Top Universities Chances (EARLY DECISION)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>I am planning on applying to Cornell, UPenn, Duke, Dartmouth, or JHU with the Early Decision plan this fall and I wanted to know to which college I would have the best chance of getting into.</p>

<p>First and foremost, I am planning on doing pre-medicine and I wanted first of all if should apply to the College of Arts and Sciences or to other colleges and what perhaps will optimize my chances of getting in.</p>

<p>Stats:
SAT I- 1480/ Math IC - 760, Math IIC - 800, Bio- 790, Physics- 790, Latin- 750, Writing- 640/</p>

<p>8 APs: Biology, AB Calc, BC Calc, Latin: Vergil, Chemistry, Physics B, English Language, Statistics
-Mostly 5's and 4's</p>

<p>I have a great list of extra-curriculars which I have not compiled yet but will do so. But I have had many leadership obligations and awards with a well-rounded base.</p>

<p>Grades:
Freshman year, I had attended a prep school in which I received a 98.5 average with the highest GPA of a 4.2/4.2 with the most difficult courses and perhaps ranked in the top three students academically. </p>

<p>(Sophmore-Senior)
I attend an elite boarding school, Deerfield Academy, where about 33% of the seniors attend the Ivy Leagues. At this difficult place, I, personally, have an 88 average. The school, however, does not rank. The kids who get accepted to Harvard, Princeton, or Yale get around a 90-93 average. Thus, this school is very competetive and a feeder to the top universities. I am on target for perhaps the lower end of the Ivies and other great institutions. </p>

<p>Once again, I will apply ED, so I want to know which college I have the best shot at.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

2

<p>probably dartmouth... jhu/penn have amazing undergrad sciences/premed... and cornell is hardcore science</p>

3

<p>Definite JHU. Good for Duke.</p>

<p>UPenn is a reach still</p>

4

<p>Why would UPenn be a reach, I kind of placed UPenn and Cornell on the same platform. Also, does Penn have grade inflation. At Cornell,I dont really feel like going to a school and walking on the paths of buildings where students have jumped off of. </p>

<p>Thus of my final choices - Cornell, Duke, Penn, Dartmouth, Williams, JHU
Which ones do I have a good shot at ED, and perhaps, which one of all do you reccomend the best shot?</p>

5

<p>In addition for ED rates, last year at my school, we had</p>

<p>Early Decision: Cornell- 4 (4 out of 4 got accepted, but one only for academics), Harvard - 8 (athletes or legacies), Princeton- 4 (athletes or legacies), Penn- 7 (7 out of 7 got in though most are athletes or legacies except for 2), Dartmouth - 1 (athlete and the other 4 got rejected), Columbia (no one) 7 applied, Duke - 2 out of 2 got accepted, but RD, many geniuses did not get accepted/</p>

<p>As you can see, we have much success. Thus I am pondering between Duke, Penn, Dartmouth, or Cornell. I feel based on last years class, everyones going to apply to Penn because of the success. I dont think Darmouth likes prep school boarding kids based on a lot of my friends' and counselors' opinions. Thus, I feel like it will be between Duke or Cornell. And I feel like ED is my best option so I hope someone can help me make the right decision.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

6

<p>I don't understand. Which school are you applying ED to? If you have to narrow it down from five possible schools, I would recommend not applying ED anywhere; an ED school should be your clear first choice. The small boost you get from early decision just isn't worth it if you're forced to attend a school that may not be the right place. Also, PLEASE don't let the whole suicide rumor deter you from applying to Cornell. It's seriously just a rumor. It's not as if there's some sort of suicide epidemic where people are hurling themselves into the gorges left and right, it's NOT TRUE.</p>

<p>As far as RD, I think you have a good shot at any of those schools, and I would be surprsed if you didn't get into at least one of them.</p>

<p>I hope some of that helped...</p>

7

<p>Oh, I know ED is for one college and that I should narrow it down to a final choice. However, I have visited these schools, studied at some of them, met the professors, and have friends who go there. Thus, this is the main reason why I have narrowed my list. Basically, I am comfortable of going to either one of them. </p>

<p>Thus among Duke, Penn, Dartmouth, or Cornell, I am not sure which will give me the best shot of getting in.
(In addition, I am an Asian Indian male from New Jersey)</p>

8

<p>Why did you leave Deerfield? That isn't going to help that you left there not at the top and went to apply from a school in NJ and are Asian. I really wouldn't count on any ivy, your numbers are under the Asian average at all ivies. Maybe Chicago, JHU and that level.</p>

9

<p>Suze, I did not leave Deerfield. I went to St. Peters Prep, a Jesuit high school in New Jersey FRESHMAN YEAR. From Sophmore to Senior Year, currently I Attend DEERFIELD. I think you had a mix-up.</p>

10

<p>Its going to be hard for you to get into some of the schools on your list because a lot of kids from your highschool will be applying to them as well and you wont really stand out. I say apply to a few top schools, but get some safeties and matches as well.</p>

11

<p>Well, I will be applying EARLY DECISION. Not many kids opt for ED except for the top ivies. And I considering the lower Ivies. I want to know which ED Ivy (Penn, Dmouth, Cornell) + Duke I may have the best chance at?</p>

12

<p>Well are you a legacy at any of these places. The numbers that you cite feature almost exclusively legacy and athletic applicants.</p>

13

<p>I am not a legacy, which I guess sucks. But, athletes have comprised most of the acceptees. However, there are some kids who still get in academically. And the important thing is that I am applying Early Decision thus not as many people apply. Perhaps only 5 will apply to Cornell ED and like 2 or 3 will apply ED to Duke from my school.</p>

14

<p>T, I think you're confused. At Deerfield, a majority of kids apply ED or EA somewhere, and most not just at HYP. Where did you fet this idea?</p>

<p>Talk to your counselor. While about a third go to top schools, remember how many are legacies. I'm a legacy from Andover with a higher GPA and SAT, and I'm not counting at my lower ivy even given legacy. You have a chance just don't count on it.</p>

15

<p>um... i think ur mistaken on several counts :)... almost everyone applies ed, even for tier II schools... and penn and cornell are not the same tier... penn is on the same tier as columbia, and i dare say even yale...</p>

16

<p>The days are over when students in top schools could count on an Ivy acceptance. I live in the land of former feeder schools (!) and I'd say that in some cases you're worse off in terms of admissions - you're going to have a hard time competing against kids with higher grades than you (you said that they had 90-92% compared to your 88%). It's possible, but not probable.</p>

17

<p>Ok, first off, I know where people applied and where people got accepted to Early Decision. I mean I have looked into the college stats of my school the past two years and I know where people apply. </p>

<p>1.) Only perhaps around a third applies ED in my class. Those who do are the ones who have secured recruiting spots at H, Y, P, Penn, Columbia, Dartmouth for crew, lax, hockey. I know my class, first of all. Only crew recruits, two soccer players, and cum laude students will apply. All cum laude students will try their shot at H, Y, P, or Brown- schools I am not applying to. The other schools a bunch of kids apply to also play sports or get a great education- Liberal arts schools (Williams, middlebry, ahmherst, bowdoin... etc...)- very competitive schools.</p>

<p>However, the ones im striving for Cornell (only around 4-5 kids applied ED from my school the past years), Duke (around 3), Penn (difficult because 7-8 apply, though last year all 7 out of 7 got in), and Dartmouth (only 4 or 5 apply), and Johns Hopkins (practically none). I would like to state once again that I am applying Early Decision to one of these schools and that I would like your feedback on which ones you think I would have a great chance of getting into. I hope this clarifies the past few statements.</p>

18

<p>You don't have a great chance at any of those. Thats what we've been saying. Sorry to be harsh, but I guess it had to be spelled out. Don't despair though, you have a shot early to Cornell.</p>

19

<p>I mean, I know there is no guarantee because of going to a feeder school, but I just want to emphasize that I am in the range and will apply ED to optimize my chances.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

20

<p>Filmxoxo, those kids above 90% try their chances at Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, or Brown because they know that they will be guaranteed an IVY regular decision. So that leaves slots open for Penn, Dartmouth, and Cornell. Not to mention, Duke and JHU where practically no one applies to. So I understand that you guys are taking this perspective in which I am competing against all these other higher average students in my class, however, I have been trying to say that I am not because they are not applying to Cornell, Penn, Dmouth, Duke, or JHU during EARLY DECISION (key word: EARLY Decision). Perhaps I do not have a shot Regular Decision where there is a flood of applicants, but ED, do I have a good/great chance at Cornell, Duke, Penn, Dartmouth, JHU- just give me your opinion.</p>