Will I be competitive for these schools?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm going to be a senior starting in less than two weeks and I've already put together materials required for applications. I want to know if I'll be competitive for any of these universities or if I'll just waste my time.</p>

<p>Stanford University
Columbia University
Cornell University
UC Berkeley
UC San Diego
New York University
Colorado College</p>

<p>I have safety schools! I'm not only applying to reach schools!</p>

<p>Class rank: 18 out of 381 (top 5%)
Weighted GPA: 4.55
UW GPA: 3.94 (or 3.93)
ACT w/ Writing: 32 (plan to get this up to 33-34 in September)
Considering SAT Subject Tests: Biology M, Math 2, Korean, and Literature
AP: 3 on the Biology (I know it sucks,) a 4 on Language & Composition. Taking Chem, Euro History, Calc AB, and Lit&Comp. Also taking Music Theory without the class. Possibly French.</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities
Competitive archery (state awards)
Piano (local, state, and studio awards - submitting art supplement to Stanford & Berkeley)
Volunteer at the hospital (worked in two departments and earned Honorary Volunteer Service awards)
Member of the hospital Junior Volunteer Leadership Team
Pianist and singer for Youth Group Worship Band every Sunday
Yearly VBS Sunday School group leader/Bible coach/worship leader
Monthly soup kitchen volunteer (sing hymns before meals)
Trailer community center volunteer (Bible teacher for kids)
Monthly local forest trail pick-up
Black Forest wildfire aftermath clean-up help - partly helped rebuild an elementary school and helped pick through the ashes of three friends' houses that burned down
Raised money at school for an orphanage in Korea, my home country
School community service club member - there are no officers
School cultural awareness club member
<em>Considering using the summer of 2015 to go on a mission trip if I can find a sponsor or raise the money</em></p>

<p>School Honor Societies
National English Honor Society
French National Honor Society
Tri-M Music Honor Society
National Honor Society</p>

<p>Work Experience
Internship with Random House over the summer
Waitress and hostess at a small restaurant in a destitute area of town
Babysitter for two summers
Tutor for middle school students
(Do babysitter and tutor still count as work experience if I did it without pay? If not, then I can put those under E/Cs.)</p>

<p>Some colleges ask about the trips we've taken during our high school careers
I don't have many opportunities to travel, but I went to Korea for the first time in ten years to attend my grandfather's funeral last summer and I really got back in touch with my roots. (Sounds super cheesy, but it's true.)
This July, my family went to California for my brother's national taekwondo tournament and I visited Stanford's and Berkeley's campuses to get a feel for the atmosphere. Total opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to the local area surrounding the campus, but I loved both nonetheless.</p>

<p>I'm first-generation Korean-American living in the U.S (not a legacy student.)</p>

<p>Answers and advice much appreciated!</p>

2

<p>Colorado College is safety
NYU/UCSD are matches
Rest are reaches
Are you applying ED to any of the Ivy?</p>

3

<p>@Lacoste‌ Not Early Decision. I’m doing Regular Decision for all the Ivies, but Restrict EA for Stanford.</p>

4

<p>Bump. Any answers will be greatly welcomed!</p>

5

<p>Your stats are decent enough, definitely high enough to play the game. EC’s look good. If you can get your ACT up, you’ll be much more competitive. Other than that, good luck!</p>

6

<p>Stanford University: High reach
Columbia University: High reach
Cornell University: Reach
UC Berkeley: Need UC GPA, but should be high match/low reach
UC San Diego: Need UC GPA, but should be match/high match
New York University: High match
Colorado College: Match</p>

<p>Have you calculated your UC GPA and discussed the OOS costs?</p>

7

<p>@loquatical‌ What do you mean by UC GPA? Is there a link I can follow to calculate it?</p>

8

<p>what major are you applying for? That will have a big impact on your competitiveness. If you are engineering you need those SAT Subject tests. Still highly suggest you take them for added value.</p>

9

<p>@loquatical‌ Actually, never mind. I found a link for it and it was 4.29 by the end of junior year.</p>

10

<p>@snowboardchick97 <a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU;

<p>Also, double-check your a-g course requirements (although it sounds like you’ve completed them).</p>

<p><a href=“http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/requirements/a-g-requirements/”>http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/requirements/a-g-requirements/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Edit: Never mind the first part :)</p>

11

<p>@monarch1‌ I think I’m going to take the Biology M and Literature tests for sure. If I don’t get in any of those schools early action, then I’ll take the Korean and Math 2 tests in November as well. I’m debating between East Asian Languages/Cultures and Biomedical Sciences (specifically Molecular/Cellular Biology and Biochemistry if offered at the school.)</p>

12

<p>@loquatical‌ I checked the course requirements and made sure I fulfilled all of them! :)</p>

13

<p>Look good for San diego</p>

14

<p>Bump.</p>

15

<p>Bump</p>

16

<p>ECs and GPA are excellent and make you a competitive applicant to any school on your list. However, the testing needs to be improved. If you really put in the effort, I would shoot for a 34 or 35 to greatly increase your chances for a school like Stanford.</p>

17

<p>@kevinjuan‌ that’s what I’m aiming for! :slight_smile: And the essays, of course B-) </p>

18

<p>As an unhooked Asian with an ACT of 32, you will have a tough time at Stanford and Columbia. You have a great shot at Berkley and UCSD (if you are in state). NYU and Colorado College you have a great chance.</p>

<p>Why did you not mention snowboarding in your list of ECs above? </p>

19

<p>As a fellow korean I will say this DO NOT TAKE THE KOREAN SAT 2…that’s overkill and they do not like it…nice stats by the way! Best of luck!</p>

20

<p>@sgopal2‌ Oh, snowboarding is just a hobby lol I don’t do it for a sport or anything. And I’m working on raising my ACT to a 33, hopefully a 34 if I study hard enough!</p>

<p>@Autumn97‌ Okay, I won’t :slight_smile: I was actually deciding against it when I took a couple practice tests and thought “Is it really worth paying $52 to take this test?”</p>