What are my chances? (Georgetown, Stanford, Columbia, Brown)

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Hey everybody! I've found that this site is really useful with garnering some perspective. If it means anything, my school runs on a block schedule. I want to know whether I have a shot of getting into some of the most competitive schools in the country. I'm looking at Brown, Stanford, Columbia, Georgetown, Northwestern, University of Chicago. I'm currently a junior in a public high school with the following credentials:</p>

<p>GPA: 4.3492 (weighted) and 3.9788 (unweighted)-but I think I'll end up with one more B in AP Calc totaling a total of 2 Bs throughout my high school career so far. My other B was in art...-__-;;
Class Rank: currently 3 out of 538
ACT: 32 composite
SAT: Haven't taken yet but will
SAT Subject Tests: Will also take, but in the fall of my senior year.
AP tests(do these even matter when applying? If so, how significant are they?): World History(4), US History(4), and just took 4 more that I will find out later in the summer.</p>

<p>I'm expected to take a total of 12 AP classes by the end of my senior year.</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars</p>

<p>Student Senate/Government: Class president (Junior Year) and School Wide President (Senior Year, just found out!)
NHS: Vice-President
Volleyball: Will play for all 4 years; also girls' volleyball manager
Swimming: Only freshman year
Concert Band: In the top band that has won many awards and a very good reputation in the area
Show Choir Combo (Drums for 2 years)- Part of the combo that took "Best Combo" in the Show Choir 2009 nationals competition along with the show choir from the same school
Marching Band: Drumline-Drum captain for 2 years
Jazz Band: 1st chair drummer, possible district finalist for jazz next year
Math Team- possible captain next year?
Mock Trial: possible captain next year
Scholastic/Quiz Bowl: Possible captain next year
Best Buddies
Participated in the Euro Challenge (which is an economics competition) for 1 year
Volunteer as a violinist in the church orchestra every Sunday.</p>

<p>May start a JSA (Junior State of America) chapter next year which is basically a civics club</p>

<p>Unique facts about me:</p>

<p>I was accepted into the Northwestern CTD (Center for Talent and Development) program the summer of my sophomore year and got an A in an accelerated honors physics course</p>

<p>Volunteered to drum in African-American inner city mega gospel churches our of my own volition over one summer just to do something different and fun. It was an amazing experience.</p>

<p>I'm trying to find an internship in economics/politics/consulting this summer downtown in the city of Chicago (utilizing my resources) this summer. </p>

<p>I am an Asian (Korean) male, but fully assimilated to American culture--the son of 2 immigrants from Korea. (Also, would it help my chances to prefer not to respond in the race category on the college apps? You know...because the whole asian thing is so stereotypical and factory manufactured-esque...</p>

<p>Both parents are self-employed. I would consider my family very lower-middle class. Total annual income together ranges below 40,000</p>

<p>Music, specifically drums and jazz are my passion. I always take advantage of any opportunity to play drums because I find that I'm very good at it and enjoy it entirely.</p>

<p>My older sister actually goes to Georgetown in their most competitive school, SFS (school of foreign service) Does that count as legacy?</p>

<p>I'm extremely motivated to do whatever I need to do in order to get into these schools. I just feel like my 2 Bs and my non-perfect test scores are weighing me down.</p>

<p>I like to keep up with current events, constantly watching/reading/listening to the news. This explains my interest in government/international relations/economics.</p>

<p>Also, do early action/applications help your chance of getting in? I need to know in order to decide whether I should take the SAT or the subject tests in the fall. I know that all these schools accept either the ACT or SAT but some of them also require the subjects so I feel like it's imperative to get those done first.</p>

<p>Finally, I know that all these schools are crapshoots for everybody. And I know that a laundry list of all my credentials will not be the key to getting into any school that I want. What I do want to know is whether I at least fit into the qualified pool of applicants from which each of these schools will meticulously pick. I've really been contemplating what I think distinguishes me from the rest of the applicants, and I just hope that my determination will yield some fruits.</p>

<p>Thanks for reading all of this everybody! I really appreciate all your help!!!</p>

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<p>“Total annual income together ranges below 40,000”</p>

<p>What about Questbridge program?</p>

<p>[Questbridge</a> Programs - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/questbridge-programs/]Questbridge”>Questbridge Programs - College Confidential Forums)</p>

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<p>I was actually invited to apply as a junior this past March. I didn’t realize the magnitude of the opportunity until it was too late though. Is it still possible to apply as a Senior? And those numbers are also a bit skewed. Since my parents are self-employed, there is no set salary to define how well they do every year. I’m sure there are good years when it exceeds $40,000 though. I will update that once I find out. </p>

<p>Thanks for your post!</p>

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<p>Ok, this is completely irrelevant but I am really confused. I don’t understand how people at some schools make Bs and then get a gpa like 3.9. Shouldn’t even one B drag your grade way down? Or am I doing this wrong? Does that mean that since I make all As, I should have a 4.0? I am seriously really confused about this.</p>

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<p>Contact them and find out ASAP.</p>

<p>I konw a person who got into one of your top school through QB program.</p>

<p>You have stronger academic record than the person.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>“Shouldn’t even one B drag your grade way down?”</p>

<p>???</p>

<p>“Or am I doing this wrong?”</p>

<p>Yes!</p>

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<p>Stanford is a reach. Your B’s probably won’t make a huge difference, but your low test scores might. Still, your EC’s are good so you have a chance.</p>

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</p>

<p>Well, yes. Your school probably does it a weird way then…</p>

<p>

Most 2nd generation immigrants are fully assimilated. I don’t quite understand why you felt it necessary to mention this.</p>

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<p>Well as far as I know, the B averages in with all the As. And that’s added into your whole high school transcript. So in my case, I got 1 B but got As everywhere else. So that averages to become one 3.0 out of 31 other 4.0s. I wouldn’t worry too much about it because the schools also look at the actual grades in addition to the GPA.</p>

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<p>bobtheboy, you make a good point. It’s a bit late and I’m tired. Sorry for the awkward redundancy…haha</p>

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<p>I feel like all these schools are a reach though. What do you think about the other ones I mentioned? And should I prefer not to respond when answering what race?</p>

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<p>"And should I prefer not to respond when answering what race? "</p>

<p>Admission officers will know by your last name and your parents’ name.
There is nothing you can do. So, check the race as Asian. At least, you are being honest.</p>

<p>Raise your test scores and highlight your parents’ low income.</p>

<p>As of right now, decent chance at NW and GW.</p>

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<p>I am Asian but my name is Jack Johnson. (Okay, this is not my real name for privacy reasons, but I assure you, my real name is just as white-sounding). My parents’ names are Mary and Sam. It’s kind of like Russell Peters, with his parents Eric and Maureen; some Indians have white sounding names. (I also know a couple East Asians with white names). So, could <em>I</em> opt not to respond, and would that help me slightly?</p>

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<p>Go for it (unless you apply to Notre Dame, Vanderbilt or LACs).</p>

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<p>Great, thanks.</p>

<p>Why not with those colleges though?</p>

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<p>I heard that ND, VU and some LACs want to have more Asians.</p>

<p>I was accepted from VU and 2 top LACs.
Did not apply to ND because I hate ND football.</p>

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<p>You definitely have a shot. please do questbridge if its still possible it will be a big boost. And definitely check the Asian box. You are not fooling anyone and trying to hide who you are just makes you look like you are trying to game the system. Don’t worry about the things you can’t control like your ethnicity and just stick to the things you can.</p>

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<p>My sister is also going to Georgetown’s foreign services school, without the best grades (2190 sat). Her strong side was that she is fluent in three languages (with english). If you speak multiple languages you will have a great chance to get in.</p>

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<p>Definitely highlight your passion for drumming and jazz, and your gospel church experience! These are all impressive and unusual things that set you apart from the crowd.</p>

<p>I think you fall within range for most of your schools. Your ACT score is a bit low, but nothing to obsess over.</p>

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<p>Thanks for all the great advice rahuja. I definitely agree with you.</p>

<p>Ghostt–I’m definitely thinking about writing about that experience in my essay. I just hope it does enough. Thanks!</p>

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<p>So, did she literally write “I speak these three languages” on her app? Can you do that?</p>