What schools will take me/my chances at my choices

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Sorry but my last topic was lacking in information thus I hope you guys don't mind me reposting this. Would be very glad if everyone can share their empirical opinions. (Offtopic, zagat please add <a href="mailto:unholy_monk@hotmail.com">unholy_monk@hotmail.com</a>)</p>

<p>Here we go! First of all I am Richard and I am a junior. I attend a public school in CA. It is a mediocre school I guess. Perhaps 3rd or 4th out of every 10schools. I have being in LA for 2 years. Previously I was in Malaysia for 4 yeas and was in Hawaii for 2 years before Malaysia. I was born in China and stayed there till I was 7. Thus when I first came to CA, I was put in an independent school in the summer of my freshman year. Even after attending that, my regular school was about to put me in ELD/ESL until the teacher from my independent school called and said I was well above average. I don't know if this is a hook because if you add up all the time I have being in the States, you can see that it is only 4 yearsand two of those were in 2nd and 3rd grade.</p>

<p>Now with my background out of the way I would like to talk about my grades, test scores and EC.</p>

<p>GPA: Projected 3.2-3.35 (soph: 3.0 , 2.8 Junior: 3.5`, 3.6-4.0) No honors or AP. (requested for more challeneging classes but was declined by the school so I am stuck with alg 2 in junior year)</p>

<p>SAT: Currently 2200-2250. Projected scores in November 2250-2300
( Math 800, Verbal 650-700, Writing 800)</p>

<p>SAT 2: Chinese test 800. Projected score for Math2c 800.
(If required) Projected score for Math1c 800, amercian history 750-800, world history 700-750.</p>

<p>No community service hours yet bu dad's and his friend's companies can provide maybe 200hours of job hours for me becuase I help with some computer problems when I am bored.</p>

<p>Attended state national competitions in International Chess when I was 10 although I quit when I was 12 and didn't win any awards during the tournaments.</p>

<p>Won several local/state medals in Track in 7th and 8th grade. Didn't try out for track in High school though.</p>

<p>Hosts several big gaming forums and is adroit with computers.</p>

<p>Well as you can see, my GPA is very banal if not atrocious. The reason is that I 'was' a very lazy student before who only obtained my GPA through tests rather than doing HW. One of the main reasons is that the courses are way too easy and second of all I spend way too much time on my laptop.</p>

<p>But anyways here are my goals ( in order of choices)</p>

<p>UCB
UCLA
UCSD
USC
NYU</p>

<p>I would like to know if these schools would accept me or are some/all of them reaches for me? Recommendations of alternative schools are very welcomed but please don't suggest work or community colleges. I really regret how I have wasted all these years but thats life. I will try to find my way and establish diligent working habits starting from now on ^_^. </p>

<p>Thank you for reading this and helping a troubled young boy out.</p>

<p>~Richard</p>

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<p>I think your gpa is a bit low for those schools.</p>

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<p>So they are all reaches? Any suggestions of what I can do to mitigate my disadvantages? Thanks</p>

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<p>i dont want to be harsh but yes, all of them are reaches.</p>

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<p>Its sad to see my SAT scores go to waste. Sigh, hmm big reach or slight match?</p>

<p>How s UCI, UCR and the other UC</p>

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<p>Actually I was wrong. If you improve your SAT scores to at least to a 3.5, inaddition with you high SAT scores, you have a decent shot at all those school. I would make sure to write a good essay and good rec. letters.</p>

<p>Good luck!!</p>

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<p>Thanks alot primitive! Now I better sign up for summer school and nightschool (if i am allowed). Oh boy its really nice to be sanguine for once ^<em>^. Got this really amazing prep class teacher who used to be a play writer that can polish my essay up alot. Hopes my eachers would rather comment on my ease at coping with the work than condemn my lazyness ></em><</p>

<p>More comments please! Thanks alot. Help this poor naive boy out <em>puppy eyes</em></p>

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<p>hey, arent you only allowed to take night school/summer school if you failed a class?</p>

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<p>Not sure but is independent school an option?</p>

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<p>dont know about indepent school, by I am doing independent study for ap exams. They allow it at my school.</p>

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<p>Better consult y school. Anyways how many colleges can I apply to? Thx</p>

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<p>one for ED, as many as you want for RD</p>

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<p>Whats ED abd RD? Sorry, I don't know much about this.</p>

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<p>ED is Early Decision. I think the deadline is in November. You can apply to only one ivy through ED. If you apply to two ivies ED at the same time, then you will be rejected from both school.</p>

<p>RD is regular decision. I think the deadline for it is sometime in March. You can apply to any number of colleges you want through RD.</p>

<p>Now, if you apply ED, there is also the chance that you may get deferred. This means that you application evaluation will be extended with the RD applicants.</p>

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<p>Advantages of an ED? Because I don't really see how an ealry decision would help anyone excpt the most impatient of the impatients!</p>

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<p>The advantage of ED is that you do not get immediate rejected. You get a second chance for evaluation, which means that you still have a chance of getting in.</p>

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<p>Thank you. More comments please?</p>

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<p>definitely get involved in more extracurricular activities; i don't think stuff in middle school is really considered. in addition to the computer job, try joining some service clubs and maybe give track another try. try starting a club of your own based on your strong computer intrests. this summer's a great time to start</p>

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<p>More views please! No chance for me?</p>

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<p>I'd recommend skipping ahead in courses. Especially in math, you're GPA needs some serious help. If you can, try to do some independent study of some type. Its okay to bug your counselors, eventually they'll let you into the harder courses - thats what I did, but maybe your counselors are different. Try telling them about your SAT scores, they're pretty good, if you can get them that high :). Otherwise try something like EPGY from Stanford, take classes online, your projected SAT score is high enough to get you into EPGY I think.</p>

<p>Right now your choices look like slight reaches, but mainly because of your GPA. UCB is pretty competitive... and you'll want to distinguish yourself from the "stereotypical asian."</p>