<p>OK, let’s do these in order, using Berkeley as an example:</p>
<ul>
<li>Academic Rigor & GPA: check minus. Only two APs so far and barely passed the exams.</li>
<li>Test Scores: check/check minus on CR + Math, check minus on writing. FYI, there is an open thread discussing the strict formula for a good SAT essay… check it out and good luck Sunday bringing that score up to CHECK. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/565800-steamedrice-s-essay-scoring-feedback-thread.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/565800-steamedrice-s-essay-scoring-feedback-thread.html</a><br></li>
<li>EC: you did a bunch of stuff, you can fog a social mirror … check/check minus.</li>
</ul>
<p>Your senior year – will not help, and will only hurt if you get a lot of Bs. your academic strength relative to other applicants is already firmly established by your performance and tests in 10th and 11th grades.</p>
<p>Overseas experience: honestly this is the only really strong attribute you bring to the adcom. Here’s my summary: Pretty good student… pretty good intelligence, OK ECs. OH! Has lived overseas… that’s interesting. Maybe we’ll take him for the diversity angle.. otherwise easy denial.</p>
<p>I would put you in the selectivity group of USNews ranked Unis 35-75, with 35-50 slight reaches, 50-75 matches, and 75-100 Safeties. For Top 20 schools like Brown and almost Berkeley, you’d need to have had at least 700/700/700 on tests, only 4 or 5 on APs, and be in top 3% of your graduating class in order for them to say: OK, academically strong, now let’s see who this person is! Are they a compelling person?</p>
<p>You did not say if you are an underrepresented minority (or in the case of the UCs-- overcome many life challenges like 1st gen college, single parent home, lousy high school, etc.). If so, you move up one rung on each of my categories.</p>
<p>So, from your list:</p>
<p>Brown: Huge reach
Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD: reaches
Northeastern, BU: Matches
UMass: Safety</p>