What are my chances at Brown and how could I improve them?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>I am a college junior and have been reading posts on College Confidential for the last six months or so, but, until now, have been too afraid to post anything myself. Finally, I’ve decided to post so I’m wondering what people think of my chances and, especially, how I can improve them.</p>

<p>PSAT: 240
SAT I: 2400
SAT II: 740 Bio (Freshman year), 770 Math IC, 800 World History, took Math IIC last Saturday and hope for 750+</p>

<p>AP’s: AP World (5), AP US (hoping for 4 or 5), AP English (hoping for 4 or 5), and, next year, AP Physics, AP Calc AB (my school doesn’t offer BC), AP English 12, AP Euro, AP Spanish, AP Italian</p>

<p>Potential Hook: 2 AP languages?</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 (my school doesn’t weight)</p>

<p>white male from wealthy suburb in New York</p>

<p>Awards: Havard Book Award, Baush and Lomb Honorary Science Prize, hopefully National Merit Finalist or at least semifinalist, National Honors Foreign Language Society, hopefully National Honors Society</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: -Four years Peer Tutoring Club (VP 11, President 12)
-School Newspaper (10, 11, 12) Film editor 10 and 11, culture editor 12
-founder and president of film society (film discussion club) (10,11,12)
-theater (9 productions from freshman to senior year, 5 as cast, 4 as crew)
-varsity tennis 9-12 but not good enough to be recruited or make college team
-school chorus
-debate team (9, 10, 11 (captain), 12 (captain)
-president’s council (organization of club presidents in school) (11,12)
-captain of film society relay for life time 11 and 12
-Tsunami relief committee (11)-group of club presidents that worked to aid tsunami relief
-School senate (12?) hopefully</p>

<p>Work Experience: interned at Kenmar Hedge Fund 11 and 12
I’m writing an article this year for national financial publication on statistical analysis of financial risk at Kenrmar this summer with a John Hopkins professor. Hoping to get recommendation from the John Hopkins professor.</p>

2

<p>I would say that your chances are really very high, but I am just another high school junior and no one is a shoo-in. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>You scores and extracurriculars look much stronger than mine, and I got in...</p>

4

<p>You'll definitely be a NM Finalist with those scores. And yes, your chances look great. Just keep on doing what you're doing, and write some good essays.</p>

5

<p>you look a little too plastic, no offense of course.
it looks too college-prep. So much stuff, seemingly just stuffed into an application turns people off. This said im not saying you need to cut back on the stuff you do, but you really need to make sure you have some kind of a focus. I had like 2-3 real EC's, and i did pretty well in them. The main concern i have is that Id imagine there are plenty of applicants that look very similar to you. Telling you to "stand out" would seem obvious but you really need to have some more focus in your activities i think. I get the impression that you've been doing everything to get into Brown since you turned 10. </p>

<p>Either way your scores are very good, if not too good. Applying early will help, and i'd really work on that publication. That could make you a little less like the 1000 other suburban kids with high sat's and a laundry list of ECs.</p>

6

<p>I doubt he wants to go ED to Brown, since he posted this like 6 times in various fora.</p>

7

<p>Wait, COLLEGE junior? I'm assuming you meant high school, but whatever. I would say none of us on those board (regardless of whether or not we've been admitted) can truly gauge what your chances are going to be. There are many different factors to take into consideration. That being said, from what I can see, you're a strong applicant and good luck to you in your quest next year! By the way, don't knock the wide array of ec's. I was the same way, but it wasn't for lack of dedication to any given one. I was just a geek that was interested in a variety of different things! :)</p>

8

<p>Luckily, Brown's app is open-ended enough that you can really explain your activities well, and it won't end up looking like a laundry list if you do it well.</p>

9

<p>Apply early.</p>

10

<p>sorry, i did mean high school junior, just let my typing get ahead of me</p>

11

<p>I had a long list of activities that I really enjoyed doing, but I wasn't particularly strong in any of them. I got in.</p>

12

<p>You really should apply early. You are obviously incredibly intelligent and all, but that's not really what Brown looks for, as you probably know. You are the classic overachiever, large numbers of whom Brown is known for rejecting. Maybe a really interesting essay, unique recommendation or amazing interview could turn it around, but I think if I were on the committee I'd reject you (no offense).</p>

13

<p>I disagree with gus.. I think that if your application is solid overall (meaning good recs and essays) then you have a great chance of getting in. Say what you will, but Brown will not reject a 2400/4.0 right off the bat.</p>

14

<p>wow...ur high scores are something i will never achieve...hahahaha. I cant believe im gonna be in the same applicant pool as this guy. im screwed</p>

15

<p>send naked pictures to the admission office... that usually helps</p>

16

<p>Hey justpetehere what were you ec's? If you don't mind. I am going to start my sophmore year of high school next year and am on the IB track I just wanted an idea of what kind of ec's people did that got in.</p>

17

<p>Well, I think my big pull was that I completed a year's worth of credits at the University of Minnesota during my Junior and Senior year.</p>

<p>In terms of my ECs...</p>

<p>Varsity Track
PRIDE Diversity Organization
Math League
Peer Ministry
Hockey
Literary Arts Magazine
Some published stuff in the newspaper
Photography
Mexico Mission Trips (4)
Youth Ministry Website Development
Navigator Youth Group Leader
Eucharistic Minister
Citizens for a Safer Minnesota (Gun control lobbying group)
Occasional Panelist for the U of MN PSEO program</p>

<p>Oh, and after I was deferred, I sent two letters and some photography work to make sure they knew I was really interested. I think thats what really matters -- let them know that you really want to come and that you'll definately enroll, they want to keep their matriculation rates high.</p>

18

<p>thanks, justpetehere do you know anything about the IB program that i mentioned?</p>

19

<p>Oh yeah; make sure that your essay has a lot of personality. That goes for everyone, but esp. for a 2400/4.0. You want to get across that you have more to you than academic talent.</p>

20

<p>I think you would have better chances at another Ivy,: Princeton, Penn or Yale. Your stats are pretty amazing, but Brown really looks for originality.</p>