<p>I'm kinda nervous, so I thought I'd just give this a try:</p>
<p>Stats:
SAT: 2190
740 m, 740 cr, 710 wr
GPA: 4.5+ weight, 3.8-3.9 unweight</p>
<p>APs (including next year):
Statistics-5
Biology
French
US History
Chemistry
Physics
Government
Calculus AB
And most of the rest are honors classes.</p>
<p>EC:
FIRST robotics team leadership
Community Service (planned)
PT job (planned)</p>
<p>What I'm really worried about is my lack of extracurricular activites, since robotics takes up most of my time. Is it too late to plan on joining a bunch of clubs next year or something? Would it be worth it? I have some community service, and I plan to have around 100 hours by application date. I also plan on getting a part time job this summer. What do you think? Do I have a good chance for UC Berkeley, Cooper Union, or Cornell?</p>
<p>oh, and I forgot to mention, I want to study engineering, if that's important.</p>
<p>Well, I wouldn’t worry about adding “more” extracurriculars. It’s quality over quantity, especially at schools like Cornell. I can’t speak for UC Berkeley or Cooper Union, but I think you have a decent chance at Cornell. Cornell accepts about 20% of its applicants. I’d never call a school like Cornell a match school, but I think with a great essay and a good teacher recommendation, you’d have a really good shot. I think your chances there are good. But consider that “good” chances at Cornell is at BEST 50/50. Sometimes it comes down not to your application but to the applications of others. Know what I mean?</p>
<p>joining a bunch of clubs your senior year is definitely the last thing you want to do unless you have genuine interest in them. Your time would be better spent writing an essay about your experiences with robotics, subtly playing up the fact that it took up a bunch of time and kept you from participating in a lot of extracurriculars. Besides a lot of schools would rather see dedication to a single interest than a laundry list of activities you were involved in for a year or two. Overall you look like a pretty strong applicant. I can’t say I know anything about Cooper Union, but I’d say you have a fair shot at Cornell and Berkeley (especially Berkeley if you’re a California resident).</p>
<p>bump, because I need more advice on extra-curriculars.</p>
<p>I do not think CU is a match for anyone</p>
<p>From Wiki:</p>
<p>The Cooper Union is one of the few American institutions of higher learning to offer a full-tuition scholarship (valued at $130,000 as of 2008) to every admitted student. As a result, The Cooper Union is one of the most selective colleges in the United States, with an acceptance rate generally below 10% (although both the art and architecture schools have acceptance rates lower than 5%).The school experienced a 20% increase in applications for the 2008-2009 academic year, further lowering these numbers… Cooper Union experienced a 70% increase in early decision applications for the 2009-2010 academic year.</p>
<p>last bump, just running it through the front page one more time to see if I can get anymore help.</p>
<p>yeah CU is really selective, i believe. i also think they’re known for art/architecture. there are a lot other really great schools where you’d have good chances.</p>