UPenn, Cornell, Tufts, (Maybe even Princeton?)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey CC :)>- I’d like to see what kind of chances I have at my reach schools. I just posted a thread yesterday, but I made my list a little more realistic since then and I’d like some more input.

I go to a small public school. I’m a girl applying for computer science/engineering as my major.

GPA: 97/100
Class rank: 12/112 :frowning:

Note: I missed a lot of school during my junior year due to personal issues, which caused my grades to decline. My guidance counselor wrote about it and how I “persevered through it and came back stronger” in her rec letter.

AP’s:
2014- World History (3)
2015- Music Theory(3), US History (4), Physics 1 (4), English Lang&Comp (5),
Currently taking: College Economics, AP Chemistry, AP Lit, AP Bio, AP Calc, Computer Science (school doesn’t have AP)

SAT: Taken once.
C: 2180
CR: 750
M: 680
W: 750

ACT: Taken once.
C: 32
Math: 29
Reading: 35
English: 34
Science: 29
W: not released yet

I’m VERY worried about my math scores. I expected my math scores to be my highest. In school I do very well in math, and I do semi-okay in English. But according to my test scores, I’m not so great at math but very strong in English. So I don’t really know what the deal is.

I’m taking Math 1, Math 2, and Physics subject tests in November. If I do very well, do you think schools will consider it and realize that I really am a good math student after all? And for my reach schools that don’t require all of my testing, I’m considering only sending my SAT so that they don’t see a pattern of low math scores.

EC’s:

Robotics team (9-12), captain (12)
Organizing coding club for middle school girls.
Self-taught JavaScript, HTML & CSS
Math team (9-12). Among the top 5 scorers from my school. Captain/Head programming developer (12)
Music: School chorus. 6 years of classical/operatic vocal training. Soprano 1. Invited to All-County chorus 7 times. Perfect score on Level VI NYSSMA (for non-New Yorkers, NYSSMA a vocal festival where you sing for judges and are given a score out of 100. Level VI is the hardest level.) President of Tri-M Music Honor Society.
Cast of theater productions (9-12). Lead roles.
Member of National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society.
Virtual Tutoring (11-12). 30+ volunteer hours.
Hospital volunteer (11). 50 Hours
Attended a gifted math program (10).
Work experience: Worked as a cashier at two different stores (10-11)
Varsity tennis (9-12). MVP Award (11)
JV Softball (9-11), Captain (11). Varsity Softball (12)

I have published research in the computer science field and it is being presented at a conference in two weeks.
I also organized and created an anti-bullying mural in the middle school all on my own.

Awards:
Scholar Athlete
A Honor Roll
50 Hour Award from local hospital volunteer office
AP Scholar With Distinction
National Merit Commended

Teacher recs - my guidance counselor said they were “great” but who knows lol.

essay - I wrote about the gender gap in computer science and how I’m taking steps in my community to solve it by starting a coding club for the MS girls.

Here’s my college list for those of you who may be concerned that I don’t have safeties. I recognize that Princeton is like a ridiculous reach but since they have great financial aid, my parents said that I should at least try. I have visited and liked most of the schools on this list, so it’s not like I’m just applying for the name. My top choice would be UPenn, but due to financial reasons my family can’t risk applying anywhere ED.

Safety: Siena, Scranton, NYIT
Match: RPI, RIT, Fordham, SUNY Binghamton, Stony Brook
Reach: UPenn, Princeton, Cornell, Tufts.

Thanks so much all :smiley:

2

For your field of study strong math is essential. If you do not repeat either of your tests, the adcoms will notice that and they wonder why you did not retake the test to improve the math portion? The simple answer , which comes to mind, at least to mine, would be that you did not believe you could improve that either!
In any case your total scores are not that impressive for, at least, UPenn and Princeton. Your total SAT is perhaps ok for the other two schools.

3

Are you retaking either the SAT or the ACT? With your desired major, your math score is extremely low.

4

I agree that you should try to improve your Math SAT score given that those schools have pretty competitive . I’ll be retaking the SAT and hopefully I can pull off at least a 760 this time. And yeah, I plan to study CS as well.

5

As you were told in your other thread, do not take both the SAT 1 and SAT 2 math subject tests! Take the SAT 2 math test for the schools you are trying to get into.

6

*are pretty competitive. Woops.

7

I want to retake the SAT in December but my mom said I can’t. I don’t know why I keep scoring low on math and I’m really upset because I know I’m good at math but it’s just not showing on paper.

8

If my family does relent and allow me to take another SAT, what is the math score I should aim for in order to be competitive? Obviously I would do my best but at what point can I start believing that these schools are realistic for me?

9

I think you for sure have a likelihood of admission at the ones you specified as matches and safeties. Your ECs and Academics also qualify you for all of the reaches that your interested in, so you have a solid chance at those schools. Tufts I’d say is at the high match level, but the rest of them are going to be inherently hard just because they’re ivies and such. But don’t fret, you seem like a really tough kid.

Care to chance me back please?

10

Thanks!
I signed myself up for the December SAT