wondering whether not so good grades can affect my chances

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a chinese American living in the Midwest USA. I go to a relatively big high school w/ bout 2500 kids. Don't really know my ranking, and my GPA's probably around 4.5 or something. However, I have 3 Bs in my junior year, and I really worry about this being a big problem.</p>

<p>I'm reposting to make things clearer. Thanks!</p>

<p>College List:
1. Emory University
2. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
3. Duke
4. Johns Hopkins
5. Northwestern
6. Cornell University
7. Yale
8. Stanford
9. Princeton
10. University of Chicago</p>

<p>Advanced Placement courses and scores:
Chemistry – 5 (2007)
Computer Science AB – 5 (2007)
Calculus BC – 5 (AB subscore - 5) (2007)
Biology – N/A (2008)
Physics C – N/A (2008)
Statistics – N/A (2008)
European History– N/A (2008)
SAT I:
Reading – 730
Math – 740
Writing – 780
Total : 2250 (2008)
SAT II:
Chemistry – 800 (2007)
Chinese w/ List – 800 (2006)
Math Level 2 – 800 (2006)
PSAT: 219 (2007)
Critical Reading 73
Mathematics 80
Writing 66
ACT: Composite score: 36 (2007)
English: 36
Mathematics: 35
Reading: 35
Science: 36</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars:</p>

<p>Finalist for Intel sponsored International science and engineering fair (ISEF)</p>

<p>Best in category for illinois state science fair
attended area, city, and state science fairs for 2 years.</p>

<p>Volunteered in a research lab at a University (2006-2008)</p>

<p>Attended 2007 Gap Junction International Conference in Denmark, Copenhagen. </p>

<p>First author in an abstract submitted to American Heart Association, and accepted for a poster presentation in 2008</p>

<p>Second author in published abstract in Circulation journal in 2007.</p>

<p>FIRST robotics team challenger, went to nationals, and placed 13th out of around 2000 teams. Was software designer and programmer on team.</p>

<p>Team Challenger: FIRST Robotics Midwest Regional Competition, Rookie All-star award (2007), Xerox Creative Engineering Award (2007)</p>

<p>United States of America Computing Olympiad qualified for silver section (2006)</p>

<p>American Computer Science League All Star international contest 13th place out of 20. (2005)</p>

<p>Math team at school, ICTM state 8-person member, won 1st place for regional ICTM. </p>

<p>3rd place in Illinois Music Association Olympiad in Violin (2007)</p>

<p>Merit Music Tuition Free Advanced Conservatory program, Violin (2005-2008) first violin section in symphony orchestra.</p>

<p>board 4 Whitney Young chess team, won city championship 2008, 2nd place state 2 times, and 8th place at nationals.</p>

<p>Most Valuable Player (MVP) Chicago City chess tournament 4th place. (2007)</p>

<p>1st place 3rd Coast Chess Tournament U1400 rating (2007)</p>

<p>Rush hospital volunteer 1 year, 4 years worship team at church</p>

<p>Nature Museum internship for a year, and young scholars program at University of Chicago.</p>

<p>Founder of Chess club at a local church.</p>

<p>Physics club project coordinator and co-founder</p>

<p>National Honor Society Member for 1 year, and ping pong club member for 3 years.</p>

<p>Please help me, thanks alot!! Sorry it was kinda long.</p>

2

<p>What's your class rank?</p>

3

<p>mmm, don't know, maybe top 10%</p>

4

<p>Well no one can give you an honest assessment without rank as it's the most important factor.</p>

<p>It would be unusual for an unhooked candidate to get into HYPS without being very close to the top of class. Look at the common data sets to better understand.</p>

<p>Intel finalist is impressive, but others will have to tell you whether or not it's a hook.</p>

5

<p>what is your uscf rating? If it is high enough it could almost be considered a hook. I am assuming you do have a USCF rating right?</p>

6

<p>You've got really great test scores...I would imagine that the only places it would hurt you for are John Hopkins, Yale, Princeton</p>

7

<p>thanks for commenting, and my USCF rating's about 1430, cuz i didn't go to too many tournaments recently, but i don't think its high enough for a good hook though. :(</p>

8

<p>yeah a 1430 is fairly decent, and can help u in admissions, but yeah u are right its not a hook. I am thinking anything above 2000 is prolly considered a hook. Only 300 more points to go for me lol.
However even so i do think that chess will help you. Most people who don't play chess don't realize the commitment and the magnitude of how far it goes. I hope admission officers do realize that though.</p>

9

<p>yeah, it does take a lot of time, thanks!</p>

10

<p>bump please!</p>

11

<p>With the type of courses you have been taking, you are still a very strong candidate for any school, including the top ones. However, schools such as HPY are truly lottery tickets, and there are kids who are rejected with the very top class ranks and top SATs. If kids at your high school other than the very top handful are getting into HPY and company, then you stand a good chance. If it is pretty much only the near perfect SATs with the very top rank,and heavily hooked getting into those schools, it make it less probable for you.</p>

<p>My opinion is that any school that looks carefully at your file will not hold the B's against you as you are taking abnormally difficult courses and learning the material well.</p>

12

<p>bump bump bump :D</p>

13

<p>buuuuummppp</p>

14

<p>bummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmppp</p>