What are my chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm not used to throwing myself out there like this, but I'd like to know what you all think. My counselors, teachers, fellow students, and even a few friends have given me funny looks when I told them I'm applying to Stanford, Harvard, and Yale aswell as all the normal colleges for my area (MS State, Ole Miss, Memphis State, etc.). </p>

<p>So, here is... Me. </p>

<p>Demographics, facts, etc:
State: Mississippi
Race: White
Family income: < 25,000
Parents: Father deceased, Mother in college.
Religion: Christian (Previously Wiccan)
School: Nobody to attend Ivy League
Star School.
Poor family, no chances of paying for college without financial aid.
Planning to be a Pediatrician working in Neo-natal care </p>

<p>Credits: 26.5 by graduation.
AP Courses: English III, English IV
Weighted Classes: English I, II, III, IV. Trigonometry, Pre-Cal, Biology II, College Algebra. </p>

<p>Grades:
Lowest grade since 7th grade: 92. (Trig)
Grade average: 98.3 (Unweighted)
GPA: 4.2 (Weighted)</p>

<p>Scores:
ACT Composite: 31
ACT English: 36
ACT Reading: 31
ACT Math: 28
ACT Science: 27
ACT Writing: 7
SAT: Taking in December (Tried to take it before, permit was expired)
SAT Subject Tests: Math I, II. Biology M < Waiting on Scores. </p>

<p>Rank: 6 of approx. 400</p>

<p>Senior classes:
Gifted AP English Literature and Composition
Biology II
Driver's Ed
US Gov't
Dual Enrollment College Algebra </p>

<p>College Credits:
College Algebra
3 hours for AP English. </p>

<p>Awards:
Highest Average in Zoology
Highest Average in Geology
Highest Average in Family Dynamics
Perfect Biology State Test Score
Perfect Algebra State Test Score
SADD Community Service - 2008, 2009. </p>

<p>Clubs:
National Honor Society
Mu Alpha Theta
Students Against Destructive Decisions - President 3 years
Invisible Children
Fellowship of Christian Students </p>

<p>Community service:
Basically none outside what is done in the school clubs. </p>

<p>Jobs:
Subway June 2009 - January 2010.</p>

<p>Recommendations: Good
Essays: Good.</p>

2

<p>You probably want to add some schools between HYS and your locals. You’d be a great candidate at many strong LACs and good private universities that meet 100% of need. Almost any would be fine as a pre med student.</p>

<p>You might look at Wellesley, Colby, Trinity, Bowdoin, Colgate, Bates, Carlton, Grinnell, Smith to name a few LACs. Then USC, Vanderbilt, Emory, UVA, UNC, Cornell…</p>

3

<p>It sounds like the Ivies are going to be reaches for you. You may want to look into some less-competitive liberal arts colleges.</p>

<p>Congrats on your 36 on the ACT English test! That’s something to be proud of.</p>

4

<p>Edit: Sorry, double post</p>

5

<p>Ivy League schools are reaches for just about everyone, and you are no exception to this rule. I would apply to other respectable schools that aren’t necessarily Ivy League. Some good ones include: Tufts, Vanderbilt, Duke, Emory, Colgate, UVA, William and Mary, Rice, and Washington University in St. Louis.</p>