Top Schools (Or Best Possible)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm new here, so please forgive me if I miss anything crucial.</p>

<p>I'm from a decent public high school sending about dozen out of a hundred seniors to top ivies (Princeton, Harvard, MIT, Columbia, etc). I'm definitely going into architecture and I'd really like to consider my chances at the top... say, 20 schools. </p>

<p>Anything with [arct] is related to architecture or design in general.</p>

<p>Background: Middle class, Eastern, Chinese, no legacy
Year: 11</p>

<p>GPA/Grades:
No clue. Our school has a complicated system. So far I have A+ in every class except PE (all As), Health (all As), and Driver Ed (my only B... I hate her).</p>

<p>No ranking, top 2-3 in grades including gym, health etc.</p>

<p>Classes:</p>

<p>9th:
H English 9
H Algebra II
H French II
H Bio
H World History
Elective: Architectural Drawing [arct]</p>

<p>10th:
H American Lit
H Pre-Calc
H French III
H Chem
H US History I
Electives: Psychology, Digital Photography [arct]</p>

<p>11th:
AP English Language & Composition
AP Calc AB
AP Physics B [arct]
AP US History
H French IV
Elective: Sculpture [arct]</p>

<p>12th (Anticipating):
AP English Literature
AP Calc BC
AP French
AP Chemistry
Some art class [arct]
Either AP Gov or AP Psych</p>

<p>Also took General Bio at county college</p>

<p>AP Tests</p>

<p>So far:
Microeconomics (5)
Macroeconomics (4)
Studied both off the (obviously unedited) Kaplan book...</p>

<p>Anticipating in May:</p>

<p>English Language (probably 5)
US History (4 or 5)
Calculus AB (probably 5)
Physics (probably 5) [arct]
Studio Art (no clue) [arct] - studying alone
Art History (4 or 5) [arct] - studying alone</p>

<p>SATs</p>

<p>PSAT: 227</p>

<p>SAT I
Jan: M740 CR740 W780(e11) T2260 (was too bothered to start reading those practice books...)
Mar: M780 CR760 W780(e11) T2320 (was still too bothered, but got lucky :D)</p>

<p>SAT II
Bio: 730 =(
Chinese: 800
Going to take Physics in May and Math II in June</p>

<p>Also going to take ACT in April</p>

<p>Extra-Curricular/Qualifications/Awards</p>

<p>-Set Crew, Designer & Crew 9-11 [arct]
-Student Newspaper, Reporter and Asst Layout Editor 10-11 (Probably Layout Editor 12)
-United Nations Online Volunteer 9-11 (Language Guide Chinese Section chief translator & editor, Working to Empower HIV Program translator, etc.)
-Science League 9-11
-Class Student Council 10-11 (Treasurer)
-AutoDesk certified AutoCAD user [arct]
-Decent portfolio (+ some petty awards) [arct]
-Cornell Summer College for Architecture <a href="haven't%20gone%20yet%20but%20got%20in">arct</a>
-National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist
-Volunteering at local library (280 h or so)
-National Honor Society member
-Art school</p>

<p>No jobs yet (was "alien") but anticipating one either late summer or fall (have offers)</p>

<p>I'm considering the following colleges... they're followed by what I've heard about so far and major:</p>

<p>Yale (reach, arct)
MIT (reach, arct)
Columbia (reach, arct)
U Penn (reach, arct)
UC Berkeley (reach, arct)
U Chicago (reach, arts)
RISD (reach, arct)
Wash U St. L (reach, arct)
Cornell (match, arct)
Rice (match, arct)
Notre Dame (safety, arct)</p>

<p>I have more matches and safeties... but I already know the chances there. I'm also applying to Cambridge University for the architecture tripos, so if anyone knows anything at all about applying there (or to Oxford), please help me :D</p>

<p>Any related comments would be appreciated. Thanks :D</p>

2

<p>Forgot to mention: I'm also applying to Cooper Union.</p>

3

<p>Hey, why did you take the SATs again? I got a 2250 and I was thinking it wasn't necessary, but think I may be able to get like 2300. Have you heard anything saying that it's necessary to retake 2250? I'm still trying to decide.</p>

<p>By the way- you're schedule is impresive. When did you take Geometry and Physics I?? My school only offers like 8 APs.
You're ECs look strong too, but I have no idea. What's arct? If it's architecture, the Cornell program is really strong.</p>

4

<p>scaredfiredemon, I'm going to tell you the same thing I told 121889, which is that once you reach a certain point in your SATs, the tests aren't nearly as important as your ECs--presidency of clubs, academic honors, volunteer work, music skills, and internships (and of course, grades).</p>

<p>You need to know that getting the B in a driver's education course is something that the people at the Ivy league schools could care less about. Hating your teacher (if it comes across in your essay or application) will work against you more than the "B" itself ever will.</p>

<p>Getting into the Cornell Summer Program for Architecture is really huge in your case. You need to start planning an essay around this--and you need to do fantastic in this class and get one of the professors to agree to write you a glowing recommendation when you are all done. This will probably be one of the key things that will determine whether you can get into the architecture schools at all of the Ivies (including Harvard and Cornell--which are some of the highest rated ones--P.S. Why isn't Harvard on your list?).</p>

<p>Look, all of these schools are tough to get into--but they are not a reach for you if you do well in this summer program and then go get a job during next year that is related to architecture or business or some creative area (real estate related preferably). Personally, I rank your chances higher than others--I would put you as a match at Chicago and at Penn--and a slight reach at UC Berkeley. </p>

<p>Cooper Union is still a reach--like it is for everyone--since they only take about 120 students, and pay for all four years for every student that is accepted.</p>

5

<p>UC Berkeley: match
U Chicago: match
Cornell: match
Rice: match
Notre Dame: match</p>

<p>You have very good chances at the rest.</p>

<p>You are one of the very few people on CC who has a very clear passion/focus that is demonstrated in his/her ECs, awards/honors, intended major, and summer activities. For that, I'd encourage you to look into Stanford. On top of that, you have strong grades/scores, a very rigorous courseload, and a great rank; I assume you'll have strong recs and essays.</p>