<p>I think you’re a shoo-in for all of those schools except for Pomona, Claremont, Rice, and Northwestern. You’re very strong in all of your objective areas. And I guess in your subjective areas too. Just be sure to know which you wanna show off more in your apps. As for your question about getting a recommendation from your Biology teacher, I’d say yes, because a perspective from he/she should help tremendously if you apply somewhere where Biology is an impacted major or competitive. And yes, your essays should be about you, especially when you’re writing your personal statements to the UCs. Otherwise, you could mix it up a bit with the private schools. Just be sure to show off your voice! Good luck!</p>
<p>@lynjobes I know! It’s crazy how competitive it’s becoming. I figure if I apply to a handful of those upper tier schools, I’m bound to get into maybe one, or maybe wait lists? </p>
<p>Thanks for the advice @asianally. Pomona, Claremont, Rice and NW are kind of, mind my language, a craphole? Obviously not as much as Harvard, but still they’re up there. I figure, as I said above, I give it a shot! I’ll apply probably to Rice, Pomona, CMC, and two other “top 20” schools and give it my best shot. </p>
<p>Pomona: reach
Claremont McKenna College: low reach
USC: match
UCLA: match
UCSD: low match
Rice University: low reach
UCD: low match/safety
UCSB: safety
UCB: match/high match</p>
<p>You’ve got great chances at all of them, I hope you get in!</p>
<p>@apache14 I have a question that I’ve asked but never got an answer to. is there anything I could’ve done to make Pomona, CMC, and Rice matches? Or are their acceptance rates just so low that they’re reaches for most fairly normal people (average intelligence, like myself). Just wondering! @asianally</p>
<p>Pomona, CMC, and Rice are all private schools with acceptance rates near 10-15%. Low reach at best for everyone, so don’t worry you’re at no disadvantage </p>
<p>Thanks @apache14 That’s good to hear.</p>
<p>I’m planning on submitting a music supplement to the Claremonts so I think this will be good)</p>
<p>Like apache14 said, and I probably couldn’t put it any other better way, all of those schools are highly competitive, so you it’s difficult to standout amongst an applicant pool that’s already so versatile. Don’t forget, and this is by no means to worry you, but kids that apply to MIT, Yale, Duke, Stanford, etc. also apply to these schools, because if they’re ready for the likes of Stanford, they assume that it wouldn’t be too hard for them to get into “a little bit lower than Ivy,” private schools, such as Rice, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Emory, Vanderbilt, etc. Not to mention, kids that are applying to schools that you might not find too difficult to get into, and they believe that an Ivy League school is way over their heads, look to these schools as dream schools, so you’re getting a good mix of applicants in the pool.</p>
<p>And these schools I would say your app wouldn’t go down the crapshoot! Although competitive, it’s very possible to kind of say “That kid will probably make it in!” You just gotta do something interesting! What’s the “something interesting?” I don’t know, you tell me! It’s about you and your passions. I know it’s not the best advice, but you’ll make it work. One of my friends have been admitted into Notre Dame this year and if I were to say his interesting feat was… It would be the fact that he spent every summer (I believe one by himself) in Spain, at one of the oldest universities in the world, learning Spanish. Now I’m not telling you to blowup your wallet or smash your piggie bank, but take hold of every resource you can. Colleges like to see that you utilize what you have! Oh! And do something or express interest in their school! Private schools usually love that kind of stuff (i.e. my friend spent the other half of his junior year summer at Notre Dame under its pre-college program; really competitive to get into)!</p>
<p>Haha wow you make great points-- so true!
It’s just so nerve wracking. Haha what if i apply and get in no where I think I would cry for dayssssss hahahhahahha
@asianally</p>
<p>@bu2015jr
I’m sure you’ll do great! No worries! Believe me… If you don’t get in anywhere… I probably won’t either… Hahaha</p>
<p>But you got time! As a senior, who really didn’t know where he really wanted to go till the summer and didn’t explore what it meant to apply to colleges into mid-junior year, it’s very warming to see kids like you trying their best to get help and input from others. It really shows a sense of initiative in your own further development. Keep on going at it!</p>
<p>Oh and I edited the previous post with a few more points!</p>
<p>@asianally Crossing my fingers! This websites actually kind of stressful because of SO many perfect scores and what not. But, regardless, I think I come off as a fairly passionate person to those who know me personally (not sure about on paper…) I’ll keep exploring :))) I’m really excited, yet nervous at the same time. EEK! :)</p>
<p>I’m applying for 2 paid research programs (but they’re really hard to get into) at Stanford/UCSF so we’ll see how that goes! @asianally</p>
<p>Pomona- High match/Low reach
Claremont McKenna College- High match/Low reach
USC- Match
UCLA- Match
UCSD- Safety
Rice University- Low reach/Reach
UCD-Safety
UCSB- safety
UCB- High match
Northwestern- Low reach/Reach</p>
<p>I think you’ve got a match for all of these except Northwestern and Claremont McKenna, which may be a low reach. The situation with your earlier AP/honor classes and PE shouldn’t solely affect your admission considering how high your test scores are. Just make sure your essay ends up being as good as you say and that your recs are well written. Other than that, good luck :)</p>
<p>(if you’re willing to chance back: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1611645-chances-at-ucla-usc-nyu.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1611645-chances-at-ucla-usc-nyu.html#latest</a>)</p>
<p>Your chances look really good. Everything is really strong. Best of luck!</p>