UCLA, USC, Vanderbilt, UNC, etc.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I have been looking at these chance threads since I was a freshman, so I am SUPER excited to post this.

Class of 2017
California
Hispanic
Female
Major: Microbiology/Molecular Genetics

UW GPA: 4.0
Weighted sophomore: 4.4
Weighted junior: 5.0

10th grade classes: AP Euro, AP English Lang, AP Psych, French II, Chem, Adv. Pre-Calc, ASB
11th grade classes: AP Physics, AP Bio, AP Calc AB, IB English HL, IB History HL, Adv. French III
12th grade classes: AP Calc BC, AP Chem, IB English HL, IB History HL, IB French SL, Random visual performing arts class I should have taken as a freshman (oops), AP Stats

ACT: 34 C, first try but will take one more time in fall (36 Science, 33 Math, 34 Reading, 32 English)
SAT (old): 2150 :frowning:
SAT II: Took Bio M and Math 2 (will get bio score tomorrow and math score next month)

Extracurriculars (not anything extraordinary):

National Honor Society (10-12)
-President next year (12th)
-Tutoring coordinator officer for 11th grade

Science Olympiad (9-12)
-Won 1st at regionals
-Secretary for senior year

Books Beyond Borders Club (11-12)
-VP for junior and senior year
-Club that my friend and I started, sends old books (mainly textbooks) to third world countries

CSF member (10-12)

Internship (Unpaid) with local community magazine
-Write articles for every issue

Debate Team
-A part of the first ever debate team at my high school
-VP for junior year
-Running for office for senior year

Student Leadership:
-Freshmen Vice President
-Commissioner of Academics (10th)

Ragnar Relay Race
-Ran Ragnar Relay race with IB club at my school to raise money for Free the Children

Volunteering at local hospital over summer

Other community service stuff that I don’t have listed.

Also, I have had a job since sophomore year but not sure if colleges care.

This is my current list:

I plan on applying to: UCSB, UCLA, UCB, USC, University of Washington, UNC Chapel Hill, NYU

Reach Schools: Vanderbilt, Columbia, Stanford, Cornell, Brown

I am more interested in hearing my chances for my reach schools.

Please be critical! Thank you for your help :slight_smile:

2

Forgot to mention:

Projected Valedictorian (1/594)

AP Scores-
Psych-5
Euro-5
English Language-4

3

In general, I agree with your assessment in regard to your list of schools. However, in case you decide to remain in California, you have no safety (UCSB is a low-match for you).

4

@uclaparent9 Do you think UCI would be a safety?

5

No Mid-tier UC can be considered a safety, too unpredictable but you are definitely a competitive applicant. UCSC and UCR would be safeties.

6

You will get accepted into all your matches without question. Being Hispanic helps a lot when applying to top schools. I think you will make it into all of your reaches except Stanford due to their stellar low acceptance rate. Good luck! Chance me :slight_smile: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1898407-chance-me-for-stanford-ivies-etc-will-chance-back.html#latest

7

@Gumbymom @thatone1 Thank you for the info.

8

@thatone1 's generalization in regard to you getting accepted to top schools because of your race is quite misleading, as UCs disregard race in their admission decisions (illegal in California for public schools).

9

@uclaparent9 I was aware of that for the UC schools. However, will it help with the private schools?

10

Private schools have their own rules and usually are not obliged to disregard race (I.e., for USC you perhaps get race advantage).