Where should I apply?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Demographics: Asian male
Low-Income family, from poor neighborhood (don't know if this makes a difference. From SF Bay Area. First generation immigrant (from Vietnam) and first generation college student.</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.95
Class Rank: 1 out of 415</p>

<p>9th grade classes (unfortunately I chose a lot of fluff classes, no Honors or AP available):
-English 9
-Geometry
-Biology
-French I
-Piano
-Prep for College
-Academic Readiness (required for incoming 9th graders)
-P.E.
All A's</p>

<p>10th grade (my school switched to period schedule; only Honors available was Chem):
-World History Acc
-Chemistry Honors
-French II
-Alg II/trig
-English Acc
-PE
All A's except one B second semester in English</p>

<p>-11th grade (basically I took the most difficult classes I could, my school is quite limited):
-Anatomy/Physiology H
-Physics
-French III
-AP US Hist
-English H
-Precalculus
Grades: A's all first semester, second semester I had one B in anatomy</p>

<p>Summer of Junior year I will take an Art class at a community college so I can get all my classes I want for Senior year.</p>

<p>Senior year classes (changing back to block and AP's go the whole year):
-AP Literature
-AP Calculus AB/BC
-AP Environmental
-American Gov't/Econ H
-French IV H
Don't know about my grades as I haven't taken the class, but I think I will get mostly A's.</p>

<p>EC's:
-Not much I must admit. I will have done a state-wide piano exam for 4 years, and the last year I will be participating in the Panel, somewhat like a competition. Also, I probably will be competing in a regional piano competition. I play classical piano.
-Playing keyboard for church band.
-3rd degree brown-belt in karate. </p>

<p>SAT I score: 2020 (will retake and hopefully get 2100+)
730 CR, 680 M, 610 W</p>

<p>SAT II's:
-USH 770
-Will take math level II and literature </p>

<p>AP Scores: 4 in USH and 4 in English Lang.</p>

<p>I know I will be applying to all the UC's. What do you guys think my chances are at Berkeley, LA, and San Diego?
With my meager stats, is it even worth it to try applying ED to Princeton, my dream school?</p>

2

<p>Can you guys list some matches and reaches? I consider the lower-end UC's (santa cruz, riverside, Davis, etc) as my safeties?</p>

3

<p>You have good chances at all of the UCs. Your limited ECs and easier course load hurts you at Princeton--Your AI is 223.5--so normally you'd have a good shot without these drawbacks.</p>

<p>I put your chances at:</p>

<p>UC Berkeley: 60%
UCLA: 65%
UCSD: 75%
Princeton: 35% to 40%</p>

<p>I would wait on Princeton and apply RD after getting straight As in your AP classes. Being able to show that you can get straight As with a difficult course load will help your chances. Also, if you can get any leadership onto your application, it will help.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

4

<p>virtuoso_735:</p>

<p>UCB/UCLA: Match
UCSD: Safe Match
UCI/UCSB/UCD: Safety
UCSC/UCR/UCM: Super Safety</p>

5

<p>Calcruzer, about the easy course load, the reason is that that is what my school offers. Since it is in a poor neighborhood there is not a good selection of AP classes until senior year. </p>

<p>Thanks for your guys' input. Anyone else?</p>

6

<p>bump
10 char</p>

7

<p>bump for the night...</p>

8

<p>Virtuoso, I agree with Calcruzer and flopsy... I generally do... and think you've got a good chance with acceptance to all campuses. UCB and UCLA are always difficult to know for sure, but I think you have a good reason to feel confident. Regarding AP classes, the UC's have a good knowledge of the high schools in CA and know whether or not you've challenged yourself academically. So if your H.S. offers limited AP/Honors classes, it won't be held against you. By and large, the UC's really like the academic stats, with some consideration of personal statements and EC's. I think you're in a good position, although your SAT scores are only about average for enrolled students. Your first generation college status will be taken into consideration as well.</p>

<p>Rather than apply to all of the UC campuses, think about which SAFETY campuses work for you, because I think you're fairly SAFE at UCD, UCI, UCSB, UCSC, UCR and UCM. Good luck.</p>

9

<p>Thanks Norcaldad.</p>

10

<p>You should get into all of the UCs. If you can raise your SAT to the 2150+ range I would try for Pton Ed, its a big boost and you have an outside shot.</p>

11

<p>Band Company at USMMA-- Kings Point</p>

<p><a href="http://www.usmma.edu/band/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usmma.edu/band/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

12

<p>Thanks...</p>

<p>bump</p>

13

<p>What do you guys think of my chances at Stanford? Stanford isn't very much farther than Berkeley from where I live and either schools I wouldn't hesitate to attend.</p>

14

<p>Stanford is about as tough to get into as Princeton. If you do as well on your other SAT IIs as you did on your US History and you add about 100 (or more :D) points to your SAT I you will have a good shot.</p>

15

<p>I'd apply to Princeton and Stanford, but they're reaches. Of course, they're reaches for anyone.</p>

16

<p>Virtuoso, apply to Stanford if you want to attend there. The ONLY certainty anybody can offer you at this point is that if you do NOT apply, you will not be accepted. Conversely, if you DO apply, there's no guarantee.</p>

<p>Clearly you have some things in your favor, i.e., your first in class ranking (45% of their admitted students are in the top 1-2% of their class), your GPA, and your immigrant/first generation status. There are factors that go against you (not all your doing necessarily), i.e., so-so academic rigor (comparative to other Stanford applicants), low SAT scores (comparatively, your CR score puts you above the 50th percentile, but your Math score is between the 20-25th percentile for first-year freshmen enrolled in Fall of 2005). Your EC's are not standout. Stanford accepts about 12% of those who apply. Translation: It's an arduous uphill climb.</p>

<p>What's difficult to assess is what impression you may be able to create in your essays, what kind of character you will project, and what your recommending teachers will say about you. These are all qualitative factors that are unpredictable in terms of how you will project to others, and how others will perceive you. If you apply and are to be accepted, these are the factors that will make the difference for you, I believe.</p>

<p>Here is Stanford's Common Data Set... it will tell you about Stanford in data terms, including admissions data:
<a href="http://www.stanford.edu/home/statistics/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.stanford.edu/home/statistics/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Here is how Stanford evaluates the admissions application:
<a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/applying/1_2h_appeval.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/applying/1_2h_appeval.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Here's a preview of their Fall 2007 Essay Questions:</p>

<p>There are three short essays and one long essay required in the Stanford application. The current essay questions are below. Remember: There is no right choice or wrong answer. Write essays that reflect who you are; use specific concrete details and write in a natural style. We encourage you to spend time reflecting on these prompts before beginning your application.</p>

<p>Our online and paper applications contain specific instructions on format and submission of your essays. We urge you to refer to these instructions before beginning your application and writing your essays, as they are designed to assist you in preparing the best application possible.</p>

<p>Short Essays (you must write on all three topics; each is about one-third page in length)</p>

<pre><code>* Of all the activities, interests and experiences listed on the previous page, which is the most meaningful to you, and why?
* Sharing intellectual interests is an important aspect of university life. Describe an idea or experience that you find intellectually exciting, and explain why.
* Write a note to your future roommate relating a personal experience that reveals something about you.
</code></pre>

<p>Long Essay (choose only one topic; this should be no more than one page)</p>

<pre><code>* "A picture is worth a thousand words" as the adage goes. (You're limited to the space provided, however.) Sometimes a photo or picture can capture an object that you treasure, a person you admire or a place that you love; sometimes a photograph is simply your record of an experience or moment in your life. Imagine one photo or picture that you have, or would like to have, and tell us why it is meaningful to you.
* As you reflect on your life thus far, what has someone said, written or expressed in some fashion that is especially meaningful to you? Why?
</code></pre>

17

<p>Thanks norcaldad. The links and knowing the essay topics were helpful. Does Stanford and other top private colleges factor in first quarter grades for either GPA or rank?</p>

18

<p>Virtuoso, go to Stanford's admissions website for undergrads... you will find all the information you need, and perhaps even more than you need. ;) </p>

<p>The heavy lifting you do now in the process will be like a tuition you pay to become smarter and more savvy. Be resourceful. I guarantee the answers are all out there. :)</p>