What are my odds?

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm applying to Stanford early action, Harvard, Yale, Brown, Cornell, Penn, Michigan, and Northwestern. Wanting to major in public policy or political science.</p>

<p>17 and from a rural high school in the Midwest, 140 in my graduating class, 4500 in my town. Openly gay since I was 14, member of PFLAG with my parents. 4.0 for 6 semesters, unweighted. Set to graduate valedictorian. Attended summer college at Georgetown in July-August, 6 credit hours, A- in both classes. Never any disciplinary issues, good essays, good recommendations (I think). </p>

<p>5's on AP Euro, World, Language, 4's on Lit and US, 2 on Micro; taking Psych, US Gov, Comp Gov, Bio, Human Geography, and Calc AB (haven't taken the class for World, Lit, either Gov, or HumGeo). 800's on US and World History, 650 on Lit on SAT Subject Tests. 740 CR, 650 WR, 670 M on SAT, although I did take them again yesterday and the essay always drags me down. 32 English and math, 36 reading, 30 science, 8 writing, and 32 composite on ACT.</p>

<p>Started an environmental organization in my high school last year, member of almost all the academic teams, most of the service organizations, Spanish club (VP). Member of my school's show choir, made All-State Choir last year. Presbyterian deacon. Worked for Obama in 2008, really politically active since then: founded Young Democrats in my area, member of the Young Democrats of America National Committee, currently working for three different campaigns. Volunteer for my church's soup kitchen and Planned Parenthood as well. Work sporadically for my parents.</p>

2

<p>I’m not sure why you mentioned being gay. It isn’t a hook and it will have no bearing on getting accepted or rejected. Your EC’s look really good and your GPA is obviously outstanding. Nice job on getting an 800 on US and W History. Your ACT score and most of your SATII scores will hurt your chances at the top-tier ivy schools on your list. </p>

<p>I would say that Michigan is a match or safety (IF you are in-state) and NU is a lower reach. All the ivy schools on your list are reaches, with Harvard and Yale being your highest reaches, just like they are for most applicants. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Why will me ACT score drag me down? I scored middle 50% for all the colleges I’m applying to.</p>

4

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<p>This is false. LGBT is most certainly included in the definition of diversity at any of the schools to which you’re applying. If you feel it is a part of some struggle you overcame, it might be worth including in your personal statements. If not, you might have the opportunity to describe your extracurricular activity in PFLAG. It does have a “hook” so long as you frame it properly. A passing reference to it won’t matter, though. If it fits thematically with your application, it’ll work; if not, write about something else.</p>

<p>I think you’re good for Michigan and probably Northwestern, and have a solid chance at Cornell and Brown.</p>

5

<p>Atican: one’s sexual preference isn’t more “frameable” than any other compelling aspect of one’s life in terms of selective college admissions. LGBT applicants and matriculants are not rare whatsoever at the schools that OP mentioned. (Frankly, they each have very strong and welcoming communities)…</p>

<p>OP: congrats on your achievements. Best of luck to you (I also agree: if you’re a MI resident, UoM won’t be difficult for you)</p>

6

<p>T26E4: So, thanks for repeating what I said? It DOES depend on how you frame it, which (again) is what I said. Did I say they were rare? No. Did I say these schools don’t have welcoming communities? I said precisely the opposite: “LGBT is most certainly included in the definition of diversity at any of the schools to which you’re applying.”</p>

7

<p>Here’s the issue with scoring 50th percentile: the half of the class with hooks can get in with lower scores than you can.</p>

<p>Half of the entering class at the top schools will be recruited athletes, minorities, legacies and children of the rich and famous. Schools relax their standards for these groups leaving the rest of the class to pull up the average.</p>

<p>Very few not in one of those categories is getting into Harvard and peers wih a 32.</p>

<p>At H and Y, more than a quarter of the class has 790 or 800 scores in each SAT section.</p>

<p>A 32 will not keep you out, however, if the school loves the rest of your application.</p>

<p>Pretty much anyone without a hook or an extraordinary EC has poor odds at HYPSB these days. They take under 10% of applicants and most read a lot like you-class Val, good activities, good enough scores. </p>

<p>Your chances are much better at Cornell, Penn and NU. With slightly higher scores I think you’d have a strong shot at these and my strategy would be to try to add 2 points to the ACT.</p>

8

<p>Thanks for the advice. I should mention that I’m not a Michigan resident, but I am applying to the flagship state school in my home state.</p>

<p>I bring up being gay in my CommonApp essay, I think I discuss it tastefully as it pertains to my experience growing up in my hometown and how both factors made me politically active.</p>

<p>I’m running out of time with standardized tests, although I’m taking the SAT II again next month (Lit and Math I). I’m waiting for my October SAT scores that come out later this month.</p>

<p>Will the fact that I’m a gay Midwesterner from a conservative, rural small town help at all? Also, I had a brother and sister that recently graduated from Harvard; my sister’s SAT scores were closer to mine. As I said, the SAT essay always drags me down, but will my 5 on the AP Lang exam rectify this at all? Will my grades at Georgetown prove that I’m capable of doing college-level work?</p>

<p>My brother says if I don’t get into Stanford EA I need to apply EVERYWHERE. Based on my profile are there any schools you would suggest I could look at? Which of these schools besides Michigan and NU would I be most likely to get into?</p>

9

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<p>In addition to what Redroses said, which I think is spot on, the middle 50% is not really the midpoint. This stat is for enrolled students, not admitted students. The scores for admitted students are higher than for those that actually attend.</p>