White NY male, modest ECs, great grades -- expectations?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Currently a Junior going into my Senior year. I'm looking at liberal arts schools like Oberlin and Vassar -- certainly of that tier -- with my highest hopes for schools like UChicago or some Ivies (Brown?). Here's some info:</p>

<p>High School Accomplishments</p>

<p>Solid
* 3 APs as a Junior and a Senior, self-taught in Calc AB & BC (at a school where less than 1% take 3 APs a year -- most take only 2 at most)
* School tutor (Chemistry as a Sophomore, Math as a Junior)
* Wrote and presented study guide for peer mentoring program (taught students study skills)
* CTY for 3 summers (EE, Phy, Human Nature & Tech), other science camp for 1 summer (Chem & Robotics), Brown for 1 summer (Philosophy)
* Founded school philosophy club
* Weekly volunteer at local library
* Grades: 4.0 GPA, 219 PSAT, projected ~2300 June 2012 SAT, 2300 on three SAT IIs, projected 5's on AP exams, high marks on state exams, top 2-3% of grade
* Dedication to elective (4 years of trumpet in band, performed in school concerts)</p>

<p>Less solid
* Self-publishes writing online on a regular basis (unrecognized, but have learned/reflected well)
* Intern at web programming company (unaccomplished; lots of talk and research, nothing to show, though I have learned significantly from it)
* Self-taught programmer (C/C++, HTML, Python); hobby projects include games (unfinished) and Project Euler algorithms/solutions (insignificant, but again, have learned from it)</p>

<p>Interests
* Philosophy
* Programming
* Math
* Education</p>

<p>I know I don't have much going for me in terms of ECs, but it's the best I could do, and I certainly enjoy what I do. There's definitely been a positive trend for me in terms of leadership and social involvement during this past year. Also, I come from a rather poor family (~$30,000 annual income, lots of welfare); not sure if that would make a difference, though.</p>

<p>Let me know what you all think. :)</p>

2

<p>I think if you do as well as expected on the sat you will be in a very strong position for schools like vassar and oberlin.</p>

3

<p>I forgot to mention that I’m part of the NHS, although my involvement is negligible. Also, my AP classes this year were USH, Calc AB, and Stats, and my APs next year will be Calc BC, Macroeconomics, and Physics.</p>

<p>I wonder how much I should include on my application, since not all my hobbies/activities are/were long-term or significant. I’ve done a bunch of other stuff as well as a freshman/sophomore (chess, swimming, classes at NYU and AMNH, amateur piano), but I imagine it’ll only be worthwhile to list the more serious involvements.</p>

4

<p>Obviously you have the objective requirements down, but with things becoming increasingly competitive, these top schools adopt a holistic approach that uses extracurriculars to separate good applicants from great ones. Now, that’s not to say you don’t have a good chance there. Just realize that you should do something impressive this summer to set yourself apart.</p>

5

<p>On another note, do NOT randomly add insignificant things that were not important to you. Colleges like to see passion, dedication and a motivation to further pursue your interests.</p>

6

<p>CentralFC: I understand, which is why I’m considering listing the “solid” activities/qualifications more than the “less solid” ones. I figure it’s iffy for those top-tier schools, since I don’t expect to win a grand competition or start a company or anything of that caliber anytime soon. </p>

<p>Does anyone have any suggestions for excellent & extremely financially generous schools similar to UChicago/Oberlin that I might have a good chance of getting into? (Not saying that they’re similar, but I liked both a lot.)</p>

7

<p>Northwestern, but that may be biased. However, they really seek out students with unique traits rather than limiting themselves to students with high SAT/ACT scores.</p>

<p>Macalaster and Carleton are both great LACs that are extremely generous.</p>

8

<p>SAT II’s are only out of 800 points each, just like the sections of the SAT I.</p>

9

<p>It looks to me like you have as good a chance as anyone at any selective school (which are unpredictable for everyone, but worth a shot). You may want to look into the Questbridge program as well.</p>

<p>Also, I wouldn’t be so quick to discount some of the stuff you listed under “less solid”. They look good to me. And, as long as you feel like you are gaining something from those experiences, they are solid. Particularly, I thought the internship showed that you found a way to develop a skill you are interested in. If you’re proud of your writing, you can also link to your blog or website on your application, and ditto with your programming work. You don’t have to have of outside validations for something to be meaningful.</p>

<p>Also a shameless plug, but if you like programming and CS stuff, you should look at MIT :)</p>

10

<p>CentralFC: Thanks – I’ll do some more research on NW. I’m just a bit concerned about Macalaster and Carleton, because they’re rather small, and I don’t want to feel isolated or bubbled in at college, like I do in high school (there’s no one else I can TRULY reach out to at my school who has interests similar to mine (not referring to the philosophy club, but more to the programming and general attitude), so I’m rather isolated from social events and working on super exciting projects – things which I wouldn’t want to not have at college; thus, I want to ensure that I have these opportunities by going to as large a LAC (or, if not LAC, generally-good-in-all-areas-college) possible).</p>

<p>WJSidis: Yes, I know this; I just didn’t bother to list each individual score. Since you pointed this out, here: 750 Chem, 750 US, 800 Math II – for a total of 2300.</p>

<p>wellthatsokay: Does QB really help? I got accepted into their Junior year scholars program, but I really don’t know what that does, or whether there’s much of a benefit to applying via it as a Senior. Also, I’m just concerned about the less solid activities of mine because I don’t want my application to be spread too thin or look like a laundry list. </p>

<p>About the MIT recommendation, while I’m fascinated by the school, I doubt I could get in – I reckon my ECs don’t have the prestige/level of excellence they’re looking for. I’ve been more of a dabbler than a dedicated home/near-university budding researcher/scientist. I’m also not sure I’m 100% committed to math/sci/tech – I definitely have interests in other areas.</p>

11

<p>It’s NU, not NW.</p>

12

<p>How do the intellectual atmospheres of the schools I’m interested in compare? I want to be surrounded by serious, academic students – who know how to socialize, have fun, and work together, but who aren’t overwhelmingly prone to drugs and partying. Again, the schools are UChicago, Oberlin, Vassar, Carleton, Macalaster, and others like them.</p>

<p>I’m also concerned about whether I’m going to feel bored or bubbled in if I go to a school with only 2-3000 students. I want to be surrounded by people with interests diverse enough that if I have a change of interests, I’ll be able to find others to talk and work with. Is 2000 large enough, or should I be aiming for the 3000-7000 range? (My school of 500 feels way too small.) Simultaneously, I also want to have lots of course offerings available.</p>

13

<p>Sorry, I can’t really answer your question about QB. I didn’t do it, I just have a friend who did/saw some brochures. There might be other people who could help you with that though if you post in the Financial Aid forum perhaps?</p>

<p>MIT won’t be a good choice IMO if you don’t want to major in something math/science/technology related (or even if you think there’s a chance you’ll change your mind). But, if you merely want to pursue other interests while in college there are plenty of people there who do all kinds of non-STEM related things. If you’re interested, the only way you definitely won’t get in is if you don’t apply :). People who are admitted have done all kinds of things and have very different backgrounds - you don’t have to have been a dedicated researcher or anything like that.</p>