ngtexas

After waaay too much time spent exploring colleges, I finally have a list of schools I plan on applying to this fall. I felt this bittersweet sense of closure as I made what seems to be my final change to my microsoft word list, and so I decided to post what will hopefully be my last chance thread. This feels weird. ANYWAYS... I'd really appreciate any type of input as to what types of things I should expect a little later down the line from the following schools:

Princeton SCEA (heh.. no chance)
Stanford RD (I know, I know. I can dream though, right?)
University of Southern California
Northwestern University
Emory University
Rice University
Duke University



(Safeties are excluded, automatic admission to UT due to class rank works for me)

And now:

Here are my stats:

Basic stuff/possible diversity
- White Senior Male in Austin, Texas
- First Generation College Student.
- English is my second language


GPA and Rank
- Weighted GPA: 106.84 (weird 100 point scale..)
- Unweighted GPA: 4.0
- Class Rank: 1/517 at a pretty competitive Public High School.


AP's and Honors Coursework/Grades
- AP World History-A/A - 5 on exam
- AP Chemistry- A+/A+ 5 on exam
- AP English 3- A/A 5 on exam
- AP U.S History- A+/A+ 5 on exam
- AP Spanish Language- A+/A+ didn't take exam.
- AP Computer Science- A/A 4 on exam
- all other classes are Honors Classes (bio, trig, physics, etc...) with A+

ACT Scores
Composite- 35
English- 35
Math- 34
Reading- 36
Science- 36
Essay- 10

SAT Scores*
CR- 740
Math- 750
Writing- 740 (10 Essay)
2230 composite

*These are superscored. I have taken it twice. I probably won't send these.

PSAT- 225, should hopefully be NMSF in Texas.

Subject Tests
World History 770
Chem-800
Math 2-720 (will retake)

EC Activities

Elected Class Office Positions
- Sophomore Class President
- Junior Class VP
- Student Body President Senior Year

Academic Competitions
State-wide Science Competition(UIL)
-3 years participation
-Team Captain for two years
-Qualified for regionals this year.
-first place at invitationals, top 5 at district
State-wide Social Studies Competition(UIL)
-2 years Team Captain
- First Place Team at District level, qualified for regionals
- first individually at District level

Social Events Comittee
- Founded
- Head for one year (10th Grade)
- Planned a school dance from the bottom up.
- Planned Homecoming events

Community Service Committee
- Head Junior Year
- Sponsored outings to a retirement home
- Organized a school-wide coat drive
- Organized other outings to marathons and other community stuff

Principal's Council
- Member 3 years. (Elected)
- We sit with the principal once a month and discuss campus issues.
- Will be student body chair this

National Honor Society
- Member 3 years
- Officer 1 year
- Elected as Liason to Student Council/Public Relations Chair
- Overseeing special needs committee as a committee co-head.

Will be sitting on school board next year.

Camp counselor at a residential weekend camp for kids with special needs one weekend a month.
-I really, really enjoy this. I'll probably incorporate it into my essay.

Summer Activities

10th grade
- Employed as a cashier at Chick Fil-A (3 months)
- Tutor at a summer program for elementary schools (3 months)

11th grade
- UT Honors Colloquium
- Camp counselor at a residential camp for children with special needs (2 weeks)


Thanks a bunch. I WILL chance back, and I really appreciate input, good or bad.

anita13

With your scores you should honestly have no problem.You also have excellent hooks since your a first generation and since your first language is not english.Emory, NW, rice, and duke also seem very feasible. Standford and Princeton are of course very hard to get into but considering your excellent EC and scores I see no reason why you shouldn't apply-you look like an ideal Stanford student to me! Good luck! Chance me?

FantasyVesperia

I agree, you have no problem getting in the schools you picked lol.

ngtexas

Thanks a bunch guys. I really appreciate hearing that! Let's hope adcoms feel the same way! haha.

If anyone else has any input, I'd love to hear it, especially with Princeton SCEA, Stanford, and duke. I'm really serious about all of these schools, and if my list seems to reachy let me know.

commanderkeen42

Day-um...you're good to go for all those except Stanford and Princeton, which are reaches for anyone.

ngtexas

Thanks a lot, man. I've heard stanford and princeton can be total crapshoots as far as admission goes, so I totally get where you're coming from.

Would anyone say duke or NU are like that too? Or do I seem to have a reasonable shot?

aribels

With your scores and ECs you are pretty much set! You seem completely qualified for all the schools you have listed.

Please chance me back?

cortana431

Most likely in at USC (good chance at the full tuition scholarship there) and Emory. Very good chance at Rice, may get a lot of merit money from Rice, Stanford duke northwestern and princeton are toss ups, meaning you have a solid chance and you may get into 1 or more of those 4 or none of them.

PrincetonPreppy

What is your major? If you center your EC's around it, then you will seem more passionate about what you want to study, which will raise your chances of admission. Good scores, GPA, etc. If you are passionate in your essays too, then I'd say your chances for Duke are very high. For Stanford and Princeton you are qualified, but who knows who'll get into SHYP? I'll also be applying EA to Princeton; chance me? Thanks and good luck!
Chance me for Princeton?

ngtexas

Thanks both of you.

@Cortana431: Thanks for letting me know about merit money. It's really great to hear that. It's awesome to hear I have a solid chance at those four as well, even if they can be total tossups.

@Princeton: I really have no idea what I'm majoring in. Given my EC's and stuff, what should I major in? haha. Thanks for the chance! Currently chancing you.

But really, any feedback on a major that I could taylor to my EC's would be great

sophiaxxxaihpos

WOW your gpa and sat scores are superb. And my superb I mean perfect!!!!!! You are a valedictorian..and you worried? You`re fine! Your extracurriculars are also amazing. I am speachless. I am sure you will have no problem! Congrats! and good luck in College!

ngtexas

Thank you! Good luck to you too!

Any other input by anyone is really appreciated!

Adodie

Yeah, really pretty darn superb. Looking through the application, I can really only spot one possible weakness -- of your extracurriculars, none of them are really outside the school (I'm counting clubs as inside school activities). However, you do have work experience, which should make up for it.

To put my input in, I don't think you need to retake Math II. I very much believe colleges put little emphasis on Standardized tests (especially subject tests), and really mainly use them to make sure the people they are admitting are at least somewhat academically capable. Nearly all colleges will say the GPA/Class rank are more important to them, which you are superb at.

You also have wonderful hooks.

So, in the end, I'd say you are definitely into all of the schools you listed except Stanford and Princeton, and I expect you will get into at least one of those.

I'd appreciate a chance back at What are realistic chances for me? Thanks! Best of luck to you!

Adodie

I also have one question: how do you get onto the school board? In my school district, at least, you have to be over 18 and must be elected to the position in our city's elections. Believe me, through it, we see party politics at its worse.

ngtexas

Thanks so much Adodie. I really appreciate all that you said. I totally agree with you as far as outside of school ECs go. I've kind of regretted that, but I'm not the type of person to seek outside of school ECs just to impress colleges. The ones I do have (work, camp, etc.) I've kind of happened upon and done because I really enjoy them. Especially the camp I work at, it's such an amazing place. If you live near texas check it out, it's called camp CAMP and it will change your life. I'm thinking of crafting my experiences there into my essay. Anyways. To answer the school board question, I'm not a voting member and it's mainly just to put in a student input like twice a year. It kind of goes along with my student body president title. My HS is the only one in our district, so the boards pretty small and we can easily pull it off. Were also in boring suburbia, so no major politics or scandals. I kind of just smile and inform student council of board proceedings. Thanks again, I'll chance you as soon as I post this.