What are my chances at my list of colleges?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi, I’m really trying to finalize my college application list and I’m wondering how my chances are at the colleges I have, and if anyone has any recommendations for changes that should be made to my list. I plan to major in either biochem or chemical engineering, with a possible minor in philosophy, ultimately going into either law or pharmacy school.

My weighted HS GPA is a 4.0 so far, unweighted 3.7. However, I had some private issues sophomore year, which i mentioned in my common app, which brought down my grades and overall GPA. My junior year GPA was 4.0 unweighted 4.5 weighted.

My course load overall includes AP Euro(4), AP Calc AB(5), AP Chemistry(4), AP English Lang(5), and I am currently taking AP Japanese IV, AP Calc BC, AP Physics 1, AP Literature, and AP US Gov and Politics.

I have been in my school’s marching band for all 4 years, serving as section leader this year, I have been the president of my school’s japanese club for the past two years, president of the STEAM (STEM + Arts) Club this year, and i have been a member of CSF (california scholarship federation) all four years. I also participated in a community service immersion program in my junior year.

My test scores are
SAT 1990 (680 Reading, 670 Math, 640 Writing),
ACT 33 (33 English, 30 Math, 34 Reading, 34 Science (30 English+Writing),
SAT Chemistry 750,
SAT U.S. History 680

I took another ACT in October and expect to do better, and will be taking SAT Math II and SAT Literature in November.

I do not absolutely need financial aid but will probably pursue it.

My current college list is:
Boston College
University of British Columbia
UC Berkeley
UCLA
UCSD
Georgetown
Georgia Tech
Harvey Mudd
U Michigan
Pomona
Princeton (Not my choice to apply, i know its impossible)
Rose-Hulman
USC
Tulane
U Washington
William and Mary

Please let me know how my chances are and if there are any i should absolutely drop, or anything i should add that would be a good fit. Any help is appreciated, thank you.

2

UC Berkeley - low reach
UCLA - low reach
UCSD - high match
Georgetown - low reach
Harvey Mudd - reach
Pomona - reach
Princeton - reach
USC - low reach

3

Thank you very much, I definitely think i’ll take my chances with those schools. I’ve also read that Washington University in St. Louis is very good for engineering and sciences, does anyone know how well i would match up with them?

4

I think W&M Engineering is a 3-2 program with Columbia University. I think that means as an out of state student you would pay Columbia tuition. Not sure You should research that. In VA we also have VA Tech and UVA for engineering which offer a more direct path.

You can estimate your chances by googling each school’s “Common Data Sets.” If you are out of state (at public universities) and below the 25th percentile of accepted students the school is a big reach. I think your stats are a match at VA Tech. Good luck.

5

Thanks for letting me know, I know that its difficult out of state but I hope my chances at W&M would be boosted because my test scores are above their average. Since I’d be very happy with my safeties, I’m focusing more on reaches that are possibilities with the rest of my choices. How do you think I’d fare getting into UVA, as i know they are a very well renowned school.

6

You have a great shot at all of them

7

UCLA/UCB: Low Reach
USC/UCSD: High Match
Harvey Mudd/Pomona: Reach

8

Your list is fine - it’s good that you’re applying to Princeton and Pomona; your essays or your extra-curriculars could distinguish you and land you a spot! Never underestimate yourself.

9

Don’t send your SAT, your ACT is far stronger. This is a good list of colleges given your stats. 3.7 UW GPA is on the low end for some of these schools so there will be some rejections. You are competitive for Wash U. Your EC’s are not as strong as they could be. Have you done summer research or taken college classes?

10

Yeah, I’m most likely not going to send my SAT, both because of how it compares to my ACT and because of costs of sending it. Is it worth it to send my US History Subject Test? I know its not a terrible score but it’s not as good as my Chemistry.

As for my EC’s, I don’t really have much else, I’ve been trying to consider things I could add. I took an online technology course from Brigham Young University over the past summer because it couldn’t fit into my normal school schedule, but I’m not sure if that helps much.

Again, thank you all for your responses, this is very helpful

11

Tulane - high match, but don’t go by stats alone. Every year Tulane rejects many well qualified applicants who fail to demonstrate enough interest in the school. Write the optional Why Tulane essay, visit if you can, write to your admissions counselor, indicate interest in conducting research in a specific department or with a specific professor, etc. Good luck!

12

My school requires 2 weeks notice for letters of rec, and I have still yet to request my second one, meaning that I can only apply early to schools with a Nov. 15th deadline. Because of this, I may end up applying Single Choice early action to Tulane, because its the only school i could apply early to and i think it might boost my chances. The only reason I wouldn’t do this is if I apply ED to Harvey Mudd, which I am still unsure about.

13

As for the ED at Harvey Mudd, does anyone know how this would affect my chances? I know that a lot of schools tend to have higher acceptance rates for ED, but only because more qualified candidates tend to apply ED. Would it be worth going for?