Weighted GPA: 4.33
U/W: 3.92
UC GPA: 4.21
SAT Score: 2300 (1 try)
ECs: President and founder of MUN (2 yrs), Academic League/Quiz Bowl coach (2 yrs), Treasurer of NHS, Secretary of Democrats Club, Member of Science Olympiad, Peer Counseling, International Space Station Project Team, After school Tutoring, Indian Classical Instrument (Veena) since age 5.
Summer Activities: Lab Assistant at Chemical Engineering lab, working at Math tutoring center, Multivariable Calculus class at Community College, Volunteering.
Awards: AP Scholar, Eligible for NSHSS, Honor Roll/Honor Chain at Graduation
AP Classes: Freshman Year - Human Geography (5) Sophomore Year - Euro (4) Calc AB (4) Junior Year - Spanish, Calc BC, Physics C, USH, Lang. Senior Year - US Gov, Literature, Chemistry, Biology
Subject Tests (taking in October): Math 2, Chemistry, Physics.
Asian Female
Note: I am currently trying to work on a research project to enter either in Siemens or ISEF.
What do I need to do to improve my chances? I am going to be a senior in the fall.
Male or female? Subject tests? (Required at least for Mudd)
Female. Will be taking Chemistry, Physics, and Math 2 Subject tests in October. I also should mention I probably didn’t do too well on the AP Physics exam or AP Spanish, but I only took AP Spanish for one semester.
Bumping it up. Just a general idea would be good thanks! Also regarding the research project…dunno if that’s gonna happen.
It is difficult to tell without subject tests. It seems that you have a good chance at those schools.
Okay awesome. I was also wondering if anyone any suggestions to improve my chances?
It is too late as a rising senior to do much to improve your chances. Put together the most solid application you can. Study for your subject tests. Mudd is probably a low reach, USC is a match. If this is your full list, you need more matches and a true safety.
If you will be applying to EECS or CE at UCB be aware of extremely low acceptance rate. It is a reach for anyone so plan to add more matches and safeties to your list.
I disagree that USC is a match. I think it’s a safety for you–if you look at past results threads your stats are significantly above average. You’ll very likely get in assuming you show genuine interest in your essays.
Berkeley will be a bit tougher, especially engineering, but you are more than qualified for it. Also given that the UCs don’t use affirmative action, your chances of getting in as an Asian with those stats are better than schools with similar acceptance rates.
Harvey Mudd seems to love female applicants. The acceptance rate for females is significantly higher than for males, especially in the ED rounds. I’d be surprised if you don’t get in.
You’ll probably get into at least one Ivy League, maybe more. You’re in the range for HYP admits, but they are still reaches considering the strength of the applicant pool.
Qualifying for ISEF or becoming a Siemens semifinalist will increase your chances significantly. Try to do at least one of those things.
USC is not a safety unless her family has over $240K sitting around for college. With her stats, the school is definitely a very good target and eligible for merit aid, but a safety also needs to be affordable. OP, run the NPC to see if USC fits your price point.
Thanks all for your replies. My safeties plan to be Oregon State, UCSB, and possibly Cal Poly SLO. I think I will be applying to only one Ivy (Cornell).
I think solid chances at the UC’s and Harvey Mudd, although I don’t know too much about Mudd. The main issue I think is awards (unless your holding out on us). How did the junior year AP’s go? Also Chance back-http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1903933-chances-for-the-ivy-league-and-other-top-schools-p1.html
Unfortunately I don’t have many awards, just AP Scholar with Distinction and things like that. I don’t know if it’s too late to try for any awards now. Junior Year AP’s weren’t great: 5’s on AP Lang and AP Calculus BC, 4’s on APUSH and AP Spanish Lang (took this class only second semester of junior year) and sadly ended up with a 3 on Mechanics as it wasn’t my best test day. I plan to take the Physics subject test though, as well as the Math II and Chemistry in October.
Although you have great stats and very good EC’s and I do not think UCSB and SLO would be considered safeties. Oregon state looks like your only safety.
Okay. Do you think any of the UC’s would be safeties? Or what good safeties would you recommend (California)?
@Fisicsisfun i think maybe USCD/USCB/UCD/UCI would be safeties
If you are an in-state Californian, your chances at Cal and UCLA are very good.
You need safety schools.
Okay awesome. I was just worried since my UC GPA is only 4.21 and that’s quite low for Cal. Also, I want to do Engineering. Is it worth applying to a different major and then transferring?
I actually don’t think that UCI would be a safety either
@10s4life Thanks for your reply. I am ELC (does that help??) Also is it worth applying to a different school at Cal and then transferring? What about at LA?