What can I do to improve my chances of admission?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Johns Hopkins University
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<p>This was originally posted in the UMichigan forum, so I apologize if I've referred to it where I should have noted JHU or if something seems out of place.</p>

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<p>I'm a member of the class of 2011 at a competitive public high school in Michigan. Several AP courses are offered, including many in social studies and the natural sciences. The possible curriculum in math goes one year beyond Calculus AP.</p>

<p>My school calculates GPAs strangely (an A- is the same as an A+, B- = B = B+, and so on). No extra weight is given to Honors or AP grades. I have a 3.933 following this system, with 2 or 3 Bs from my first two years.</p>

<p>So far, I have been in advanced and/or honors English and Mathematics courses throughout my high school career.</p>

<p>I am currently enrolled in AP Economics and AP English, and am doing well in both. My practice AP test scores have consistently been within the range of 4-5.</p>

<p>My PSAT score was a 226, and I scored a 31 on my ACT. I just recently took the SAT, and I intend to retake the ACT. In the three National Spanish Exams that I've taken so far, I have consistently scored above the 90th percentile.</p>

<p>I was a staff member and the ad manager of the school newsmagazine during the first semester of my junior year. Unfortunately, I had to drop the class in order to meet my PE credit requirement. I continue to help out with sales, but I have not published any articles since leaving the magazine in January.</p>

<p>My course load next year will be as follows:
AP Calculus BC
AP Chemistry
AP English 12
AP Statistics
Debate 1
Intro to Physical Education (required for graduation)
Spanish 4</p>

<p>This summer, I won't be able to go to any sort of summer program, as until mid-August, I will be taking World History courses to meet my school's graduation requirements. I am trying to find an activity that involves working at a law firm or doing research in economics or medicine, but I haven't committed to anything yet.</p>

<p>As far as extracurriculars go, I have been a member of the Muslim Students Association since 9th grade, and was in DECA during sophomore year. I made it to the international level of DECA competition for an event in which I pitched a business idea to judges playing the role of venture capitalists. I have just recently joined a volunteering club, and I intend to participate in our school's National Honor Society and Economics Club chapters next year. I am considering trying out for the tennis team next year.</p>

<p>Entirely outside of school, I have taken enough Arabic and Urdu lessons to read fluently and comprehend conversation at about an elementary level. Using tools such as smart.fm and byki.com, I have learned moderate amounts of French and German. I have taught myself the Greek, Cyrillic and Hebrew alphabets, and intend to be able to read the Hiragana as well as the Devanagari by the end of this summer. I have started a few blogs, working on one or two at a time. One was created with the intention of helping my classmates study for an Economics final. My most recent foray is an ongoing blog of ideas that are free for anybody to use. Each post is essentially what you would find on patent files, minus the claims to intellectual property.</p>

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<p>I intend to apply to JHU next year. What do you think my chances are, and what can I do to improve them?</p>

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<p>I’ll be completely honest. This is what I think. Take it with a grain of salt. </p>

<p>I think it’ll be tough (a crapshoot). Academics seem fine, especially if your PSAT score translates to your SAT score. ECs might be a little trouble. I don’t see a lot of leadership (only ad manager). Also, adding on a bunch of ECs this late into high school might look like you’re doing it just to look good to colleges. If you haven’t volunteered before, why start now? Why start tennis only as a senior? And so on. Length and quality > anything else.<br>
The language thing is cool, but I’m not sold that it’ll be enough of a hook to get you in. If you were fluent in 2-3 of those and you self-studied them, then it might be different.</p>

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<p>How can you improve your chances? I think the obvious choice is to apply ED.</p>

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<p>Thank you both for the tips. If anybody else has any more, please let me know.</p>

<p>WantIvy: I agree with you on the leadership thing, I think that my lack of traditional ECs is the most likely factor to bog me down next year. I hate to ask such an open-ended question, but can you suggest anything that I can realistically do this late in my career that might boost my chances come application time?</p>

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<p>Sorry about this, but this is a “bump” post. I’m still interested in more opinions as to what I can do to increase my chances.</p>

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<p>Just a small update, but I got my May 2010 SAT scores today.
Combined: 2300
Reading: 790
Math: 780
Writing: 730</p>

<p>Will this have any impact?</p>

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<p>^^ This is a great score.</p>

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<p>I think you’ll be competitive in ED, but in RD - everything is a toss up and I imagine their admission rate will be down another few points next year - perhaps 17% or so. </p>

<p>The ED admit rate is something in the 30%-40% range so if you love it - and REALLY want Hopkins, the option is there. Otherwise, count on nothing… </p>

<p>Good luck - have you visited the school?</p>

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<p>Alright, thank you both. (WealthOfInformation: Thank you again.) To be honest, I only know Hopkins by its reputation and from a few hours of online research. I intend to explore a few colleges on the East Coast, and Hopkins is high on the list of places to visit.</p>

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<p>Lord don’t be banking on test scores…
They aren’t EVERYTHING…to me it’s more about EC’s and just who you truly are
I had sucky scores lmao (you have great ones…you’re ahead of me there) but I got in I think because I’m insanely involved and am president of two huge clubs and vp of student body and student council…and I do so much in the community…I have a job…and I do two sports…and I’m really high in my class!
So if you have only ONE thing bogging you down (my happened to be test scores) then don’t worry about it…work on what you ARE good at lol
if you’re ranked high…maintain it or even pass some people! improvement is always good
But honestly…it’s impossible to truly determine an admission to a school like Hopkins
you may be insanely qualified in EVERY area…but they still may not admit you! They admit those that will FIT in there and add to the culture and diversity of the university.
My advice is to strengthen what you do have…maybe add a few more EC’s, but yeah don’t go crazy and do a bunch of things senior year because it won’t help lol and you’ll be more stressed out and your schoolwork could suffer…which is definitely a lose-lose hahaha They want long term commitment to your EC’s lol</p>

<p>But pick more than one place you want to go! Do your best…apply…and that’s all you can do! You’ll go wherever you’re meant to go! :D</p>

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<p>and BEST wishes on your applications next year :smiley:
It’s a crazy exciting time…stressful! but exciting :)</p>

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<p>DillonJay: Congrats on getting in, and thanks for the advice and encouragement. I do have a question, though. My ECs probably aren’t all that great, as I’ve only been committed to one club for all of the past three years and haven’t had many concrete out-of-school experiences. This was largely because I wasn’t aware of the availability or importance of ECs. I’ve got a few summer opportunities lined up, and I’m considering starting a club next year. I know it’s probably tough to weigh, but do you think that these will have any impact on my application, or would an adcom just think that I was trying to game the system? I know that doing this might be interpreted as the latter, but I think that a little bit might be better than nothing, especially this late in the process.</p>