What are my chances? Ivies and Stanford

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi, I am a current junior in high school and was wondering what my chances currently are at: Stanford, Ivies such as Harvard, Yale, Brown, University of Washington-Seattle, Wash U
Major: Bioengineering/Molecular Cell Bio with minor in finance or business
Residence: IL (Attend a selective admissions high school)
Gender: Female
Race: Asian
UW GPA: 3.83 (Have taken dual enrollment and received an A in the class)
*Note my high school does not do class rankings, no APs, and all classes are considered honors classes
ACT: 34

ECs:
Two internships (one paid, publication as coauthor+currently pushing for a main author publication, second internship was with a major University in computational genomics ), attended conference to present research, head of science outreach club at school, competitive athlete (gone to state and multiple school records) + captain, school awards in science, honorable mention in ExploraVision, swim instructor during the summertime, helped secure funding for school at alumni gala

Maybe my possible hook is that I am a low income student?

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

2

Your stats are probably not very far off from the average applicant to Harvard and Stanford and Yale. Being Asian with no obvious hooks will not help. I would guess your chances at these three schools as lower than the acceptance rate for each (ie, low single digits).

Your internships are helpful. Your stats are good. I would guess that Brown and U.Washington and WUSTL would be a low reach. In other words it is worth applying, but your chances are IMHO probably no better than 50%, and possibly a bit lower.

Obviously you have great in-state public schools in Illinois which you should be taking very seriously. Your guidance counselor would know far better than I whether or not you could consider UIUC to be a safety. If you did have one or preferably two safeties that are as strong as UIUC, then IMHO you can afford to reach a bit for the other schools that you apply to.

3

Hi, thanks so much for your prompt reply. Yes, UIUC is currently my main safety atm! I plan on applying to around 10 schools, 3/4 safeties, 2 target, and 4 reach. As for my internships, would you say my publications aren’t much of a hook unless they’re published in a high impact journal?

4

As a student from IL attending an ivy, I can safely say it’s very difficult to get in and A LOT of luck is necessary. I’d recommend talking to your college counselor, especially if you go to a well-known school with a lot of connections, that can be very helpful to get on your counselor’s radar. As far as your chances, you’re definitely in the ballpark for possible acceptance to Stanford and the Ivies but I’d agree with @dadtwogirls and say that your chances are lower than their acceptance rate, especially as an Asian girl without a hook. There are so many talented and deserving students that deserve to get in anywhere but unfortunately there aren’t enough spots, and so a lot of it will come down to luck.

As I’d tell anyone in the college admissions process, you’ll find a school that you’ll love and I can’t urge enough to not dwell on elitism and prestige of these schools. Also, do try to form a connection with your counselor and also with those that will be writing letters of rec for you.

That being said, if you really want to get admitted, make sure to express who you are via your common application essay and continue to follow your passions. I think UIUC is an awesome school to have in your back pocket, and I wish you the best of luck in the admissions process.

5

“I would guess that Brown and U.Washington and WUSTL would be a low reach.”

OP I would not view any school with a 6.6% total acceptance rate or a 4.8% RD rate (such as Brown) as a low reach. I would similarly consider Wash U a reach given the quality of the applicant pool it has been drawing and the demographic within which you will be competing. I would create your list and adjust your expectations accordingly.

You seem like a competitive candidate for any and all schools. Unfortunately at any elite school there will be an abundance of students with similar qualifications. You will certainly be considered based upon your application in its totality. Make sure your essays are specific and LORs are insightful and you have a shot. FYI low income is not a hook.

Good luck.

6

@zyx1234

  1. Regarding those who are saying that your chances are lower than the acceptance rate for these schools I will say this. I imagine you are actually better off in many respects than your average applicant to these schools. However, I should also note that it is fallacious to talk of your average applicant having, e.g., a 6% chance of being admitted to a given school. More realistically, most applicants (well over 50%) will have roughly a 0% of acceptance, and a few select applicants will have a good chance, e.g. greater than 25%, of admission. I don’t think college admissions is as probabilistic as many on here would like to make it seem.

  2. This all being said, your GPA seems a bit low for many of these schools (though there are people who get in with your GPA), and you should probably try to bump your ACT up to a 35. You say you go to a selective high school is it private? A GPA of 3.83 at a prestigious private school is different (i.e. more respected) than that same GPA at a public school.

  3. WashU and Washington seem higher probability than the other schools you list (though I am not sure if WashU is need-blind these days–they weren’t a few years ago).

  4. I would make sure to look at more need-blind schools that meet 100% demonstrated need. Schools similar in caliber to a WashU. I think you have a chance at schools like that.

  5. You mentioned that you are an athlete who has set school records and competed at a high level. Is recruitment an option (even at like a D3 school)? Being recruited can be a huge boon to your chances. I would definitely look into this if I were you.

  6. A lot depends on how impressive your research is. It is hard to comment without knowing more.

Hope this helps.

7

Although it’s not a safety by any means, Case Western should be added to your list and it would be a reasonable target. They are also pretty generous with merit aid.

Emory is another school that should be considered.

Have you or are you considering applying via Questbridge?

8

Yes, I plan to apply via Questbridge. Thank you for your suggestions!

9

Hi, thank you for your reply. Yes, recruitment is an option. However, I do not plan on continuing with athletics in college, beyond club level. My high school is a public, selective admissions high school that has had Nobel winners, and a history of sending students to elite colleges. I received a total of 4 Bs. 2 Bs were in freshman math, and 2 Bs were in physics this year.

10

Recruitment will get you in…It’s worth considering, even if there is something of a trade-off, especially considering how selective some of these schools are. Besides, I don’t think you have to stick with a sport all 4 years if you are recruited.

11

2 more schools that you should consider are Rice and Vanderbilt. They would be reaches but your academic profile suits them. I believe that both schools also do fee waivers for the application.

It might be worth it not applying to some of your Ivy reaches and replace them instead with the schools I mentioned.

12

I think you have great stats. Internships I think are super helpful. Plus, if you’re already going to a selective high school and have a great GPA, that’s not something to be overlooked.

On top of that, you’ve really gotten involved in extracurriculars which definitely is helpful in applying, and each one looks like something your passionate about. I know that admission is getting tougher by the year, but I definitely feel you could have a good chance with some of your higher up schools. I managed to get into an Ivy with similar stats (but a couple less internships), so I definitely think you can do it! Just make sure you apply in time and your essays are good. I’ve found that having strong personal statements/essays is pretty helpful in making an impression (at least I think so – I felt like my statements were what helped me get through).

13

Hi, thanks for your response :slight_smile: Rice is already on my list of schools I plan on applying to! Great suggestion. It does sound like a fun place to go!

14

Hello! Thanks for your kind words and quality advice! I appreciate the encouragement

15

Does your school have Naviance info? That will give you a better read on how students at your school have fared with schools in your list. Your GC will also be knowledgeable about where you stand too, if your school has a lot of kids going to highly selective schools.

That your school doesn’t have AP courses is puzzling. Do kids take AP exams even though the courses are not so designated. Anyone who wants to take the AP exams are encouraged to do so, the courses cover AP material, and those who take the exam do well.

Are you taking SAT2 tests, have you taken any? I ask because that gives an indication how well you are prepared academically as compared to other students.

What courses are you taking senior year, and what courses have you been taking? Any more dual enrollment courses? How many such courses do the top kids at your school take?

If you need financial aid, U Wash is a reach. How much aid will you be needing? How much can your family pay for college, and what are FAFSA and individual NPCs for the colleges on your list saying your family is expected to pay? If your NPCs are coming up more than your family can pay, this is an issue that needs to be addressed. Can you afford tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, board, necessities, travel , sundries at UIUC with certain aid or merit? It’s not a safety if you have to be selected for sufficient money to make it work.

16

If you are low income, see if you qualify for Illinois Promise or Commitment. https://osfa.illinois.edu/types-of-aid/other-aid/ UIUC may be unaffordable for you if you don’t qualify for these, definitely run the NPC.

I probably wouldn’t classify UIUC as a safety in bioengineering, but defer to your GC and Naviance results. It will likely be easier to get in to LAS/molecular and cell bio major. Here are some recent class profile stats by school https://admissions.illinois.edu/Apply/Freshman/profile

I agree with others that the rest of the schools are reaches for bioengineering, and you probably need a true affordable safety, at least for bioengineering. UIUC is probably highly likely for molecular and cell bio, but again, just make sure it is affordable.