Do I Have a Chance at Brown/UChicago/Yale/Cornell/Columbia/NYU/UPenn/Boston College?
Question by flylikeicarus: Do I have a chance at Brown/UChicago/Yale/Cornell/Columbia/NYU/UPenn/Boston College?
I’m currently a junior in high school. I’m mainly interested in Brown University, the University of Chicago, and Yale University, but I am worried that I am mediocre compared to many of the other applicants. I would greatly appreciate it if I could get some honest feedback on my credentials.
I took the SAT back in December without much preparation and scored a 2040.. I know this is low, but I will be taking it again in March. I’ve been doing some practice, and my most recent practice test scores average around 2250. I’m hoping to score in the mid 2200s to 2300+ this time around.
I will also be taking the ACT in April and May and some SAT II subject tests (biology, literature, math II, Spanish, US History). I have a 4.2 GPA.
FRESHMAN YEAR COURSELOAD– No APs offered
* Spanish (I qualified for honors but couldn’t fit it in because of a scheduling conflict): A
* Honors Biology: A-
* Honors Geometry: A-
* Honors History: A
* Honors English: A-
* Journalism: A
* Choir: A
SOPHOMORE YEAR COURSELOAD
* AP Biology (scored a 4… but I self-studied, so hopefully the schools will be more understanding)
* AP US History I: A
* Spanish (I qualified for honors but couldn’t fit it in because of a scheduling conflict): A
* Honors Chemistry: B
* Honors Algebra II w/ Trig: B
* Honors English: A
* Photography: A
* Concert Choir: A
JUNIOR YEAR COURSELOAD
* AP Language and Composition: average so far is an A
* AP Psychology (self-study)
* AP US History II: average so far is an A-
* Honors Spanish: average so far is an A
* Honors Physics: average so far is a B-
* Honors Pre-Calculus: average so far is a B+ (trying to pull this back up to an A-)
* Honors Philosophy: B
* Concert Choir (I auditioned for and was accepted into the Chamber Choir, but couldn’t fit it in because of a scheduling conflict)
SENIOR YEAR COURSELOAD (I’ve already scheduled these classes in advance)
* AP Spanish
* AP Chemistry
* AP Calculus AB
* AP Statistics
* AP World History
* AP Literature
* Chamber Choir
EXTRACURRICULARS/CLUBS
* JV Soccer (freshman year)
* JV Lacrosse (freshman year)
* Certified NJ emergency medical technician (EMT)– I’ve been volunteering with my local ambulance corps for 6 months now (216 hrs and counting)
* 10 volunteer hours at a local hospital
* President of the Spanish Club (2 years), vice president for 1
* NHS (applying later on in the year)
* National Spanish Honors Society (applying later on in the year)
* Volunteer at soup kitchen/nursing homes since elementary school
* Piano lessons from age 4
* Art lessons from age 4
* School newspaper (all 3 years): I am a student writer and a photographer
* School literary magazine (all 3 years)
* Writing center tutor: I edit lab reports, English papers, history papers, college essays, help with basic writing skills, etc.
* Peer leader: I meet with freshman once a month and discuss issues such as drug prevention, alcohol abuse, etc.
* Student government (freshman year): class representative
* Mathlete: all 3 years
OTHER
* 3 year participant of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth program
– Winter 2006: online Pre-Algebra class
– Winter 2008: online creative writing course
– School year 2011: online AP Biology
– Summer 2007: Individually Paced Mathematics
– Summer 2008: Etymologies
– Summer 2009: Math Logic
* I received awards from the Johns Hopkins University for above average performance on the SAT and the ACT for my age group
* Summer 2011: successfully completed the NJ EMT training course (I am now certified to perform CPR and BLS (basic life support))
* Brown University Summer 2012 program: I will be taking a course called Brain Basics: From Biology to Behavior— I’m dissecting human brains this summer! 😀
* I find out in the fall if I qualify as a semi-finalist for the National Merits Scholarship (2130 PSAT)
* I am planning to submit entries to a couple of essay competitions/art competitions
Thank you in advance!
* 3 year Relay for Life participant
* Volunteer for the Teen Advisory Group at the local library
Best answer:
Answer by pbk
Really, the only people who could actually answer this would be college admissions counselors (or your school counselors) or the colleges themselves. But as far as I can tell? You’re doing fine and you’re worrying way too much.
Keep those grades up. While extracurriculars are increasingly important, GPAs are still the most important factor on your application. And also, in terms of extracurriculars, colleges are generally more impressed with things you’ve been committed to being a part of for the long term than a giant bucket list of “I joined everything I could for a couple months just to put it on my application.” You’ve got a number of things you’ve been doing for a long time – stick with those, don’t worry about adding more.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
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