I know it’s only the beginning of my admissions process (I’m a junior in high school) and stats are not the only factor, but I was still wondering if I have a fighting chance against other applicants for these schools (my sister attends Duke, which is not that important but just in case sibling legacy can help at all). I want to study either biomedical engineering or chemical engineering, and these schools, as of now, are my dream schools. I currently attend a top public school in Chicago (we have an admissions process to our schools) where I will be ending the junior year with a 3.94 UW/5.01 W GPA. My junior year classes include two periods of AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Lang, Honors Spanish 3, and Gym. I’m looking for a biological research internship for this summer, but nothing is for sure. I danced at the Joffrey Academy of Dance for 9 years on a full merit scholarship and was going to quit high school to dance, but instead, I quit dance sophomore year and starting rowing, where I was able to get 1st in my boat’s category at the Midwest Junior Rowing Championship. I now row on the varsity team for the crew. I am co-president of the Korean Club at my school, where my friends and I teach Korean to ourselves. Also, I am a member of Spanish Honor Society and National Honor Society (I know they don’t mean much if you’re just a member). I have only taken two AP tests so far: Human Geography (4) and American History (5). My current SAT is a 1480 (I’ve only taken it once, so I will be taking it again if coronavirus allows) and my ACT is a 33 (34 superscore). I will be applying for the QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship, but as with the internship, I’m very unsure of my chances. I would greatly appreciate any input anyone has and any tips on how I could make myself a more attractive applicant. Thanks a lot 
I’m going to pull out the parts of your post which mean the most to college AOs.
Biomed /chem engineering
Needs financial aid
Strong GPA and course rigor
Weak SAT for T5s
Joffrey Academy of Dance for 2 HS years
Varsity Rowing
Co-pres Korean Club
I don’t think this is enough for Ivy+, as an Asian in STEM. Why did you quit dancing? If you can make a very compelling essay about it, then you could have a chance.
Here’s what I would recommend:
-Take the SAT until you get a 1540+ superscore (you’ve only taken it once so that shouldn’t be too much of an issue)
-Keep your GPA up (its good, keep it that way).
-enjoy life. Don’t kill yourself over college stuff
Sorry, but there’s a typo. My weighted GPA will be a 5.09.
Try calculating your weighted GPA using this:
https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
I made a mistake calculating it, but it’s been confirmed that it would be a 5.09524
You can’t have a UC weighted GPA above even a 4.5. Read the “Rules for calculating GPA” at the bottom, there must be a mistake.
Really sorry, I didn’t know you were asking for my UC weighted GPA. It would be 4.48 weighted and a 4.32 weighted and capped (I assumed that my city designated honors courses do not actually count for honors in the UC system). Sorry for the confusion.
That sounds much better!
If you really want to be accurate, you find out which of your honors courses are “actual” honors by inputting your school here:
https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist
All colleges (not just UC) will recalculate weighted GPA using a similar system. None go above 5.0.
“Weak SAT for T5s”
Most things, including test scores, are evaluated contextually so if the OP qualifies for Questbridge and is low SES or disadvantaged in other ways, the 1480/33 may be fine. She’s above the 25% for Penn (1460), so it’s not weak.
"my ACT is a 33 (34 superscore). "
OP- have you taken the ACT twice, if so not sure you want to take another test, four is a lot unless you have a better chance at QB or other scholarships with a better score.
Varsity rowing-- any interest in college crew? What’s your 2k pr? Crew can be a big bump, although it’s a bit late for that.
I would be interested in college crew, but I understand that there is only a very small possibility I get recruited. I’m a lightweight, and I just got my pr last week (6:55. I started rowing last year and am now on varsity). I’m currently in consistent contact with Harvard and UPenn, but it is not serious, just back and forth communication, updates, and setting up calls. I definitely do not want to lean on rowing, as I know I am not a desirable recruit as of now. I would still love the opportunity to walk on or join a club team, though.
Being out of state for UC Berkeley makes it a reach. Also you would almost certainly be full pay if you get in. I think that the other schools are reaches, but it is worth applying.
You need to find at least two solid safeties that you would be happy to attend. If you are in state in Illinois then to me UIUC looks like a really good one as long as it is affordable. However I do not really know whether it is a safety for anyone (we live way east of you and have not looked in Illinois).
“how I could make myself a more attractive applicant.”
Write in paragraphs when you get around to writing your essays for applying to universities.
I think your dancing would’ve been a very strong hook for college apps, since it is quite unique. However, I agree that you might want to strengthen your application as an asian in STEM. Maybe start an online program teaching elementary school kids bio/chem and email your elementary school to reach out to parents to help get it going? Please chance me on my thread