What are my chances of getting into Georgetown, Tufts, Columbia, UPenn, or UChicago?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am currently a Hispanic high school junior with a 3.75 unweighted GPA. My most recent SAT score was an 2250, although I plan on taking it at least twice more to imrpove my score. I also plan on taking the ACT, yet still have not.</p>

<p>AP US GOV/Politics: 4</p>

<p>Junior Schedule: AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Language and composition, AP Chemistry, AP World History, AP Spanish, & Honors Pre-Calculus</p>

<p>Senior Schedule: AP Calc BC, AP Euro, AP Psych, AP Lit, AP French, AP Spanish Lit, Computer Class, Ullysses Research Program</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
- Model UN (will become president next year)
- Debate (will become co-president next year)
- Forensics (Speech giving)
- Students for Change in Darfur
- Young Democrats Club (President of Recruitment)
- Mock Trail (President)
- I ran track and did marching band for one year each</p>

<p>Honors Societies: National Honors Society, French, Math, Science, Forensics League</p>

<ul>
<li>Letter of Recomendation from Congressman Chris Van Hollen.</li>
</ul>

<p>I plan on double majoring in International Relations and Economics and hope to go to LSE or Sciences Po for Grad school. </p>

<p>Next year, I will recieve an Argentine high school diploma from an Argentine saturday school in which I recieve instruction (in Spanish) in Grammar, Language, Culture, History and Economics. </p>

<p>I volunteer at my local hospital once a week. I have been doing so for the past year. </p>

<p>I am Hispanic. (How much of a factor is this?)</p>

<p>I am a mentor for disadvantaged youth and established a Boy's Reading Club in which youth with low standardized test scores meet and discuss books which they like once a week. </p>

<p>I have not yet taken, but plan on taking the SAT subject tests for French, Spanish, and World History.</p>

2

<p>apply early decision</p>

3

<p>why do I need to apply early decision?</p>

4

<p>it increases your chance of acceptance significantly. For example, Penn’s 16% cceptance rate is a composite of a ~30% ED rate and a ~10% RD rate.</p>

5

<p>Do I have a considerable chance at these schools going early action?</p>

6

<p>You’ve got an excellent chance, given your relatively high SAT scores. Being Hispanic is a bonus. Make sure you do well in your AP courses and on the AP exams. </p>

<p>I’d focus on your SATs and especially your SATIIs, rather than the ACTs. I hear the World History SATII exam is tough. Also you should be able to raise your already good SATs through prep and practice. It is not unreasonable to pick up at least another 75 points.</p>

<p>Finally, I’d work on the presentation of your ECs so they focus tightly on a couple of big, integrating themes and tie them to your “passions”. If the Congressman truly knows you well, his recommendation can be very helpful, particularly if he supports the themes in your ECs.</p>

<p>I’d avoid binding ED and go EA instead, where I could. Also consider Yale, Stanford and Princeton, especially if you can get your grades up a bit.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

7

<p>Great shot at Tufts, especially because it has a focus on IR and if you emphasize that in your application, you have a great chance. </p>

<p>ED is great if you have a clear #1 choice, but don’t do it otherwise.</p>

8

<p>What about at the other schools?</p>