What Do You Think of My Chances are at these Universities?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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ED University of Pennsylvania College of Arts and Sciences- Low Reach. It’s an Ivy, and you have no sports, but the rest of your application is pretty solid, especially the legacy. ED is an even further boost, so you’ll probably get in.

EA University of Chicago (Double Major Philosophy and Allied Fields and Law, Letters, and Society)- Low/Medium Reach. It’s a high tier school that most look at the level of the Ivy League. Since you’re not either a legacy or applying ED, the chances of you getting into this school are a bit less than UPenn.

RD Columbia University (Columbia College) (Economics - Philosophy Major)- Low/Medium Reach. Same reason as U of Chicago.

Others:

RD Boston University (Kilichand Honors College)- Match/Low Reach. I don’t know how prestigious BU’s Honor College is, so I put my chance for you 2 levels up from Match/Low Safety to Match/Low Reach.

RD Northwestern University (Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences)- Match/Low Reach. Not Ivy Level, but still a really prestigious and selective school.

RD Tufts Unviersity (College of Arts and Sciences)-Match. Selectiveness is slightly lower than Northwestern, so I think you can get into Tufts.

RD New York University (College of Arts and Sciences)- Low Safety/High Match. NYU is a solid school, but not that selective; you’ll most likely get in.

RD Northeastern University (College of Arts and Sciences) - Safety. You got that right.

RD University of Massachusetts Amherst (Commonwealth Honors College) - Safety for me on here because of in-state tuition. Once again, you got that right.

RD Boston College (College of Arts and Sciences)-Match. Boston College is a solid LAC, but it’s not as selective as others.

RD Washington University in St. Louis (College of Arts and Sciences)-Sorry, don’t know much about it.

Overall, I really wish you did more ECs in relation to Philosophy (Of course, colleges will understand that ECs that have to do with Philosophy are difficult to find. Did your school really only give you 1 AP (or close to it) to take including you Junior year?

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@TToDSkeith Thanks for responding! As for your comment about not doing a sport, well I believe I made the right decision in the end. I go to an extremely competitive school in a very competitive state. We’ve ranked within the top 10 public high schools in Massachusetts for decades. If I had played a sport (which I considered doing and attempted freshman year), I am 100% sure I would have had to cut back on my academics and would have surely done worse in school. I do, however, sometimes play sports recreationally (did karate for 7 years (before high school) and received my black belt, and I enjoy tennis, golf, skiing, ice hockey, and ultimate frisbee in my free time). I think that it will not impact my application personally not to have played a sport in high school, and if it does, well then I guess I chose the lesser of two evils. Also, why did you put that comment about sports only for Penn, just curious? As for the comment about not applying to UChicago ED, they don’t have ED. EA is the best option for me to apply there. BU Honors College I would say is quite prestigious. I believe it accepts the highest 5-10% of applicants for admission, so I’m not completely sure my test scores would get that done, but I think I certainly have a shot.

For the overall comments, I have a huge background in philosophy that could never be conveyed simply through a post on this website. It has incredibly impacted my life, and will be the subject of my common application (will not go more into depth than that). For ec’s, I believe I did all I could in relation to philosophy. There were of course no other philosophy clubs at my school to choose from, so I believe starting a club along with a few classmates shows initiative, passion, and commitment. I also have taken 7 College-level courses in philosophy and ancient/medieval/modern history outside of school and have nearly 250 pages of research (non-original) (unfortunately it is not formatted to be published). Unfortunately, these courses were not taken at an actual university through a specific program (but rather are online college courses, because it was not financially feasible for my parents to send me away for a few weeks to take a course on a campus). I also was the only junior in my school ever to be accepted into a senior-level independent study, which I focused in ancient and modern epistemology and ethics (basically old and new study of knowledge and morals and behavior in society), and did a bit of original research as well (again, not-publishable unfortunately). I believe I did about the best I could considering the circumstances and nature of an extracurricular like philosophy, but your comment is of course valid, and it is not only my hope, but in a way my necessity that they understand that because philosophy and law make up the majority of application and who I am as a future student of a university.

As for your comment about the AP’s, the truth is that APUSH is theoretically the only junior AP available (unless of course you are ahead in math or science). And unless you have skipped levels before junior year in either math or science, no AP’s are offered are offered for freshmen or sophomores. In fact, only one honors class is offered for freshmen. It is only senior year where nearly all classes become available at all of the levels, and I’m sure my guidance counselor will get that across. For more context, juniors can also take AP Stats (senior class) or AP Chem or AP Bio (senior classes as well), but APUSH is the only true junior level AP.

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The August 17 Forbes issue is worth seeing/buying - got my copy last night. Cover pic is a philosophy major, and they have major articles about America’s top 200 colleges. May give you some additional insight beyond the thorough look you already have with a number of schools.

That 2014 Penn Gazette article said “Applying to more than eight schools, ‘you start becoming fatigued’”.

The issue is you don’t know which ones will accept you, and do need some true ‘safeties’.

How many of the schools have you visited?

What does your GC say? What do your parents say? Do you have older siblings that have gone through this process?

PSAT of 202 is not shabby, but you are looking at uber competitive schools to gain admission.

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@SOSConcern Thanks for responding! I will look into getting that issue. As for the comment about the schools, it is true that I am applying to more than 8 schools (probably 11 or 12), but I am very far ahead when it comes to the time-consuming things. I don’t need to take any more standardized tests. I have nearly completed my common app essay (been working on it for about 3 months or so), and have already dived into the most important supplements that need to be completed first (Penn and UChicago). I am fairly confident that I am competitive at all of these schools, and I have no doubt in my mind that I will get into at least 1 or 2 of them. Many of the schools that people claim are not true safeties may be true, but I am in a different situation than most people. The local schools that I am applying to (BC, Northeastern, BU, UMass Amherst) are easier for me to get into because my school has fantastic relationships with all of them (BC is in the same town that I live in). So far I have visited BU, BC, Northeastern, Columbia, NYU, and UChicago. I am doing another week of touring next week (my final tours) at Penn (biggest point of the trip), UMass Amherst, and I am revisiting NYC to see the other schools again. Unfortunately, I do not have the money nor the time to see WashU or Northwestern before I apply, but Northwestern only has a 300 word supplement to do, and WashU has none. My guidance counselor believes the same thing that I do, that I have as good of a shot as anybody and that I will definitely get into some of these schools. My parents agree. And I am the oldest child in my family. And I don’t think my PSAT score will have any factor in admission because it is not being submitted to colleges. I have a 2220 sat score, which is good enough for any of the schools. Thanks for the input though.

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Hey, just wanted to give you a little bit of a warning. I wouldn’t relay on Naviance as being very accurate at this point in the college admissions game. Things have changed drastically even in the past two years. I applied to a school that every past applicant from my high school had been accepted to. My stats were better than past applicants. I visited the school. I had a relationship with the regional admissions officer. I was waitlisted, and a good friend of mine who had the same stats as past applicants was rejected. You have no way of knowing based on Naviance anymore. Personally I would just throw any of your preconceptions out the window.

I don’t think you’ll get into Columbia. The competition is fiercely competitive, something that isn’t really going to hit you until next March. I see some people calling it a mid-reach for you? It’s not. Even with your stats and ECs, I’d only say you had a shot if you were URM, which even then, I’d say it’s a crapshoot. Maybe if you had gotten essays on philosophy published or have a rec from a acclaimed philosopher exalting your brilliance.

UChicago is much much tougher to get into than most people realize, and they’re also somewhat irregular of whom they accepted. I know someone who is currently attending Harvard that got waitlisted at UChicago. If you want a chance with them, you have to have compelling essays. Your academic philosophy angle will swing best with them out of anyone on your list, but unless you have interesting essays, you will get a deferral and no chance of acceptance.

I think you’ll get in to UPenn. Legacies do matter ED round, you have the test scores, and you’re applying to CAS.

If you want to get into BC, Northwestern or Tufts, you have to show them some love. Show interest, take the tours. Despite your test scores, you cannot consider BC, Northwestern or Tufts safeties, or even matches. You’re in for a rude awakening if you do. You have to realize that 80% of students applying to these schools have academic profiles very very similar to yours, if not better. It makes it hard to stand out. You have a shot with your philosophy angle, but you have to realize that you are no longer going to be in the top 3% of students. The top 3% are all applying to the same schools you’re applying to. You are no longer special academically. Your academics and test scores allow you the opportunity to APPLY, but do not afford you a shot at acceptance. That’s where your essays come in. Make them count.

Northeastern is a safety if you apply EA. BU is a low match. You’ll definitely get into NYU and UMass.

I hope you are done with the college process come December 15th, and I’m sorry if this was a harsh assessment.

Your reach schools are impossible to get into for students who are “objectively” (read: GPA, test scores) better than you. You have no hooks. Personally, I would not apply to any Ivys.

You should look into liberal arts schools. They are really looking for guys interested in the humanities. Haverford (and similar schools) would be worth looking into.

Good luck.

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I agree with you to apply to more than that recommended 8 (and knew you would have a lot of prep work done already) Sounds like you have good advising and parents/all are on the same page. If I was your parent I really would like a few safeties to choose from - who knows with how the odds work. Even with a 25% likelihood of admission, that leaves 75% unlikely.

Let us know what ultimately happens :slight_smile:

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@doubledamn I think you are mostly correct. I never once specified that I thought I would get into Columbia or UChicago. I believe they are both very high reaches for me, and I know both are crapshoots, and though I believe that I am a competitive applicant (which just means that I think I will not be immediately thrown away), I certainly do not expect to get in. But I could never see myself not applying to them. They were both amazing, and I would never forgive myself if I didn’t try if it came down to it. So with that said (and also to note I am only applying to 2 Ivy League schools), I respectfully disagree your comment that I not apply to any Ivy’s.

I believe that I have a very good chance to make UPenn, which is one of the reasons I ended up going with it ED (legacy as well as special major and law resources were huge convincing factors). I completely understand if I don’t make it, though. And if I do, well then nothing else matters anyways.

Among BC, Tufts, and Northwestern, I have toured BC and Tufts. Unfortunately, visiting Northwestern was simply not feasible financially. Again, I never once considered any of them safeties, though I do believe that BC is a match and Tufts is a high match/low reach. Northwestern is a reach-high reach.

I will be applying to Northeastern EA (also because of merit/financial aid). BU I’m looking specifically on the honors college so I have no idea how selective that is (probably like low reach or something). NYU is a low match. UMass has (and for those who don’t believe) and always will be a safety for me.

I too hope I am done with the process December 15. If it is, then only good things will come. If not, then only good things will come.

Don’t feel bad about harsh assessments! I love them, and I have much more respect for people who can be honest about other people’s chances. I don’t need to hear the “Oh, you’ll get in anywhere you’re a genius!” because I get that all the time from relatives, and frankly it’s annoying and that kind of makes me mad, so I truly appreciate honest opinions. Throughout my time on this site, I have tried immensely to return the favor.

As for liberal arts colleges, I have a gripe about them. I simply do not like the tiny tight-knit communities they offer. I want to go to a place that’s a bit larger where there are more opportunities. But it’s a valid claim, and I will hesitantly look into Haverford (and Swarthmore), but it’s also a priority for me to be in an urban environment (you can see the pattern among nearly all the schools).

@SOSConcern Thank you, but my safeties are a lot less selective than 25%. And I do believe they are safeties. UMass Amherst, for example, has a 2/3 acceptance rate.

And of course I promise to let everyone know what happens come make or break time! :slight_smile:

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One more thought - your SAT scores were quite good. CR + M 1500. Any chance you could obtain a 35 or 36 ACT? Doesn’t look like you have done ACT. Have you tried any practice tests?

It may help you get into more of your list of schools, especially your top three choices. Seems your legacy will help with U Penn.

Looking at your list, I would feel pretty confident about getting admitted somewhere…

My nephew is going to begin his 2nd year of law school (top student in 3 of the 5 first year courses). He had very strong UG at a private school - studying similar to your list. He also has a PhD and taught at university for 4 years. Like you, I would also like more urban.

A classmate of my DDs had ACT 36 and he did gain admission to Harvard - it didn’t hurt that he was Hispanic.

Never know what you are up against with what each school is looking for.

You might enjoy reading Jacques Steinberg’s book 'The Gate-Keepers" - even though it was published in 2002, the student situations and how they received varying outcomes to their selective school lists.

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@SOSConcern I am quite positive that I would not get a 35 on the ACT. I have testing accommodations on the SAT (extra time) that I would have to have on the ACT in order to have a remote chance, and they are a lot more stringent with accommodations. I am quite fed up with standardized tests in general; I don’t want to take anymore. And I will take into consideration all that you have said. Thanks!

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Bump. If anyone else wants to add anything, feel free. I’m always happy to hear opinions :slight_smile: .

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Too many reaches if this is your full list of colleges. I would recommend you apply Penn ED as legacy will help there. Placing highly in a national event bit EC is noteworthy. I don’t think your course rigor is a liability but it may not be as strong as you think. Your essays will be very important as is the school’s you apply to. If your family can afford it, consider getting an admissions consultant to look over your applications and essays.

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@Wje9164be Thanks for responding! I have worked on crafting what I feel is a well-balanced list for nearly 2 years, so I will have to disagree with you there. Sure it may be a little bit heavy on high quality schools, but there is plenty of a safety net in my opinion with the matches and safeties. I actually never expected being a National Finalist in FBLA would really matter that much, considering that awards in general don’t usually matter that much, but okay I guess that is good. I agree with you about the course rigor. At my school, my course load over my four years would be: Freshman Year: most demanding (hardest possible), Sophomore Year: Demanding, Junior Year: Very Demanding, Senior Year: Extremely Demanding (Close to Hardest Possible). Though my school works a bit differently in that honors classes are actually all AP level (in terms of workload) (AP and honors at my school are weighted the same). And I am considering getting an admissions consultant to look over my applications.

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Bump.

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I don’t think there’s more more to be said that hasn’t already been said. Just relax, study your app essay topics, pour your heart in and you will have a great shot at any of the colleges you listed. Good Luck.

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@JoseAMendez Okay. I didn’t know if anyone knew anything else or not. You never know.

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My D went through the admisdions process this year with an identical GPA and stronger test scores. She was accepted to every reach and target but rejected or wait listed by every reach and she applied to too many reaches. So, when I say your list is top heavy it’s not just speculation. You have five reaches, this is not a crazy number but make sure you spend enough time on each application’s supplemental essays. When you spread yourself too thin on multiple reach applications the quality of each one can suffer. Think also about what it is that differentiates you from all the other equally smart applicants. This might be something goofy or something remarkable but at the level of a U Chicago or a Columbia the students who get admitted have or appear to have some unique skill or talent. When you look at GPA and test scores of admitted students it doesn’t tell the whole story

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@Wje9164be I agree with you 100%. I never once said that my grades and test scores would get me in. I believe that my test scores are competitive enough for admission to any of these schools, though, (all of them are close to above 50% percentile or higher for each school). While my list may be top-heavy, I believe I have crafted a well-thought out, balanced (where there are an appropriate number of reaches, matches, and safeties) list. And I have been very responsible with completing the essays and planning out the supplements. I am nearing completion of the common app essay and Penn Supplement (I expect both to be completed by the start of school). I gave myself a month and a half to complete the UChicago and Columbia supplement. WashU, though a reach school, does not actually have supplements :slight_smile: . And Northwestern just has a short 300-word one that I can do in a week. I believe that I won’t get in (at least not to the reaches and most of the matches) because of grades and test scores. I have what I feel to be an extremely unique story/background in the field I want to pursue in college, and my job is now to put it on paper. Thank you for your input, though!

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one final thought. In reading through your original post and comments by others. You seem to know exactly what you want to study in college. This is both unusual and helpful in the admissions process. When you say your story is unique that must be something your saving for your common application or essays. The philosophy theme does not really slap me in the face when I read your EC’s and curriculum thus far. It sounds as if you go to a highly regarded high school as MA is one of the top few states in the nation for the strength of it’s public high schools, that certainly helps. I’m sure you will be very successful with college admissions, good luck

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@Wje9164be Thank you! I have known for a while what I want to study in college, and what is interesting is that I don’t necessarily want to stay in the field. Like I think one day I may become a lawyer, but philosophy has always been my academic passion. My story (or what I like to think about as a story) is unique not in the sense that it’s like crazy or ridiculous or anything, but simply that it is very uncommon. I understand that the philosophy theme will not slap anyone in the face certainly. The essay and additional information section will be completely filled with it. There simply aren’t many philosophy ec’s out there. But I’ve done a lot that can be said in those sections and not on CC because I want it to remain unique. I really really hope that colleges recognize my school’s difficulty (going to have a serious conversation with my guidance counselor about this because my school’s honors level is equivalent to AP and thus no one gets a 4.0 and stuff like that. I really want the peace of mind to know that he will make sure that colleges know how i’ve sufficiently challenged myself.) Needless to say, I believe I present a strong well-rounded (in the sense that I have strengths in nearly all my areas) where the right things stick out. I hope it will be enough.