UPenn, Harvard, Columbia - Chances please!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So, with the help of people on the board, I've narrowed down my school list and I was hoping you could provide feedback as well as any recommendations as to the best way to paint myself during the admissions process:</p>

<p>Harvard
Georgetown
UPenn
Columbia
University of Chicago
UVA
University of Michigan
UNC - Chapel Hill
Northwestern
Princeton
Johns Hopkins
Wake Forest
University of Arizona
University of Missouri</p>

<p>GPA: 4.2 (w)*</p>

<p>Honors/AP courses are weighted 4.5, not 5.0
My course load is the most demanding offered.</p>

<p>*We are limited in the number of honors/AP courses we can take prior to Junior year. My junior year GPA was a 4.4 (while still limited to 4 honors/AP courses). </p>

<p>Scores:</p>

<p>ACT:</p>

<p>35 Composite (35E, 36M, 34R, 35S, 10E)
35 Composite (35E, 34M, 36R, 33S, 12E)
35 Composite (35E, 35M, 36R, 32S, 11E)</p>

<p>SAT:</p>

<p>2230 Composite (710 M, 760 R, 760 W) *</p>

<p>*I will be retaking this, though not in time for early applications</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests/AP Tests:</p>

<p>U.S. History (5 AP/800 SAT II)</p>

<p>I will be taking Physics and Math II in October, I anticipate an 800 on Math II and a 750 - 800 on Physics (according to practice tests)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Extensive Political Experience, including managing a State Assembly Campaign and interning on a presidential campaign in a different city for a summer (I was the only high school student among those in the internship program)</p>

<p>Extensive Community Service: I have created two community service clubs at my school, been on the board of all of the community service clubs available to me, and have received an award from one of the three organizations I have volunteered at since 8th grade.</p>

<p>Extensive Mock Trial participation: I have been heavily involved in my school's mock trial team and have received multiple awards, and have won a national mock trial tournament and placed in the top three in multiple state tournaments.</p>

<p>There are a few other leadership positions, but those are the main extracurriculars I've been involved in.</p>

2

<p>Chances are decent across the board (if you are in the top 1% of your class).</p>

3

<p>I would take the ACT again. </p>

<p>But really…your chances are decent at most places…but it can come down to a ‘numbers’ game at the top 10 schools.</p>

<p>Where are you from? Are you a minority? Will your essays be decent? Those 3 questions can make the difference in your application.</p>

4

<p>Oh, just a note: my school does not rank. At all.</p>

5

<p>Retake the ACT!? That’s ridiculous advice. Your scores are fantastic! There’s no need to retake it. I’d submit that unless you score a 2300+ on the SAT…</p>

<p>Anyway…</p>

<p>Harvard- reach, only because it is for everyone, however, i’d say you have a better than average shot.
Georgetown- low reach.
UPenn- low reach
Columbia- low reach
University of Chicago- low reach-match
UVA- no idea.
University of Michigan- most likely in.
UNC - Chapel Hill- good chance you’ll get in
Northwestern- decent chance as well.
Princeton- see harvard.
Johns Hopkins- low reach
Wake Forest- no idea.
University of Arizona- In.
University of Missouri- In.</p>

<p>I’d say you’ll definitely get in to at least one of your top schools; it’d be hard to believe if you don’t. </p>

<p>Good luckk :)</p>

6

<p>Swoosh…the sound of sarcasm flying over Les’ head…</p>

<p>I would agree though with most of the ‘chances’ given…but there are still some intangibles unknown…recommendations/essays/minority status/state of residence. If Virginia, then U Va should be a slam dunk. If not, then I would still say a medium reach. Should be in at Hopkins and probably Wake as well.</p>

7

<p>Essays will be pretty good, unique at least</p>

<p>I live in Arkansas…</p>

<p>Recommendations: one will be brilliant, plus I’m having people I’ve worked for politically write supplemental letters, the other teacher rec will be good, but nothing to get super excited about</p>

8

<p>Narrowed your list to 14? doesn’t seem vey narrow to me.</p>

9

<p>Narrow enough for me. Quite a few of the applications are done, so I’m not too worried.</p>

<p>Any advice/tips for my applications?</p>

10

<p>UVA: Solid/great chances
Michigan: Solid/great chances
Wake Forest: Solid/great chances
UNC: Solid/great chances
Arizona, Missouri: In with possible merit scholarship</p>

<p>Harvard, Georgetown, Columbia, Penn, Chicago, JHU, Princeton, NW are reach schools.
(It does not mean that you will not get into them. I just do not like the term “match”.)</p>

<p>Suggestion:
EA to Chicago (RD acceptance rate will be below 10% for sure) ESSSAYS, ESSAYS, ESSAYS
EA to Georgetown</p>

<p>Or
ED to Penn or Columbia</p>

<p>SCEA to Harvard or Princeton: I do not think it is a good idea. (Personal opinion)</p>

11

<p>Your easy schedule seems as though it could hurt your application - you say your school ‘limits’ you? Mine said the same thing but after pulling some strings I was able to get around it. :p</p>

<p>Also, your ECs seem weak/bland, but appear to be cohesive.</p>

<p>Other than that, you seem to be a more than qualified applicant. Your ACT score is amazing, as well as your projected SAT IIs.
Princeton/Penn/Columbia/Harvard/UChic - Reach
JHU/NW/GT - High/mid match</p>

<p>Are you applying to any safety schools?</p>

<p>Also, I’d appreciate your input: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1210034-chances-princeton-scea-yale-mit-stanford-duke-northwestern-etc.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1210034-chances-princeton-scea-yale-mit-stanford-duke-northwestern-etc.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

12

<p>I’m sorry, but weak/bland ECs? What on early would you consider strong - I managed a political campaign at age 16 for Christ’s sake…</p>

<p>And we’re strictly limited, no exceptions. End of story.</p>

13

<p>…</p>

14

<p>I don’t think your ECs are strong enough for Harvard/Penn/Columbia</p>

15

<p>I think a lot of folks do independent AP studies and take the AP exams and report it. I think HYPMS are not going to look at what your school let you do but what extra initiative you have taken. But having said that, you are definitely qualified…Just been realistic. About EC, I think Stanford likes entrepreneurship. Mock trial and political campaigns are great and believe me, I know how much time commitment that is, but is that enough to set you apart? Any varsity sports? Solid subject test scores will help. Good luck.</p>

16

<p>why in the world are you retaking the SAT…your ACT is phenomenal.
Actually, I don’t even understand why you took the ACT so many times.</p>

<p>Don’t stress over test scores. Get good scores on your SAT II’s, but you need to really be focusing on the subjective parts of your app at this point.</p>

17

<p>You need more ECs</p>