what are my chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm going to be a junior and at the rate I'm going, I was just wondering what are my chances at a top school and I was just curious if I needed to change anything or if I'm all set.</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.83 Unweighted Rank 66/400
Weighted GPA: 4.26 Weighted Rank 49/400</p>

<p>AP Euro - 4
I'm taking AP English, APUSH and AP Biology</p>

<p>At the end of the coming school year, I'm gonna take SAT Subject Tests Biology, Math and USH</p>

<p>PSAT scores were pretty bad but hopefully I'm going to bring them up to around the 70's to compete for National Merit</p>

<p>I haven't taken the ACT or the SAT</p>

<p>ECs: volunteer work at my parent's lab - 50+ hours
authorship in a research article
helping out with my friend's chess club at the library
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) - 2 years
National Honor Society - 2 years
National Art Honor Society - 2 years
Badminton Club - 2 years
Orchestra (letter) - 4 years
job at Culver's - 6 months
Presidential Service Award</p>

<p>I want to major in either psychology, art or computers.</p>

<p>colleges I'm shooting for:
University of Texas at Austin
University of Chicago
NYU
Northwestern Univ.
Rice
Wash U.
USC
UC - Berkeley
UCLA</p>

<p>Is there anything I'm missing to be an applicant that stands out?</p>

2

<p>1) Rank/GPA
2) High Test Scores (probably not going to happen bc of PSAT, it is a decent indicator of range)
3)ECs are unbelievably bland.</p>

<p>To be honest, perfect test scores/perfect GPA/#1 in class does not make a cadidate stand out anymore. To truly stand out in admissions you need that extra 'hook' that just about no one else has. Everyone is searching for that something, so I can't tell you what it is, but with no obvious passion in your ECs, I don't see you finding it.</p>

3

<p>Try to raise your GPA by a little if possible. Get some leadership positions in clubs, and get some awards.</p>

4

<p>Why dont you see any passion in my ECs?</p>

5

<p>Because your ECs are unfocused: you go from orchestra to badminton to FBLA to chess. Doesn't seem that you have a passion.</p>

<p>Your GPA is slightly weak; what's your UC GPA? And your rank definitely needs improvement. As it stands:</p>

<p>Berkeley/UCLA: reach - slight reach
USC: match (more forgiving with GPA)</p>

6

<p>so I should drop one of my ECs?</p>

<p>so I guess showing passion in your ECs is by keeping it to 2 interests?</p>

7

<p>well considering the fact taht your parents have a lab, why dont you try and actaully perform some research and do your own project. Who knows wehre that can take you. Even if you get nothing published, its certainly a unique experience, adn tahts certainly something you should be taking advantage of.</p>

8

<p>Just follow the activities that you love, perhaps a strong interest.</p>