Yes [I] can?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Need chances at Princeton, Stanford, MIT, Brown, and Rice (and Rice/Baylor MD program)</p>

<p>Ethnicity + gender: Indian male
School: large, highly competitive suburban public school
Major: probably something pre-med a la biomedical engineering</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 4.00
Weighted GPA: 4.71</p>

<p>Courseload: rigorous, as many APs and high-level courses as possible (14 AP classes in all)</p>

<p>Class Rank: 1/660</p>

<p>SAT I: 2340 -- 800 CR / 790 M / 750 W
SAT II: expecting solid scores, shouldn't be an issue</p>

<p>Recommendations/essays: good</p>

<p>General Awards:
National Merit Semifinalist (PSAT: 233)
National AP Scholar
USABO Semifinalist</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities:</p>

<p>Tennis—all 4 years
-JV—9th, 10th
-Varsity—11th, 12th</p>

<p>Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society)—all 4 years
-Most Outstanding Member—9th
-President—11th
-Log1 Math contest—2nd place in region (9th)</p>

<p>FBLA (future business leaders of America)—all 4 years
-Chapter Treasurer—11th
-Area Reporter/Historian—12th
-Various awards at both district and state competitions</p>

<p>Computer Science Club—10th-12th
-Club Treasurer—11th
-Various awards at local competitions</p>

<p>UIL Academics
-General Math Team member (10th)
--3rd place team, district
-Spelling and Vocabulary Team member (10th)
--4th place individual, district
--1st place team, district
--4th place team, region</p>

<p>Spanish Honor Society—10th-12th
HOSA—10th-12th
National Honor Society—11th-12th</p>

<p>Volunteering—over 150 hours from hospital, clubs, and various local service opportunities
Organized a fund-raising/service project within the school, raised several hundred dollars for refugees in Darfur</p>

<hr>

<p>I know my biggest weakness is probably that nothing stands out and that there really isn't a coherent "theme," but a lot of that has to do with how I've approached high school--a lot of different things interest me, so I try to give myself as many opportunities as possible.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help!</p>

2

<p>Since it’s not letting me edit my original post:</p>

<p>I know that chances at a lot of these schools are unpredictable, but if anyone had any good suggestions as to how to streamline my application or improve on my weaknesses, I would greatly appreciate it.</p>

<p>Also, sorry for the gimmicky title. (I just read the “chances for chances” thread)</p>

3

<p>Yes, you’re right. The schools you listed are unpredictable. However, given your superlative stats, you have a better than average chance at all of them. Of course, problem is, that an average chance at Princeton, Stanford, and MIT is around 10% and Brown around 15%. Shouldn’t stop you from applying though. You are definitely a very competitive applicant.</p>

<p>A few suggestions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Take a look at University of Pennsylvania. Excellent school with a very good pre-med track and, what’s good for you, the school loves kids who are valedictorians or salutatorians. Being #1 or #2 in your class significantly improves your chances at Penn.</p></li>
<li><p>Take a look at Washington University in St. Louis. Excellent school, ranked 12th in the U.S. by U.S. News, it has one of the best med schools in the country, and truly top-rate pre-med and biomedical engineering programs. It also has a top 15 B school.</p></li>
<li><p>Include some good, but somewhat less selective schools on your list - Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Tufts, Emerson, Cornell, etc. None of them easy to get into, but all easier than the ones you’ve listed. Also, make sure you have a couple of safeties.</p></li>
<li><p>Even though you’re thinking pre-med, I look at your ECs and I see math, math, and more math, and business. That could be a theme, even if it doesn’t match the major your considering. Not to worry though. Once you’re in somewhere, you can pretty much change majors at will early on.</p></li>
</ol>

4

<p>we have the exact same SAT score breakdown :O</p>

<p>i agree with amptron2x.</p>

5

<p>wow, stats like yours scare me, they make me feel so dumb and unaccomplished…
Oh yeah, your chances. Like others have said, unpredictable, but your chances look pretty good to me, just make sure you have a good essay, recs, etc. You must stand out in your app, you cannot appear to be another science/math loving asian, not that that is bad, it is just that there are so many of them and it is hard to distinguish yourself. But your stats are just awesome, i doubt that you would not get into at least one of the places you applied. The usabo is a big deal.</p>

6

<p>really couldnt of said it better than amptron2x</p>

7

<p>Not to be rude or anything, but Mu Alpha Theta, FBLA, Tennis and NHS are pretty much on the list of EVERY Asian applying to Top colleges. You seem to be the typical Asian who has the stats and a few (scattered) ECs. You don’t seem to have anything unique to bring to the table and that could hurt you in the application process. </p>

<p>National Merit Finalist and National AP Scholar show only your academic achievements. Most HYPSM applicants have the stats, but they also have things in addition to it. Your stats will only take you so far…</p>

8

<p>Thanks to everyone who has replied, especially amptron. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your advice.</p>

<p>And xphage, I believe you know what they say about great minds. =)</p>

<p>gouchicago, I realize that this is a glaring weakness in my application–how would I go about correcting it? Obviously, my time is short, but I can still work to alleviate the problem before submission.</p>

9

<p>Look for something you really enjoy doing and pursue it for as long as you can. Colleges would be more than convinced about your academic prowess given your stats.</p>