What are my chances for Harvard/Berkeley/Stanford?

Applying to College
1

<p>I have yet to take my SATs and ACTs. Just assuming that I do well on them, what are my chances with the following info?</p>

<p>Freshman Year:
Spanish 2: A
Geometry: A+
English Honors: A+
Biology CP: A+
Speech/Debate: A+
Health: A+
Physical Education: A+</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
Spanish 3 Honors: A
AP Chemistry: A
Human Anatomy and Physiology: A+
Physical Education: A+
Algebra 2/Trig: A+
English Honors: A+
AP World History: A+</p>

<p>Junior Year:
AP Biology: A+
AP US History: A+
AP Lang.: A+
AP Spanish: A
Leadership: A+
Pre-Calculus: A
Acting: A</p>

<p>GPA: 4.5 Rank: first out of 697, Holding position of valedictorian </p>

<p>ECs: Track and Field, California Scholarship Federation: Officer (Junior Representative), Link Crew Leadership
Volunteer Hours: 400 hours at local hospital </p>

<p>Bilingual, learning Spanish (third language)
Received numerous academic achievement awards
Not US Native
Skipped a grade</p>

<p>I aspire to be a cardiac surgeon. </p>

2

<p>Nobody can even take a guess without solid numbers. </p>

3

<p>Just assuming I get a great score on the SAT/ACT. Those are the solid numbers I’m missing. I know it’s a pretty big assumption to think you’ll do really well on the SAT/ACT, but I believe I will. </p>

4

<p>What’s “really well”? 2400? 2100?
Scores are just as important as grades; 2000 won’t get you in. And 2300+, competitive for Harvard/Stanford, is top 1% in the nation. </p>

<p>GPA is great. ECs look a little lacking (two clubs and a sport?). Make the most out of your high school experience, continue with great grades, and score tip-top. That’s all anyone can tell you, really. </p>

5

<p>Even with a great SAT score, your ECs are extremely lacking. That would be the thing that holds you back. It seems like you focused too much on school and not much on personal growth or involvement in your community.</p>

6

<p>Post back after you get your ACT/SAT scores. There is no point to chance by assumed data.</p>

7

<p>Is there a reason you haven’t taken SAT/ACTs yet? Are there any other activities you haven’t listed?</p>

8

<p>Contingent on getting a good SAT/ACT score (33+/2200+) your objective stats are definitely competitive for those schools. However your ECs are REALLY lacking for the likes of Harvard and Stanford. </p>

9

<p>If you go in with those EC’s, you won’t get in. If you try to ADD EC’s now, it will be completely apparent. Pick some additional match schools, because, in my opinion, these are out of reach.</p>

10

<p>You should get into Berkeley if you have a 33 or 2200 + are not applying for compsci/engingeering</p>

11

<p>I did not put down all my ECs. Sorry! I don’t know why I messed that up. I am in National Honors Society, College and Career Club, and Be You Club in addition to being an officer in the California Scholarship Federation and a Link Crew Leader. I tutor for free at local middle schools, and volunteer 200 hours a summer in the hospital. I have also received a scholarship from the National Academy of Future Physicians and Scientists, if that counts for anything. I have numerous recommendations from teachers and staff. I also did three years of violin. I scored perfect on my exit exams, which probably doesn’t count for much since they were extremely easy. I’m studying extremely hard for my SAT/ACT so that I will pass with a good score. Thanks guys!</p>

12

<p>I think that with a score somewhere in the 2150+ range, your chances become the same as any other unhooked applicant - that is to say, not very good. If you are a URM or a recruited athlete or legacy or some other special circumstance, your odds improve. The best things you can do to improve your chances is to do well on your standardized tests, take challenging classes (and do well in them), look for leadership positions in your ECs, and make sure your essays are up to snuff. </p>

13

<p>Your GPA is great and course load looks strong enough. If you get great scores on the SAT/ACT you can be competitive for these schools - so keep going with your exam prep! Did you take SAT subject tests in your junior year subjects? Now is the time to take those tests while the knowledge is freshly learned. The deadline is next week, but consider signing up for the June subject tests in your junior year AP subjects. </p>

<p>Putting in 400 hours at the hospital is a large EC. Make the most of that. Show leadership and initiative and depth of that EC. For example, if you’ve been in a specific department all that time, see if they have a quality improvement project you could take on. If you’ve been working with certain doctors, see if they have a research project you can get involved with. </p>

14

<p>@butterfreesnd By unhooked applicant, do you mean something that sets me apart? Well, I left my entire family coming to this country with my parents, not knowing a word of English. After a few years, I was skipped a grade ahead despite of this, and am currently valedictorian. Does that help in any way? </p>

15

<p>@bodangles @saif235 @Sdgal2 @xFirefirex @noel597 I did not put down all my ECs. Sorry! I don’t know why I messed that up. I am in National Honors Society, College and Career Club, and Be You Club in addition to being an officer in the California Scholarship Federation and a Link Crew Leader. I tutor for free at local middle schools, and volunteer 200 hours a summer in the hospital. I have also received a scholarship from the National Academy of Future Physicians and Scientists, if that counts for anything. I have numerous recommendations from teachers and staff. I also did three years of violin. I scored perfect on my exit exams, which probably doesn’t count for much since they were extremely easy. I’m studying extremely hard for my SAT/ACT so that I will pass with a good score. Thanks guys!</p>

16

<p>That’s not really going to chance anything. Nothing about your activities are truly stand out (though it sounds cliche).</p>

17

<p>

Not it doesn’t. Frankly I wouldn’t even mention it. See this: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1574881-national-academy-of-future-physicians-legit.html”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1574881-national-academy-of-future-physicians-legit.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The fact that their publicity arm goes out and sends “press releases” to the communities of these recipients, IMHO, makes this company one of the more dispicable ones out there, preying on HS families.</p>

18

<p>How come you haven’t take the SAT yet? Are you registered for the June Subject tests?
Are you in-state for UCB?
Have you run the Net Price Calculators on these schools and shown the results to your parents? What’s their budget? What’s your EFC?</p>

19

<p>@happytolearn A hooked applicant is someone who has some sort of quality that is valuable to a college for whatever reason. An example would be a legacy student (someone who has a family member that attended the college) - the college will admit them even if they are a little below average because they want to stay on good terms with their alumni so they will donate. Another would be a URM (under represented minority), who will bring diversity to a campus.<br>
Your story, while interesting, is not a hook. I would definitely address it in an essay though, I would imagine that you had to go through quite a bit, being alienated from your family and being thrust into a new culture all at once. </p>

20

<p>@butterfreesnd I am middle eastern. Can that be categorized into the URM. I am the only person of my ethnicity at my school. </p>