Chances at Uchicago, Stanford, Pomona, Upenn?

benpoo · 11-09-2012, 07:42 PM

I recently scored 2110 on my SAT's.
Top 1% of my class.
Lots of extra curriculars (volunteering, music)
6 AP exams.

Male, Chinese Canadian.
Public school, intended major chemistry or biology
Subject tests: Just took the November, but probably around 780 Math II, and 800 Chemistry.
Sat: Math: 800 Reading: 650 Writing: 660 (I'm re writing in December, hope to score in the 700's for reading and writing.)
GPA. 4.0
Awards: Top Student in grade 9, top science student in grade 10, top math student in grade 9&11, top english student in grade 10
President of Math tutorial club
Treasurer of Music Council
Lead children's program at church
Played on the Badminton team for two years
Part of the humanitarian club for 3 years

One more thing is that I would need financial aid. Would that greatly lower my chances?
What are my chances at any of the Ivies, or Uchicago, Stanford, Pomona?

OsakaDad · 11-10-2012, 04:26 AM

As a Canadian, you will most likely have to apply as an international student. Financial aid changes quite a bit with that and you need to research it school by school. Your stats look fine and are not unusual for any of these schools. Although your reading and writing SAT's are a bit low for the tier you are applying to. Math and subject tests are fine. However, I do not understand why you would apply to Pomona for a STEM major. It is a liberal arts school through and though.

Aendos · 11-10-2012, 09:39 AM

650 reading gonna set u back

hesterstar · 11-10-2012, 10:24 AM

Grades and scores are good. Extracurriculars are nice, but nothing special. I don't know what your like as a person or how good your essay will be, so I can't judge there.

Right now, you strike me as a good student but you don't stand out. If you can write a convincing essay and prove you are a dynamic person (through what you write, your activities, recommendations, and interview, etc), you'll have a better chance

My brother went to Stanford. He went to a magnet program in high school and I think he did pretty well, took challenging course work. He created a tennis teaching business that one some entrepreneurial awards. He also participated in multiple extracurriculars. In addition, he is very smart, had a good essay I think, and is motivated and a thinker. He actually got deferred at first. He was accepted to all of the schools he applied to (which were all prestigious, probably some ivies) except Georgetown.
I think many in the same high school program went off to Ivies, Pomona, etc. These schools look for very intelligent and motivated people. They look for kids who did more than your average high schooler, and were very involved with certain activities. You need to really love learning and be a unique thinker.

Schools typically don't choose students based on need - that's not at all fair and probably goes against rules/laws. A public school might favor out of state applicants to in state, because they pay more, but they really can't make a decision based on that... Unless it has something to do with diversity...

Catria · 11-10-2012, 12:25 PM

Do you have a safety? These four schools are reaches for anyone.

U Chicago: Pay attention to your essays

benpoo · 11-10-2012, 02:30 PM

Haha I'm going for these schools or just my local university.

Do you guys think I have an alright chance at these schools given my stats?

As to Pomona, it's a small school, so research opportunities aren't hard to come by.

Catria · 11-10-2012, 02:52 PM

What is your local U, if it is a safety?

benpoo · 11-10-2012, 03:23 PM

University of British Columbia

benpoo · 11-11-2012, 03:44 AM

Do you think that my low reading and writing scores eliminate my chances at any ivy?

benpoo · 11-12-2012, 12:51 AM

10 character bumpppp!

benpoo · 11-14-2012, 09:16 PM

B-b-b-b-b-bump!!