What are my chances at Pomona, Claremont McKenna College, USC, UCLA, UCSD, Rice U, and more?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi. So first off, I'm so sorry this is quite long. I just want to know what you guys think, as most of you are so accomplished it is actually astonishing to me. If I'm setting my sights too high, I want to be brought back to reality. I plan on majoring in Biology. Depending on the school, I'll minor either in Italian/Romance languages or music. Now if you still want to read this and help me out after seeing how long it is... GO! By the way, you rock.</p>

<p>The schools are:
Pomona
Claremont McKenna College
USC
UCLA
UCSD
Rice University
UCD
UCSB
UCB
Northwestern </p>

<p>GPA: UW 4.0
Classes: Basically, we don't have honors. We have advanced, which the school doesn't weight (only offered for freshman and sophomore english and freshman history). Also, we aren't allowed to take AP sciences, math, or english until junior year (unless you can somehow be in Calc as a sophomore)
Freshman
English 1-2 Advanced: A/A
Modern World History Advanced (1 semester): A
Geometry: A/A
Biology: A/A
Italian 1-2: A+/A+
Symphonic Band: A/A
PE: B/B
Health (1 semester): A</p>

<p>Sophomore
English 3-4 Advanced: A/A
AP European History: A/A+ (5 on AP test)
Algebra II: A+/A
Chemistry: A/A
Italian 3-4: A/A
Advanced Band: A/A
PE: A-/A</p>

<p>Junior (expecting 4 or 5 on the 3 tests)
AP Lang. and Comp.: A
AP US History: A
Precalculus: A
AP Biology: A
Italian 5-6: A+
Advanced Band: A</p>

<p>Senior prospective schedule:
AP Lit.
AP Gov/ AP econ. (each a semester)
AP Calc AB
AP Physics
AP Italian
Advanced Band</p>

<p>Test Scores:
ACT: 33 (as a sophomore, hoping for a 34 this June)
SAT II: Bio (M): 750 Math II: hoping for 730+ (taking in June)
AP tests notated above</p>

<p>EC activities: (not in any order, but I think there is a main focus?) *** denotes leadership position
1. Italian Club President (11,12)-- secretary in 9 and 10 ***</p>

<ol>
<li><p>American Cancer Society Club President (12)-- just elected, served as VP in 11 and member in 9 and 10 **</p></li>
<li><p>Event Chair of Relay for Life (elected to lead committee of students for planning our community's Relay for Life which typically raises $80,000, this is basically the top position) (12) In 10 and 11 I was the head of the Entertainment committee. This takes nearly 60 hours of planning on my part for the event, and after the event I lead the committee in other activities (for example, raising money for a student at my school suffering from cancer whose family is having a hard time financing health expenses and a stable living situation for the student's siblings) *</p></li>
<li><p>Volunteer for many many hours at an organization in the urban area near me that houses cancer patients (children)-- I work on the living conditions for these patients and their families by making holiday cards, painting, cleaning, organizing, making the place a nice place for the brave kids! I also tutor the patient's siblings.</p></li>
<li><p>Intern and volunteer at my local hospital's cancer center</p></li>
<li><p>Piano for 11 years, some awards from my conservatory</p></li>
<li><p>Flute and Piccolo which I play in my school's band (first chair), my region's orchestra (first chair), my school's musicals, competitions (with some awards), and my region's honor band, and a flute "choir" of mostly professional flautists</p></li>
<li><p>Mental Health Awareness Club President and Founder (11,12)-- founded after personal encounter, support group for those suffering from depression, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, etc., or those whose family or friends are suffering from those illnesses *</p></li>
<li><p>Varsity Tennis (9,10,11,12)- elected Captain next year **</p></li>
<li><p>Hopefully participating in a research program this summer, whether it be a paid program or research with a professor</p></li>
<li><p>Robotics team member (though, no leadership position)</p></li>
<li><p>possibly next year's band president, though I don't know yet.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Recommendations: Planning on getting these from my language and english teachers. However, I'm planning on studying biology. Should I also get one from my biology teacher? They should be very good, really. I'm very involved in the classroom and in helping my peers, which they recognize.</p>

<p>Other:
I live in California (a wealthy area, too)
Bilingual (can speak, read, write other language)-- I study with a teacher to perfect these skills and am at a high school level in the language
Mom is legacy @ USC
Both parents with Bachelor's, Dad has Master's
Struggled with depression, though I don't want to talk about this much, only in reference to the club I founded and am president of! :)
I took a human biology class at a local community college, receiving an A. I will take an anatomy class this summer if I'm not accepted into a formal research program.</p>

<p>I think my essays will be pretty bomb (sorry for the colloquialism, I just love that word ;)). I'm a fairly good writer so that will definitely be to my advantage.</p>

<p>IF I LEFT ANYTHING OUT, or you have questions, let me know!</p>

2

<p>And work experience… I worked at a sales associate at Nordstrom for 10 and 11, a tennis camp counselor for 9,10, 11. These jobs took place all year.
Actually, it is probably relevant, and I totally forgot to include that I teacher flute and piano to elementary school/ middle school students. I charge very little to nothing because most of my students cannot afford to pay a teacher.</p>

<p>and I’m first generation (not college), but in the US. I’m middle eastern.</p>

3

<p>Id say you have fantastic chances for all of those schools. Your GPA is excellent as well as your ACT and your ECs are also very good, varied but still focused. The only thing that could be an issue is the lack of class rigor due to the AP thing you mentioned in regard to your first two years, but i doubt that alone is enough to deter you from those schools.</p>

<p>My thread (chance pls): <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1610985-chances-for-vanderbilt-unc-nyu-uf-and-duke.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1610985-chances-for-vanderbilt-unc-nyu-uf-and-duke.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>Thanks! I really appreciate your input. Yeah it’s a real bummer, but every other academically achieving student at my school (except for this kid who is a complete aberration-- AP CALC as a sophomore-- he is a pro!) has the same schedule for those two years. I hope it won’t hurt me :slight_smile: </p>

<p>Is the B in PE in my two semesters of freshman year going to make a difference? I sure as h*** hope not.</p>

5

<p>I highly doubt any admissions officer is going to give much academic weight to a PE class. I wouldnt worry about it.</p>

6

<p>I have one last quick question-- would you advise against writing about strictly MYSELF for the essay?</p>

<p>I was initially considering writing about my passion for fighting against cancer and raising awareness (one of my main focuses), however now I am thinking about writing about myself, who I am, and how I’ve grown. Would this work against me?</p>

<p>…or I could tie the two together. This is going to be difficult.
WHO ARE YOU? in 500 words… fabulous.</p>

7

<p>Don’t worry that is NOT long compared to mine haha… Your great grades, four year varsity tennis and captain, planned research with a professor, flute/piano teacher and relay of life leadership- really impressive! I think and admissions officer may wonder why you got a B in PE with such stellar othe grades but leave it at that and not think about it again. I am really sorry but I am new to the admission process so I will only list the schools I know!
USC: Match
Rice University: Match
Claremont McKenna College: Match
Northwestern: Low reach
And I would definitely submit a bio rec if that’s your planned major- they want to see how you work and strive in the field you’ll be focused in.</p>

8

<p>Bump? Please help me! haha I promise I don’t bite.</p>

9

<p>@meandmycat My first teacher graded on how fast our mile times were. Mine wasn’t under 8, at the time. So, I got a B. I’m just considering if it is worth retaking. </p>

<p>Pomona is about the same tier at CMC, they’re in the same consortium. and the UC’s and on part with USC, I would say. Thanks for the response. I wish more people would help me with either suggestions of what I need to emphasize and my weaknesses, but no one is commenting on this! Too bad :(</p>

10

<p>I think your scores are pretty good for the schools you’re applying to and your ECs are pretty diverse and impressive. If your essay is as good as you say it is, I would say you have a high match at all these schools except maybe Claremont where it’s slightly low reach</p>

11

<p>@kei04086 Thanks! Is there anything I could’ve done to make Claremont a match? Just wondering, really! haha</p>

12

<p>Pomona: reach
Claremont McKenna College: low reach
USC: match
UCLA: match
UCSD: safety
Rice University: low reach
UCD: safety
UCSB: safety
UCB: match/high match
Northwestern: low reach/ reach
Get your ACT to a 34/35. That is one thing I wished I would have done for my apps, but didn’t have enough time to prepare for the ACT. </p>

13

<p>Okay :slight_smile: Well, recently in taking practice tests I’ve gotten perfect scores in math every time, so I can guarantee a 35 or 36 there. In English, I get 2 wrong, usually, so also a 35. If the other two are 33’s, then I’ll be at a 34, in all likelihood. Thanks for that advice :slight_smile: @classof2018app </p>

14

<p>yup np. Besides, at the 33 threshold, you are basically proven to be academically qualified for all the schools you mentioned. At that point, it comes down to ECs, letters of rec (which are very important) and essays. </p>

15

<p>I know letters of rec are SO important. I think I’ll have great ones :slight_smile: Are my EC activities okay? They’re things that I love doing so much! @classof2018app</p>

16

<p>if you like doing them, then they’re great :)</p>

17

<p>btw can you chance me back: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1598216-last-chancing-i-will-chance-back.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1598216-last-chancing-i-will-chance-back.html#latest&lt;/a&gt; Thx a lot and best of luck</p>

18

<p>I think you are a safe bet at every school except for the following three: Claremont McKenna, Pomona, and Northwestern. Those three are just such a crap shoot you never really know, but your application looks outstanding so I think you have a great shot at all three!</p>

19

<p>Thanks :slight_smile: Yes of course, those schools are very difficult to get into. I’m planning on applying to one school early. I am currently between Rice and Pomona. Which school would applying early be MORE of an advantage? They are, indeed, my top choices. I appreciate your input very much @ajaxm13 – it is so helpful.</p>

20

<p>Pomona - high reach
Claremont McKenna College - High reach
USC - low reach
UCLA - reach
UCSD - reach
Rice University - reach
UCD - match
UCSB - match
UCB - reach
Northwestern - reach</p>