What are my chances? UCLA, Stanford, UMaryland Baltimore, Binghamton, UMichigan, UMiami

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi! I am a Hispanic female senior at a public high school in New York, not NYC.

2 in my class, weighted gpa = 5.312, unweighted = 4.333

All 5s on AP’s: World History, U.S., English Lang&Comp, French Lang&culture,
Taking four AP’s this year: statistics, bc calc, english lit and comp, physics C
SAT (out of two tests): R -710, M-800, W-770, total 2280, best on one test is 2260
ACT: 34
Lots of music achievements: principle viola of school orchestra, a county orchestra, going to the state level orchestra, president of school orchestra
Co-captain of varsity tennis
National Honor Society co-pres.
Do this extra math thing called soroban (its complicated :slight_smile: ) for seven yrs
Research project at cancer hospital in NYC

Thank you!

2

OOS students pay full fees at the UC’s. There is no financial aid for non-residents.

Can your parents afford $55K per year?

Also, the California public schools outlawed affirmative action for admission, so your URM status cannot be used for admission at any UC or Cal State school.

Otherwise, your ACT score is good for UCLA.

3

Your credentials seem outstanding. Aim high. apply to loads of top schools that are need blind. So cool you do Soroban. Should make for a good essay. Why aren’t there Ivy League (plus) schools on your list beyond Stanford? Go for it.

4

UMaryland College Park OR UMBC will definitely accept you- did you apply to their Honor Colleges?

5

UCLA - match
Stanford - reach

6

I really hope you add schools to your list. I think you are selling yourself short. I don’t know what your background is besides that fact that you are hispanic with outstanding objective scores and strong math aptitude. Naturally I have no information about your economic situation. However, research suggests that high achieving students coming from homes that struggle financially are less likely to apply to the very top schools. This is a shame because those schools will help those students find ways to attend. A much higher percent of less strong wealthy students apply. What are you planning to study? Add some top schools known for things you are interested in. Select need blind schools unless your parents are wealthy. You will get more out of attending a top school then choosing a mediocre one for the purpose of getting merit money.

7

I do not qualify for financial aid at all… FAFSA gives me around 6000, so that should give you an idea of my economic situations. I am also applying to Yale and Harvard, but I am not applying to too many Ivys b/c even if I do get in, my family cannot afford it. I am trying out biomedical engineering to see if I like it while still on a pre med track. I will probably want to go to medical school, so I cant afford to be spending too much on undergrad. I need merit money badly hahaha

8

I applied to UMBC Honors college! Didnt know about college park though so its not on my list

9

Most Ivy schools will meet full need, and in fact, are cheaper, in your net costs, than state schools.

10

Thanks, but I am by definition not needy. Can barely afford a 20k school, but my EFC is ~40k so I feel as if there is little hope for aid from big privates/ Ivies

11

The Ivies have more money and will give you “financial aid” in the form of “merit” dollars. Merit is based on grades, not need. Apply.

12

^^ The Ivies give financial aid based on need not merit. You have this backwards @“aunt bea”

13

You’re right!, I screwed up, I meant to rewrite what the poster said in the quote.