<p>IB student, Swiss citizen, permanent U.S. resident...Low income (~35K), first generation.
Can get good recommendations, should have a good essay.</p>
<p>Academics
[ul]
[<em>]IB Student (Most rigorous course load all four years of HS)
[</em>]4.8 W GPA (3.7 UW) (92/100)
[<em>]2140 SAT (680 CR, 700 M, 760 W)
[</em>]Taking SAT IIs in November (Math II + Eng. Lit)
[<em>]IBs - Math Studies 6, Environment 5 (4 more this year)
[</em>]APs - US History 4, English Lang 4 (Also a 1 on Physics, have reasons for this though)
[<em>]98th Percentile (School does not do class ranks)
[/ul] ECs
[ul]
[li]12 yrs Travel/competitive soccer (Captain)[/li][</em>]3 yrs School soccer (1 yr JV Captain)
[<em>]2 yrs NHS
[</em>]2 yrs Political Science Club
[<em>]2 yrs Recycling Club
[</em>]2 yrs Chess Club
[<em>]175 hrs IB CAS hours community service hours
[</em>]30 NHS community service hours
[<em>]Cashier/Busboy at gourmet food store (9, 10, 11) - About 8 hours a week, sporadic days/hours.
[</em>]Babysitting (9, 10) - Usually once a month.
[/ul] Honors
[ul]
[<em>]4.0+ GPA Honor Roll (9, 10, 11, 12)
[</em>]Young Playwrights Festival Recognition (9)
[<em>]Florida Studio Playwrighting Award Honorable Mention (9)
[</em>]Artwork displayed in local gallery's "Art in our Schools" show (10)
[<em>]Magna Cum Laude
[</em>]NHS Induction
[li]Various sporting awards/trophies for soccer and golf (9, 10, 11)[/li][/ul]</p>
<hr>
<p>Ok, so here are the colleges I'd like to be chanced for...Some of them are obvious high reaches, but I'd still like to know if there is hope...I want to major in mechanical engineering and probably minor in business. UF/USF are my in-state required apps (counselor wants to make sure everyone goes to college).</p>
<p>In-States
[ul]
[<em>]University of Florida
[</em>]University of South Florida
[/ul] Mech. Engineering Schools
[ul]
[<em>]Cornell
[</em>]Georgia Tech
[<em>]Carnegie Mellon
[</em>]University of Michigan
[<em>]Purdue
[/ul] Hopeful
[ul]
[li]MIT[/li][</em>]Stanford
[<em>]Caltech
[</em>]UC Berkeley
[/ul] Others
[ul]
[<em>]Columbia
[</em>]Washington and Lee
[li]Vanderbilt[/li][/ul]</p>
<p>Please chance me, leave a link and I will chance back. Thanks so much!</p>
<p>I’ll only chance the schools that I am familiar with so I don’t look like an idiot : )</p>
<p>Cornell: Reach
Georgia Tech: Match
Carnegie Mellon: High Match
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor I’m assuming): Match
Purdue: Match
MIT: High Reach
Stanford: High Reach
Caltech: High Reach
UC Berkeley: Slight Reach (OOS)
Columbia: **Slight Reach (SEAS) **
Vanderbilt: Reach</p>
<p>Are you taking a Math and Science SAT II? A subject test in literature doesnt really seem to fit your choice of major</p>
<p>Pros: Good SAT Score, Good GPA, Amazing Percentile, Overall well rounded academics and extracurriculars, rigorous classes</p>
<p>Cons:: Extracurriculars do not show specific focus on mechanical engineering, no science/math leadership positions/awards, does not really stand out in the application pool</p>
<p>I think that if you write a passionate essay about why you chose mechanical engineering and how the colleges you listed will help you attain your goals, you have a good chance at all the schools you listed. Your numbers are very “average” for students who apply these schools. In addition, you lack awards and significant ECs.</p>
<p>However, make yourself stand out to the admission officers and I guarantee that you will do great in the application process!</p>
<p>I wasn’t expecting to have a shot at those two, but they have prestigious engineering programs so I threw them in there. You think I have a chance at MIT? Thanks for your opinion.</p>
<p>@Strikeb4ck: I already chanced this before but you should post your chance thread on the forums of the specific schools. This way you will get more realistic and more frequent chances.</p>
<p>notsproney: Thanks, I figured that I am not taking Lit anyways, I am doing one of either Chem/Physics for my science SAT II…Problem is I can’t edit my opening post anymore.
ballpointpen: Thanks, I will do that!</p>