I was just curious to see what my chances are, I know it’s a bit naive to think about, but I would love to attend either MIT, Stanford, or Carnegie Mellon one day. I’m currently a junior, and I would like an unbiased opinion, and you don’t have to sugar coat it it.
I got a 31 on my ACT both times I took it, so I think I’ve maxed out.
My ECs are:
Interact Club Member
I got inducted into NHS
American Cancer Society Youth Ambassador
Math Club (Mu Alpha Theta)
My friend and I are the co chairs of the entertainment committee at our local American Cancer Society Relay for Life event
I’ve played varsity field hockey since 9th grade
I’ve won the National Guild in solo and duet since 6th grade (I’ve been playing since I was 6)
The classes I’ve taken or will take in my high school career are:
AP US History (I got a 5)
AP US GOV
AP Lang/AP Lit
AP CALC (AB and BC)
AP Stats
AP World
IB SPANISH B HL
IB Chemistry HL
I plan on taking the SAT IIs and I’m currently working on an application for the UPEnn SAAST for this summer. And also last year, I went on a cultural/educational tour through Europe with my school.
I’m a girl interested in Computer Science if that helps.
I KNOW my chances are already extremely low considering what other higher caliber students applying, but you know, this has been my dream ever since I was 6, and I just want to know, do I even have the slightest chance whatsoever?
The most important selection metric probably is GPA. You’ve not provided yours. That makes any assessment a true impossibility. Incidentally, your 31 ACT score is not particularly competitive for the outstanding universities your cited.
To be completely honest, even with a 4.0 UW there’s almost zero chance of you getting into those schools unless you’re also a top tier athlete who they’re recruiting.
Your dream has been to get into MIT/Stanford/Carnegie Mellon since you were 6 years old? I think you’re overrating the importance of university admissions considerably. As long as you get into a good university for computer science (and there are 5-10 where you can get an education in CS that will be almost indistinguishable from what you’d get at MIT/Stanford in every way except for snob value), you’ll do fine.
It’s graduate school that really matters, not undergrad. Relax. You have another year before you’ll start getting replies from universities, and that’s a year of your life that you can only ever live once. Do things you enjoy. Get all the rest you need. Spend time with your friends and family. The important thing isn’t to get in at a particular school, it’s to live your life to its fullest. In 60 years, which will give you more satisfaction? For myself, I know the answer, and it isn’t the college acceptance.