What Are My Chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm looking at applying at the following schools:
UC Berkeley
Carnegie Mellon
U Chicago
Columbia
Cornell (my mom went there)
GA Tech
University of Illinois
Johns Hopkins
University of Maryland
MIT (my parents were graduate students there)
U of Michigan
Penn State (Schreyer Honors College)
Princeton
Rice
Stanford
and Cambridge just for the heck of it-my dad went there.</p>

<p>SAT Scores:
Taken it twice
Reading:
1. 660
2. 630</p>

<p>Writing:
1. 710/ 10 on essay
2. 730/9 on essay</p>

<p>Math:
1. 710
2. 780</p>

<p>I'm taking SAT Class to raise the reading and essay.</p>

<p>ACT:
Comp-31
English-34
Math-30
Reading-30
Science-28
Eng/Writ-31
Essay-8</p>

<p>I had a bad ACT Test date, will retake.</p>

<p>SAT II's (taken multiple times):
US History: 750
Math I: 700
Math II: 650/670
Physics: 700/650</p>

<p>AP Exams:
US Hist: 5
Euro Hist: 4
Eng Lang: 5
Calc AB: 5
Physics C Mech: 4</p>

<p>GPA: 4.33-number one in class. I took one AP course soph (US Hist.), as well as typical Chem/Bio/PreCalc. Junior year I took 6 AP's (Physics C Mech, Euro Hist, Calc AB, Spanish Lang, Comp Sci A, Eng Lang). I got straight A's in my freshman year, A's and a couple A-'s in sophomore (English, Debate), A's, A-'s (AP Eng Lang, AP Spanish), B+ (AP Comp Sci A).</p>

<p>Extra Curricular: Prez of Young Republicans, I've also worked Republican campaigns, Prez of Physics Club (I did some research experiments to which I can attach my data), Prez of Scholars Bowl (academic competition), National History Day participant. Varsity Tennis. I took summer courses in Finnish, and I studied abroad one summer in Spain.</p>

<p>I can write good essays and I will get excellent recommendations. I may also get a recommendation from a congressman and/or the Consul of Finland in Philadelphia (I'm a dual citizen). I won the Bausch and Lomb University of Rochester Award in Science.</p>

<p>So I am interested in the fields of engineering, physics, and economics at these universities. My application will be strong, but I know the weak points are the SAT II's (I'll study hard to pull these up), and the dip in grades my junior year (the A-'s and esp. the B+ in Comp Sci A-a poorly taught course anyway). I'm also not completely satisfied with my 4 in Physics C Mech-my favorite class, worked hard for it and studied for the AP exam. Now I did have some issues with an illness toward the end of junior year that I will mention as a reason for the slight decline in grades and AP score.</p>

<p>In conclusion, am I considering the right schools? Do I have legitimate chances at all the schools I am applying to (I think I do), and are there other places I should consider as well? Thanks for the input.</p>

2

<p>Test scores are too low and ECs don’t seem strong enough. You have a good class rank, though.</p>

<p>I’d say that all the Ivies you listed plus MIT/Stanford are going to be out of reach. You have a decent shot at the rest.</p>

3

<p>add Northwestern to that list. Also, what do you suggest to improve the EC’s? I tried to do more interesting things that the standard fare Key Club; Physics Club, Scholars Bowl…</p>

4

<p>The SAT, I am happy with 780 in math, 730 in writing and 660 in reading could go up though. The SAT II’s definitely need to reach the high 700’s though.</p>

5

<p>bump, please advise me!</p>

6

<p>At this point, what you need to do is improve scores, little can be done about ECs now. The ivies, Stanford and MIT will want mid 700s in each category. Most of the others will want low 700s in CR.</p>

7

<p>with the scores. Which are all raisable. I always thought my EC’s were decent (maybe I’m not describing them adequately. What do people consider a good list of EC’s?</p>

8

<p>EC list:
Starting a club
Starting a team
Significant leadership roles
1st/2nd place in something
SOMETHING THAT STANDS OUT. :)</p>

9

<p>Well I do have that, I wasn’t specific enough:
I started our school’s Young Republicans Club (and I can go into detail in the application of what we do.)
I am president of Scholars Bowl and Physics Club.
And I won the Bausch and Lomb Science Award, which was pretty big.
I’ve gotten 1st/2nd places in Science Fairs and National History Days…</p>

10

<p>i dont know</p>

11

<p>bump, do you have any advice?</p>

12

<p>For the Iviess/Near Ivies, your SAT CR score is a bit low. Also, the ACT is mediocre. I’d try to push it up if you are heading there. Also, I’d say MIT is for sure a reach. The other Ivies are too, but they might be a low reach with an increase in CR. Your ECs are fine.</p>

<p>I think you might be on track for Carnegie Mellon; maybe try to up your lower SAT IIs a bit!</p>

<p>Chance Me? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/954373-do-i-have-shot.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/954373-do-i-have-shot.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

13

<p>I can raise-I’m in SAT class, my goal is about a 2300 on the SAT (I all ready have a 2170).
And I’ll raise the ACT and subject tests for sure.</p>

<p>So with the higher scores, I think that definitely Stanford, MIT, Princeton, and Columbia are all serious reaches (though none of them are my first choice). Cornell is an ivy, but I think I have a strong chance there because it’s slightly easier to get into and I have some legacy-my mom also continues to be involved there.</p>

14

<p>bump. Any more opinions?!? Sorry, just burning curiosity.</p>