<p>I suppose this is a pretty typical occurrence, but I'm a try-hard, stressed student anxious about getting into college. I'm the eldest child in the house and the trailblazer of the family and I'm not particularly close with anyone who has had much experience with highly selective colleges and universities, so that's why I came here: to pick your brains and get a good reality check of what my chances really are.
Yes, I am valedictorian of a class of 468. I've secured a 36 on the ACT and have recently learned of my status as a National Merit semifinalist, and am filling out an application for that now to see if I can advance. On top of this, I have well-developed extracurriculars.<br>
I am an accomplished flute player for the school band as well as the community youth orchestra and enjoy music performance, but composing is is my favorite. I even started a club at my school for composers that arranges guest speakers and works on projects and commissions for the community.
I am the president/chief of a paramedic Learning for Life Explorers club, which is a chapter at our local emergency transport service. It's something I love and I'm very involved.
I am also the captain of our school's varsity academic team, which is also something I love.
I'm the school chair for the local United Way Youth Leadership Council, a volunteer/philanthropy club. I get 8+ hours of volunteer work per month through this club.
These are the big things I do, but on top of them I am also a member of the chemistry, biology, and Latin clubs as well as the Girl Up club and National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta.</p>
<p>My capstone is the project I've instantiated in which I go around to local elementary and middle schools and speak to girls about the appeal and possibilities of STEM. I'm planning an event on a larger scale that will draw in local companies to sponsor experiments and activities and the likes.</p>
<p>As for the colleges I'd like to find my chances for, I don't know. I live in the southeast, so proximity would make my parents happier, but I honestly want to get out of here. I don't want a school packed with students who are only there to look good and try and project an image of superiority and the likes. I just want a strong, thriving learning community in a place with plenty of culture to participate in, so no college towns that aren't close to any larger cities. My major will probably be a natural science, but I plan on doing a lot with humanities, such as anthropology, ethnic studies, and/or religious studies, so I'd like a school that's strong in both areas. And most importantly, I want it to be challenging and to provide me with the tools and opportunities to be successful in whatever area I happen to fall into so that I can get a good job and/or go to a good graduate school. Thank you!</p>
<p>@akuflare - there’s a Qdoba across the street from my daughter’s dorm at Harvard You probably have a good chance of getting accepted there if you set your mind on it. Not everyone at Harvard is trying to project an image of superiority even if that is the stereotype most people associate with it.</p>
<p>If you parents want you to stay in the Southeast, Duke would be an excellent choice.</p>
<p>You should start researching now. You are lucky- your qualifications mean you odds should be excellent anywhere you decide to apply.</p>
<p>You are a strong candidate, but I’d still say to apply to a variety of places, from HYP to regionally strong liberal arts colleges or engineering schools to your state flagship. You have a shot at HYP, but getting in there is hard for everyone, so have some other choices. </p>
<p>What can your folks afford to pay? That will take some places off the list. </p>
<p>I have a fairly strong college savings account that so far should cover two years at most private schools, and my parents and I are willing to take out loans if we must if it means I get the best education possible. With that being said, if I can get an equally or almost equally as good of an education at a cheaper school, we’re going to take that opportunity. I’ve done research on quite a few places, like Cornell, Wellesley, Vanderbilt, and Reed among many others. I’ve never really looked at HYP because I never though I would have an inkling of a chance. I don’t know if my ACT score is a game-changer, though. </p>
<p>@akuflare - One advantage of HYPS is that they don’t include loans in financial aid offers and they tend to be generous in their EFC calculations relative to other schools (google this if you don’t know what it is), so attending these schools is less of a financial burden. For middle-income families, they can be the least expensive option.</p>
<p>Your ACT alone is not a game changer but will improve your odds, assuming it’s the ACT with writing. Coupled with your class rank and your activities, you should be a competitive candidate at all of these schools, as well as top LACs.</p>
<p>Have you taken any honors classes and/or AP exams? These colleges are very interested in seeing academic rigor, not just perfect grades.</p>
<p>I agree with Lizardly that you need to be prepared to apply to a range of colleges. If you apply to one of the top schools early and are accepted, then you can decide if you want to apply to others RD.</p>
<p>I have already taken AP Biology, European History, Chemistry, US History, Statistics, and Language and scored fives on all of them. This year I am taking AP Physics I, Calculus AB/BC, Government, Macroeconomics, Computer Science A, Literature, and Psychology. </p>
<p>@akuflare - Assuming you make an effort to perfect your applications, interview well, and have strong recommendations, I’m having trouble imagining that you will not get into get accepted everywhere you apply. Some argue that there’s a large element of luck involved in getting accepted to HYPSM and other top schools, and to an extent I agree, but there are clearly some candidates who are so strong that the odds of them being rejected by any single school is relatively small. I would think you are likely one of them.</p>
<p>The fact that you have managed to express your qualifications without a hint of arrogance makes me think that the biggest barrier you may face could be being too modest about your accomplishments and potential in essays and interviews. </p>
<p>You would probably really like Vanderbilt. A lot of the students say that their peers are smart but also very normal. I’m fairly sure Stanford is a bit like that too. If you’re looking for proximity, Tulane and Emory are also excellent choices. Good luck with your search!</p>
<p>@yodude51 - if you look at the OPs previous posts (only four, but some date back over a year), you will see they are consistent with her posts on this thread. I see no reason to believe this is a joke- there really are people like this out there. A disproportionate number of them will end up at HYPSM and peers, but many will end up at other schools, either by choice, or simply because they believe these schools are out of reach and do not apply.</p>
<p>Take a look at the HYPS decision threads and you will see plenty of applicants like this. Keep in mind that only a tiny percentage of those accepted actually post on those threads.</p>
<p>Wow, you are very accomplished. I feel that you have a good shot at schools like HYP because your ECs are very focused and your stats are great. Obviously, no one really knows if you’ll get in because of how competitive the are, but I think that you should apply because you are a very strong candidate. </p>
<p>You have a decent shot at HYPSM, definitely don’t pass up the opportunity. Apply to a few backup schools and a lot of reaches- I think you will get into at least one of the top-tier schools. </p>
<p>Start your list with a safety that you know that you will get into and know that you can afford. If you make National Merit Finalist, that would increase the potential list of safeties.</p>
<p>Thank you all! I’ll probably apply to a few ivies as well as Vanderbilt and Emory, and maybe Tulane since they are letting me apply for free. I’ve already applied to several in-state schools and their respected honors colleges, so I have my safties. I’ll have to visit all of the reach schools before I’d go. I don’t want to be crazy stressed about grades and competition and such as I have been in high school, but I still want to learn everything I can, so finding a sweet-spot is important to me.
I’ll probably end up applying to MIT. It was my dream school in elementary and middle school because Tony Stark graduated went there and I thought that was the absolute coolest, and I legitimately wanted to be Iron Man. Freshman year, I kind of put this dream to the side because everyone told me that no one gets accepted and that I’d never be good enough.
I’m starting to chill a little about admissions because I’ve made it up in my mind that, no matter where I go, I’ll just keep working hard and exploring what this world has to offer. I’ll make the best of what I have, and even if I don’t get to go exactly where I want to, I can try to make the school I do end up at better. I won’t let myself be limited by the institution I attend. Plus, there’s always grad school. My main goal is to work hard, learn, and be happy.</p>
You probably have a good chance of getting accepted there if you set your mind on it. Not everyone at Harvard is trying to project an image of superiority even if that is the stereotype most people associate with it.</p>