your writing/literature if you demonstrate it in your essay or such.</p>

9

<p>Stop being so hard on yourself! If you don’t think you have a chance admission officers won’t want to give you one.</p>

10

<p>…lol</p>

11

<p>You know, if it makes you feel any better, I’m an Indian junior who is pretty much in the same situation as you - I have no hooks, and my family is upper middle class. My EC’s are also, arguably, the weakest point in my resume, and I have a 2360 SAT and 4.0 GPA. But you know what? I do have one EC that I’ve pursued all my life and am passionate about - choir. So I’m planning to focus on that in my college apps and hopefully, my passion for it will shine through in my essays. Quit bringing yourself down - you definitely have a chance at top colleges, and if you use your literature/writing experience in your essay, you’ll do just fine.</p>

12

<p>apply to some publics, don’t really see an acclaim for ivies or ‘top schools.’ Anyone who abates their achievement to such an extent does not seem to desire, nor deserve in that regard, an Top tier education.</p>

13

<p>Believe me, I very much want a “top tier education.” Whether I “deserve” one is another matter, but it seems that my attitude has given the general impression of pessimism/pettiness, so I’ll work on that, I guess (I’d like to add that while CC is definitely not much of a confidence-boosting site, it isn’t entirely to blame for my fretting). Pretty sure my circumstance is favorable enough to take a shot at Ivies/other more prestigious schools, so I’ll do that.</p>

<p>Thanks for everyone’s positive/negative criticism. =]</p>

14

<p>Your scores/ECs/academics seem wonderful, I just hate seeing such great people get down on themselves</p>