USC, UC-Berkeley, Emory, Tulane, UCLA, Stanford

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I'm wondering what I'll need to improve in order to get into Stanford (Reach) and USC (or Tulane, Emory, UCLA, UC-Berkeley) because those are my top schools. I want to double major in English with a Creative Writing focus and Psychology (preferably clinical). I'm trying to get a head start on the 'ole college search to make sure that I can get into the right school for me.
I'm not going to start anything to get into these schools, but any small recommendations would be nice. </p>

<p>UNWEIGHTED GPA: 3.8 (freshman) and 4.0 (sophomore)
WEIGHTED GPA: 4.1 (freshman) and 4.3 (sophomore)
PSAT: 199/240
PSAE: 29 Composite</p>

<p>Honors & APs:
Honors Freshman English- A
Honors Biology- A
Honors World History- A
Advanced Algebra for Freshmen- A
Honors British Literature & Journalism- A
Honors Plane Geometry- A
AP Psychology- A, 5 on AP test
APUSH- A, 4 on AP Test
Honors Chemistry- A
AP Biology- A, 5 on AP Test
AP Calculus BC- A, 5 on AP Test
Honors Physics- A
AP English Language- A, 5 on AP Test
AP English Literature- A, 5 on AP Test</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Guitar Club (9)
Freshman Class Council (9)
Operation Snowball Participant (9)
Psychology Club (9, 10,11, 12)
Operation Snowball Leader (10, 11, 12)
Spoken Word (10, 11, 12)
Model UN (10, 11, 12)
Photography Club: (10, 11, 12)- Secretary and Award Winner
Drugs and Alcohol Prevention Leader- Heroin Specialist (10, 11, 12)
National Latin Exam Award Winner (Summa Cum Laude)
Contributor for School Paper for Photography and Writing (10, 11, 12)
President and Founder of Substance Prevention Organization (10, 11, 12)</p>

<p>Hobbies:
Photography (Analog & Digital)- award winning, large portfolio that I will give to colleges as a sample
Guitar- 6 years
Creative Writing- Award Winning, in my school's literary journal (hard to get into, Ernest Hemingway went to my school)
Photo Journalism- Featured several times in my school paper and award winning
Latin- 2 years & Honors Student</p>

<p>Awards:
Summa Cum Laude National Latin Exam Award Winner (9, 10, 11, 12)
Frame Warehouse Award Winner for Best of Year Photography
Outstanding Latin Student (10, 11, 12)
Human Relations Award (11, 12)</p>

<p>Et Cetera:
ONLY Student member of IMPACT, Community Board for Drug Prevention
Eating Disorder Awareness Speaker- Do presentations around the community
Raised over $2,000 for the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA)
Attended the University of Iowa's Summer Young Writers' Studio- most prestigious in the country (10,11,12)</p>

<p>I don't feel like my PSAE really reflects what I do, but I'm a slightly above average student. What are my chances of getting into Stanford and USC if I continue at the rate that I'm going?
Thanks!</p>

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<p>BUMP</p>

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<p>Are you a California resident for UCLA and Cal? Will finances be an issue, if you are admitted to any of these universities?</p>

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<p>As someone who has gone through the applications process I’ll you right now the honest truth. You are well qualified but then again so are many other people. More importantly schools like UCLA and Cal specifically take unqualified people (e.g. 3.6s) for diversities sake. So in the end it’s a crapshoot. Apply to those schools, apply to some safeties and see what happens. Good luck. </p>

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<p>I am an Illinois resident and finances would be a large issue. For USC especially, I’d need over 50% FA. I really want to go out of state (and somewhere warm to get out of this gosh darn arctic that’s come to the midwest), so in state tuition isn’t necessarily helpful. I’m from GA originally, and wouldn’t mind going back there. </p>

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<p>@bomerr‌ UC’s don’t consider race… well, they aren’t supposed to. They’re not crapshoots, really. At least, that isn’t the case @ my school.</p>

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<p>@‌noel597 </p>

<p>A) Cals stats say native americans have a 50% acceptance have, hispanics 40%, Whites 33%, Asians 29% so although they aren’t supposed to consider race they still do. </p>

<p>B) It’s more than just race but background. . Everyone I know, knows at least 1 person who got into a school like UCLA or UCB with a lot of Cs because they wrote a sob story and at the same time knows at least 1 person who was a very qualified 4.0 student that got rejected. </p>

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<p>Considering finances, what would this do for my chances?
And I understand the screwed acceptance- trying to really overcompensate for diversity by being selective in a weird way.</p>

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<p>@eldixon - You must be from Oak Park, yes?</p>

<p>You are on a very good path to maximizing your chances at all these schools. People are right that admissions is a mystery quite often, but at the same time all you can do is your best to give yourself the best shot. Stanford is a separate case really; their acceptance rate was only 5% this year. So that truly is a crapshoot no matter your resume. I will say that they seem to look hard at leadership positions, but not so many that it looks like you are doing it for the sake of resume padding. Also, it is fine to have as many ECs as you are pursuing, but you probably want to really focus on about 3 that you enjoy the most and play those up when you do your essays or when you talk to admissions.</p>

<p>Stats wise it is important that you get your SAT up when you take it, so practice hard. Or the ACT if you go that way. Your GPA is solid, especially since you did perfect your sophomore year. If you can do that again or close to it junior year, you will be in great shape on that stat. Of course, continue to take as many AP courses as you can, they like to see a strong schedule. If you can get the test score up, I think your chances at all but Stanford are pretty good, keeping in mind the “randomness factor”. Like I said, predicting Stanford is a fool’s task.</p>

<p>Since finances will be a major issue, you definitely want to focus on Tulane and school’s like it that are well known for strong merit aid. Tulane is one of the most generous in the country, but Miami is pretty good too and a very similar school in many ways. I would put them on your list. I will think of some others later and either post here or PM you.</p>

<p>But for all these schools, another thing you want to consider is applying ED, EA or SCEA depending on what each school offers. This will be a tough choice for you, and you will have to be very realistic in assessing your chances at each school. What do I mean? Well, Stanford, like Tulane, has Single Choice Early Action, although they call it by a slightly different name. That means you agree not to apply to any other school ED or EA. It improves your chances of acceptance at that school, but if you don’t get in then you are stuck with applying RD everywhere else. At Tulane, that would mean you could not apply for the most generous scholarships that cover all of your tuition and fees. You could still potentially get very high awards like $30,000 (more by the time you go probably) that cover about half your total cost of attending, but even then they will think your interest in the school is less because you didn’t apply for early action of any kind and that could affect your chances. It is a tough choice for all but the wealthy that don’t need the scholarships.</p>

<p>You also want to show strong interest other ways, such as attending local visits by the school (Tulane is very popular in Chicago and so they will definitely have an event in the fall. It doesn’t hurt to go as a junior and then again as a senior, or better yet visit the campus in the spring of junior year or as a senior), corresponding with your admissions person, and definitely filling out all the essays on the application, even ones marked as optional (they really are not optional. It’s a test). And while I am more familiar with Tulane than other schools, similar guidelines no doubt apply, again except for Stanford. They probably don’t care as much if you show interest, they just assume you have it because it is, well, Stanford. FYI, my D is starting grad school at Stanford this fall. She was Tulane undergrad, as was I.</p>

<p>So I hope that helps a little. Happy to answer anything else I can for you.</p>

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<p>If you need 50%+ FA at USC then UCLA/Berkeley are unaffordable… because OOS at Berkeley/UCLA favor those who can pay full-freight.</p>

<p>Stanford: Reach
USC: Aim for 31+/2100+
Tulane: Aim for 31+/2100+
Emory: Aim for 31+/2100+
UCLA: Aim for 31+/2100+
Berkeley: Aim for 31+/2100+</p>

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<p>

Source for your claim?</p>

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<p>@fallenchemist‌ Yup! I’m not trying to take up too many leadership roles just for admissions, but I like doing things for the community and I’m good at spreading myself around. I am really dedicated to the drug prevention groups I participate in (snowball, etc.), and I also do a lot of things relating to eating disorder awareness/prevention. Those are my main areas of focus- the other things are just for fun.
In regards to your D (daughter, I’m assuming), what did she think of Tulane? I’m in love with Nola and any of these schools would be amazing to get into. As for Stanford, I wouldn’t really want to go. Too small for what I wold like, but it’s a great school and wouldn’t mind having it as an option.
As for my test scores, I really don’t know what happened. Is it normal for a sophomore who gets over a 4.0 to do that poorly on practice SATs and ACTs? I feel like I’m doing something wrong, so I’m planning on working with a tutor.
Anything else I can do, or is it mostly the scores at this point?</p>

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<p>@eldixon - My D really enjoyed Tulane and NOLA. More than almost (or maybe not even the almost) any school out there, Tulane is tightly tied to its location. In fact, Tulane is the largest private employer in NOLA. So between that and the role it has taken in service after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, it is kind of like the entire city is its campus.</p>

<p>I don’t understand your statement about Stanford being too small (Tulane and Emory are similarly sized I think), but if you really don’t have enthusiasm for the school I wouldn’t bother to apply. Focus your efforts on the schools where you have a more realistic chance of being admitted. And for now, probably the most important thing you can do is focus on improving those test scores. Watch for local events at the schools you have on your list, but otherwise just keep doing what you have been and work hard to get the SAT up to the 1400 range (I think by the time you take it they will be back to the 1600 system) or your ACT in the 32 range. I wouldn’t say it is normal that your scores are not in line with your GPA, but it certainly isn’t unusual either. It usually means you are doing something in your test taking technique that is hurting you, so a tutor might definitely help. I would also be sure to try both the SAT and ACT.</p>

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<p>@fallenchemist‌ What is the difference between the 1600 and 2400 scale of the SAT?</p>

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<p>The 1600 pt scale will be reimplemented in 2016- 2017 school year and will eliminate the writing portion, facilitate the critical reading section, and narrow the math section. I would’ve loved to take advantage of the new SAT, but I’m a sophomore and must apply before the new tests roll out :l </p>

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<p>OK, for some reason I thought it was 2015-2016, so it will still be the 2400 scale for you people if Jaga98 is correct. So it is close to 2100 you are shooting for.</p>

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<p>@fallenchemist‌ that’s what I thought. Okay, I’ll keep that number in mind.</p>