What are my chances to Johns Hopkins and others? SATs scare me!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Could you help me out? I'd really appreciate it if you could be gentle if you don't think I could get in, and tell me why... don't just say "Forget JHU, you'll never get in there!" </p>

<p>I want to apply to:
Johns Hopkins University
University of Pennsylvania
Duke University
Carnegie Mellon University
George Washington University
University of Maryland, College Park (the main campus everyone knows about)
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Meyerhoff Scholars Program)
Penn State University, University Park (main campus)
American University</p>

<p>Intended Majors:
Biomedical Engineering, Pre-Med <3 (I'm afraid my SAT I math score may hinder me though, especially at Hopkins. Hopefully a good SAT II math score and my 5 on AP Calc, which I worked REALLY hard for, balance it out. What do you think?)
Biology (Back-up)
Chemical Engineering (Back-up) </p>

<p>High school junior! (c/o '13, yeaaaaa!! )</p>

<p>I'm from Maryland and our transcripts include a regular cumulative GPA out of 4.0 and a weighted GPA (called a QPA, or quantitative point average) out of 6.0, depending on whether you've taken standard, honors, gifted and talented (G/T), AP/IB courses (listed in order of least to greatest weight. G/T and AP/IB are weighted the same. It is NOT possible to get a perfect 6.0 unless you've taken like G/T Physical Education and courses alike, which aren't offered.)</p>

<p>Ethnicity/Race and gender(this shouldn't matter, but I heard it could be a deciding factor): African-American female</p>

<p>Lower to Regular Middle Class</p>

<p>GPA: 3.9/4.0
QPA: 5.4/6.0
AP courses: Calculus AB- 5
Biology- 5
English Lang- 4
Chemistry (Senior year)
Calculus BC (Senior year)
English Lit (Senior year)</p>

<p>Never ever gotten a C as a quarter or final grade, and I pride myself in that </p>

<p>Other notable courses:
Pre- IB Physics
College level Physics (at community college)
Pre-IB Chemistry
Anatomy and Physiolocy Honors
AP US HIstory (no AP score; don't really like history so I didn't want to take the exam)
4 levels of G/T and IB Spanish
G/T Pre-Calculus
Honors Trigonometry with Analytical Geometry
Honors Application to Robotics and Principles
and others (mostly arts, history, english, and courses needed for graduation from a Maryland public high school)</p>

<p>Class Rank:
1 out of 202</p>

<p>SAT I:
1930
M- 640 CR-600 W-690 Essay- 10</p>

<p>SAT II:
Just took it last week (June 2012). Scores come out in 2 weeks, so I'll update this post when its out.
Biology M
Math II
Physics (in October, after my college physics course)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (not in any particular order):
Current Student Member of the Maryland State Board of Education
President of the National Honor Society
Leader of the Robotics Team
DECA
Debate Team
It’s Academic! Team
Leader of a Christian teenage group that participates in community outreach programs
Mentoring Program
Pittsburgh Project: Rebuilding houses for the needy in the city of Pittsburgh, PA
A community walk to raise money for water wells in Africa and other developing countries and regions
Girls Track and Field
Girls Varsity Soccer
Bible Club
Cheerleading
Captain of JV Track team (10th grade only)</p>

<p>Jobs:
Founder of Infinite Pride Tutoring (Pretty cool, huh? I actually wrote a business plan and everything.)
Babysitting</p>

<p>Achievements:
DECA Marketing Mathematics Regional Champion 2012
DECA Marketing Management Regional Champion 2012
DECA Marketing Management State Champion 2012
Front page article of community newspaper acknowledging nomination for the student member position of the Maryland State Board of Education
MPSSAA Student-athlete Certificate (Grades 9, 10 and 11)
Academic Honor Roll since the sixth grade
County Champion in the 300m hurdles, runner-up (2nd place) in the 100m hurdles, 2nd place in the 4x200m relay, and 1st in the 4x100m relay
Regional Competitor (5th) in the 300m hurdles in the 10th grade</p>

<p>Strengths:
Although it may not show through my SAT's, I think I'm a really strong math and science student. I've discovered in the past year that I am actually a strong writer, and leader if I may add.</p>

<p>NOTE: NONE OF THIS IS MADE UP!!!</p>

<p>Thanks so much!! :)</p>

2

<p>I know it’s long, but pleaseee respond :)</p>

3

<p>You’re resume is extremely impressive, besides that SAT score, which you already know about it. Definitely retake it and shoot for a 2100, and if you definitely want to go to Johns Hopkins then apply ED. Their early decision acceptance rate is WAY higher than their regular decision rate.</p>

4

<p>Your app is basically perfect (well not really but you know what I mean). All I would say is write excellent essays, bring that SAT up, and maybe try the ACT? Some people do poorly on the SAT and do great on the ACT and vice versa, you never know.</p>

5

<p>Myraven, as has been said, the SAT scores are the issue. I agree that you might be better served by the ACT, as colleges accept both. Perhaps take a practice ACT this summer and see how that works for you. If you find that you test better with the ACT format, go for one in the Fall. No reason NOT to apply to JHU, as you seem also to have some very sold matches and safety schools in addition. Everyone should have a dream college! If you choose NOT to do ACT, you should work hard on test prep (don’t pay anyone, just do it yourself) for the SAT and raise the scores. Those to me are the one real red flag. Of course, after getting the stats together, recs and essays need to be extremely solid!</p>

6

<p>Your profile is really outstanding! Although your SATs are not great–for most schools you are considering–they are not terrible. It seems as if you really have accomplished a lot throughout high school, and that definitely out-shines your SATs.
I think the only schools you should be worried about are Hopkins, UPenn, Duke, and Carnegie. These are very competitive institutions, and, realistically, no one has a guaranteed acceptance into these schools.
You seem like a very devoted and motivated individual, and there is no doubt you will come across that way in your essays!</p>

<p>GOOD LUCK!!</p>

7

<p>One other note. How rigorous is your course load? Are you taking the hardest courses available at your high school? If not, high class rank or no high class rank, this could be a serious problem for you when applying to JHU, Penn, and Duke. The successful applicants tend to be those taking the hardest classes. You should be taking a course load weighted towards AP/IB courses, NOT honors or GT courses. As part of the application review process, Adcoms will look to see the difficulty level of your course load in the context of your own high school. If these Adcoms see that you have had access to multiple AP/IB courses, but have taken the lower level classes instead, that will really really hurt your applications at the top tier of your school wish list. You need to be taking the very hardest courses – especially in science and math, given your expressed interests. If your high class rank is linked to a pattern of taking the less difficult courses (from what is available at your high school), I am sorry to say that this WILL be a problem at JHU. If you are not taking the most difficult courses avaialble to you, a school like JHU will not consider you a competitive applicant in the context of the applicant pool. That is an unfortunate fact when applying to these kinds of schools. I would say that this could be at least as great a problem as lower test scores. You need to be seen as challenging yourself academically, so DO evaluate your class schedule in terms of its degree of rigor. To get into top schools you MUST be challenging yourself in high school with the most rigorous classes! Don’t assume these schools will NOT know whether you are taking the most rigorous course load available at your school, as that is what the school counselor report explicitely reveals to colleges. If you are not, you will simply NOT be competitive!</p>

<p>Not saying you cannot get in. Saying this is something to look at and evaluate so that you are a truly competitive applicant.</p>

8

<p>You say over the past year you have discovered that you are a strong writer and leader. Fantastic!!! Play up the leadership in the things that have REALLY mattered to you, in your essays! Maybe the actually discovery of those skills is part of your essay. You know, the self-discovery thing!</p>

9

<p>Lots of thoughts now, guys. I’m definitely considering retaking the SATs this fall, as you all have recommended. I feel a little bit better-- at least I now know what is more important to focus on for my application (test scores and essays). Thank you!</p>

<p>@swingtime I actually went to an IB school 9th and 10th grade and I took all IB and Pre-IB and an AP course, but my family and I felt like the teachers at the school were not preparing the students as they should have been. So we decided to switch schools. Now I go to another public school that is a whole lot more rigorous because of the challenging teachers and instruction. I stocked up my schedule with as many AP courses as my schedule could fit my junior year (some courses conflict with others that were more important, others took up a lot of space because they were everyday, like Bio and Calc, and others that I need aren’t offered, like AP Physics, which explains why I’m taking College Physics at a community college). I try to take as many necessary challenging courses as possible and with the demanding teachers, I am still doing well and ranked 1 in my class right now.
Thanks for being curious, though! I just wanted to explain :)</p>

10

<p>Myraven11: good for you and KEEP IT UP! It sounds like you and your parents have been very proactive to see that you remain competitive as a potential college applicant, especially in terms of high school course difficulty. Remember that some of us wondered if you would be more comfortable with the ACT. If you go that route, be assured that there is no prejudice in admissions against an ACT, both tests are viewed equally, though with the ACT you must take the writing test as well. If you chose to go the SAT route, please really work on prepping for it to give yourself the best chance for raising the scores.</p>

<p>You raised another issue that I will address. Top schools are always hoping to generate applications from underrepresented minorites (what, in CC parlance, are called URMs). As an African American you are indeed a “URM.” With some top colleges that can “help.” But my advice is to just be the most stellar student and applicant you can be, without COUNTING on a boost from URM status. It may “aid” you at some schools, or it may not. It is sometimes given a “positive” weight, if you are competitive. My advice is not to bank admissions on that status. But I think, based upon your initial post, that you already know this!!!</p>

<p>Keep working and DREAMING! And, good luck!</p>