What Are My Chances? (Occidental College & Several Other Institutions)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Well, I am currently a junior at a Southern California school.
I was recently told about Occidental College and was very interested in attending there as an undergraduate after high school.</p>

<p>I wanted to know if anyone could tell me what he or she thought my probability of being accepted into this school is.</p>

<p>Freshman Year:
Introduction to Social Sciences: A/A
English 9 CP: A/A
Music (Choir & Band): A/A
Spanish 3 Honors: A/A
Geometry CP: A/A
Biology CP: A/A
Phys. Ed.: B/A</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
European History AP: B/B
English 10 CP: B+/A
Concert Band: A/A
Spanish Language AP: A-/A
Algebra 2 (Honors 1st Semester/CP 2nd Semester): C/A-
Chemistry Honors: B+/A-
Marching Band (Phys. Ed.): A+/A+</p>

<p>Junior Year:
U.S. History AP: C+/B-*
English 11 CP: A/A-*
Concert Band: A+/A+*
Spanish Literature: A/A*
Math Analysis CP: C+/B-*
Biology AP: B/A-*
Physiology: B+/A-*</p>

<p>*Indicates what I am approximating my grade will be second semester</p>

<p>This Upcoming Summer:
General Physics**</p>

<p>Senior Year Schedule (Tentative):
U.S. Government AP/Economics Honors
English Literature AP (Petition)
Concert Band
Physics B AP (Petition)
Statistics** & Calculus**
Academic Decathlon
Associated Student Government (Petition)</p>

<p>**Indicates that this will be taken at the local community college</p>

<p>+100 hours of Community Service</p>

<p>California Scholarship Foundation for 1 year
American Sign Language Club Member: 2 years
National Spanish Honor Society Member: 1 year
Accepted into National Honor Society
President of a club (volunteer services): 1 year
Volunteer services in association with religious group
Spanish and Mathematics Tutor
Honor Roll
Freshman Counselor: 1 year
Muslim Student Association: 1 year
Participant at Relay for Life: 1 year
School Play: 1 year
Oboe (Concert Band): 7 years</p>

<p>Everything above shall be earning an additional year upon graduation</p>

<p>I am also planning on being a member of the following clubs:
Student Scholarship Foundation
American Red Cross
Amnesty International</p>

<p>I am ranked about 116/615, varies on different GPA's
Consistently Top 20% in all varieties of GPA's</p>

<p>SAT:
590 C.R.
570 Math.
670 Writ.</p>

<p>Planning on retaking SAT in the fall</p>

<p>Subject Tests to be taken:
Biology (Molecular)
U.S. History
Math II
Spanish Language with Listening</p>

<p>AP Tests:
EURO 3
SPAN LANG 5
APUSH (TBD)
BIO (TBD)
ENG LANG (TBD)
SPAN LIT (TBD)
PHYSICS B (TBD)
AP GOV (TBD)
ENG LIT (TBD)
PSYCH (TBD)</p>

<p>I am also a first generation American of Mexican descent.
I transferred between freshman and sophomore year.</p>

<p>I am planning on being a Neuroscience (PreMed) Major.
I am planning on minoring in Japanese.</p>

<p>I am also planning on applying to:
Univerisity of California: Irvine, Santa Barbara, San Diego
University of Michigan: Ann Arbor
Univeristy of Arizona
Carnegie Mellon University
Pitzer College</p>

<p>What would be good safety schools and other high reach schools?</p>

<p>Thank you!!</p>

2

<p>Joagurr99, You could easily get into any of the schools you named. Your academic record combined with your extracurriculars make you a great candidate. To be honest, I would be looking at more academically prestigious schools than what your looking at. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE YOURSELF!</p>

3

<p>You honestly think so?
It’s just that my best year was freshman year, which is excluded from the UC GPA.
Not to mention the debt in California, making it even harder for in state students to be accepted (in exchange for out of state ones.) I frankly don’t even know what to do about this college stuff anymore!! Gahh!! Looks like it’s time for me to have another chat with my counselor!</p>

4

<p>I think you got some bad advice above. </p>

<p>The UCs can not consider race, private schools can. With your grades and scores I think you’ll do better at private colleges. Your grades and scores are below average for the UCs on your list, I’d add some less competitive ones and some CSUs. Oxy seems like a reasonable reach, with higher scores your chances go way up.</p>

5

<p>That’s what I thought too.
UMich and UC’s have strict policies against affirmative action.
I’ve already been told to go to private instead of public, and that was my opinion as well.
If I get a for on APUSH, then that C+ becomes a B+. A 5 would make both semesters into A’s.</p>

<p>I’m pretty sure that I can argue to get one of my B’s from Euro into an A-, same with Chemistry B+ into A-.</p>

<p>If I end up deciding on applying to those schools, I may just go on with the whole reconsideration situation with the schools. I know that I will be getting straight A’s next semester and I am capable of getting a case in my favor.</p>

<p>As for the volunteer services:
70 hours through Religious Group
50 hours through Instrumental Music Department
42 hours through Freshman Counseling
3 hours through Relay for Life</p>

<p>Will be expecting an additional 80 hours (minimum) through Senior Year</p>

<p>Activities:
School Choir for 5 years (ended Freshman year)
Will be Publicist of Muslim Student Association next year
I was in the Academic Scholastic Bowl Freshman year (7th&8th grades as well) and received a Varsity Letter. Finally doing AcaDeca Senior Year with room in Schedule.</p>

<p>Awards:
All American Scholar
National Honor Student
Honor Roll
Academic Excellency
National Spanish Exam (Bilingual) Recognition
Whiteside County Contest Solo: Oboe: Superior
Whiteside County Contest Ensemble: Oboe: Superior
TRAC 8 Festival Recognition: Choir</p>

6

<p>“If I get a for on APUSH, then that C+ becomes a B+. A 5 would make both semesters into A’s.”</p>

<p>Four (4)*, not “for”</p>

<p>“If I end up deciding on applying to those schools, I may just go on with the whole reconsideration situation with the schools. I know that I will be getting straight A’s next semester and I am capable of getting a case in my favor.”</p>

<p>School year (Senior year)*, not “semester”</p>

7

<p>Bump 10 char</p>

8

<p>Your GPA nor your scores are good enough for Michigan I don’t think.</p>

9

<p>With your grades, you probably have a great shot at Oxy (amazing school!)
Your extracurriculars are rather spotty, here and there, and it really doesn’t matter how many hours from volunteering you have. You just had to make sure you really enjoyed what you’re doing & learned from the experience. You could do great in the application process without ever having volunteered.
But congrats with the good work! Good luck! Liberal arts colleges are a great choice (:</p>