Yale, Harvard, Columbia

<p>Excellent chances everywhere. Your ECs show good commitment.</p>

<p>thanks for the chance, now i'll reply the favor
your academics seem to be in line. It looks like you took some difficult courses and did well on them. SAT I and II's look great. The only problem i could see you having is your lack (just my opinion) of ec's. I'm assuming you are interested in science (since u do science olympiad) so you need to show ur interest in that field. try to get some research experience if u can.
my 2cents:
Yale - reach (like everybody) - 30% chance
Harvard - bigger reach - 20%
Columbia - 50%
Brown - 40%, but their standards have fallen dramatically
Amherst - 45%
UChicago - 60%
UPenn - 50%
MIT - 10% - they're into RSI and AIME and things like that
Bowdoin - safety</p>

<p>i have a feeling u'll get into Columbia, UPenn, Amherst, UChicago and Bowdoin</p>

<p>i agree that your likely to get into bowdoin on the basis of your impressive credentials, but, i would also encourage you to treat your bowdoin application with care. if you consider it a safety, you have an increased chance of not getting in. indeed, if they understand that you're not very interested in attending, they're actually not likely to accept you. i'm sure you already know this. the same goes for any college or university you apply to, and any other colleges you add. good luck with it all. and congratulations on your credentials.</p>

<p>"In terms of your list, it's veeeery reach-heavy."</p>

<p>This is true, but thankfully, I have a decent option with a good state school for free, so I can afford 10 reaches/1 safety and be relatively happy if all else fails. State school for $0 > top 20-50 school for $200k IMHO.</p>

<p>"Where do you want to be--countryside or city? Core curriculum or open? UChic and Columbia make sense in the same list, as do Brown and Amherst. But Amherst and Columbia?"</p>

<p>Amherst, Brown, Columbia, and UChicago (and, to fill out my six top choices, H and Y) are all similar in that they are all more intellectual and classical in their education, and tend to stray away from regurgitated pre-prof education (well, for H and Col, in general). This overarching approach to education is more important to me than the question of a core curriculum. While Col/Chi have cores, they are essentially compulsory Great Books/important culture courses, which are things I'd take anyway. As for countryside vs. city, I prefer city, but I just can't be that picky. Amherst is a relatively interesting place that isn't too far from Boston.</p>

<p>"but, i would also encourage you to treat your bowdoin application with care."</p>

<p>good point. i've had this as a backup but not exactly a safety. the "100%" numbers i've been getting are just as surprising to me as they are to you, pb.</p>

<p>Thanks for any and all comments, I'll try to chance whoever posts in my thread.</p>

<p>bump</p>

<p>~~~~~~</p>

<p>bump 10char</p>