danman3303

While I understand the more info I put on here, the easier it is to make an assesment, I also understand the long posts are very tedious to read, so I will try to keep it short and sweet.

Rank: about the top 12% of a competitive catholic school in Chicago

Act: 34, but only an 9 in writing (will that hurt?)

SAT II: 710 U.S. history; 700 Math IC; 680 Literature ( I am retaking these in October)

I am taking the hardest schedule possible in my school, and I will graduate with 12 honors/ 8 AP courses (the only regular class I have taken is religion)
My APs so far: English:4, World Hist: 4, U.S. History.


My E.C.s are fairly typical: 4 years baseball and football, with 2 years varsity in each. 4 years various student council positions, Big Brother/ Big sister program, Writing for the literary magazine, etc.

Volunteering: I do most of my volunteer work through my peer ministry group, which includes two missionary trips and other soup kitchen-type catholic relief projects. Also a tutor in Chemistry and French.

Honors: Standard Recognition for a student of my type, but also one of three students from my high school selected to Illinois boys state, along with perfect attendance throughout h.s. ( I am considering writing an essay on this).

I am sure my essays and teacher recs will be good, but aren't they all?

Chances at these schools:

Princeton ED (my father went there and it has always been my first choice)
Boston College
Brown
Georgetown
UVA
Cornell
University of Michigan
(U of I and Madison are my safeties)

I am new to this CC thing, so any info you can give me will be helpful!!!!

MorsVenit

If you really were a typical white male competing for admissions at Princeton ED, I would say you have very slim chances indeed; however, your status as a legacy makes you very valuable in Princeton's eyes, and it will weigh heavily in your favor. Still, be mindful that most students accepted to Princeton, while not legacies, will have higher GPA's and test scores, and more unique ECs than you have.

amptron2x

Princeton ED - Reach, even as a legacy applying ED
Boston College - Match
Brown - Reach
Georgetown - High Match/Low Reach
UVA - Low Reach (Out of State)
Cornell - High Match/Low Reach
University of Michigan - Match
U of I - Safety

Although your ACT score is quite good (ACT 34 = 1510 to 1550 cr+m SAT), your SAT2 scores and class rank are well below what's usually needed to get into Princeton and most other Ivies. The fact that you're a legacy and that you'll be applying ED will help a bit. Figure you have, at best, around a 15 to 20% chance of acceptance at Princeton. Better than average (which is around 10%), but very far from a sure thing.

Realistically, you need to add some less selective schools to your list. Here's a bunch of good, but less selective schools you might want to consider:

Wesleyan
Johns Hopkins
Carleton
Vassar
Carnegie Mellon
Tufts
Washington and Lee
Emory
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Georgetown
Bowdoin
Haverford
Macalester
Davidson
Colby
Univer. Of Southern CA
Colgate
Brandeis
William and Mary
Oberlin
Bates
Tulane
Hamilton
Grinnell

danman3303

Thanks for the help. Does anyone know if my weak showing on the writing portion of the ACT will hurt, are colleges looking at that this year?

danman3303

Anyone else have any opinions? also, is perfect attendance/ great charisma ( will be demonstrated in teacher recs) be a real "hook"

mikenthemaddog66

thats the craziest ACT score I've ever seen. Legacy should get you in.

BandTenHut

34 isn't crazy for Princeton. It's good, sure. But we're talking Princeton.

You have a good shot. Your rank should really be higher, but if it's a private school, then they'll understand. People very much like you get in to Princeton. People very much like you get denied at Princeton.

Basically: maybe.

par72

Might want to look at Holy Cross-smaller version of Georgetown but easier to get into.

bobby100

Depends on what quality of legacy you are in terms of giving. Princeton, like all ivies, rejects the majority of legacies and most they accept, other than the very wealthy and connected, have at least average stats for the school. Your class rank is problematic there. I'd say you have a 35% chance.

bobby100

Depends on what quality of legacy you are in terms of giving. Princeton, like all ivies, rejects the majority of legacies and most they accept, other than the very wealthy and connected, have at least average stats for the school. Your class rank is problematic there. With weak SATIIs, no special ECs and questionable writing skills, I'd say you have a 30% chance at best.

danman3303

bump.......

danman3303

Would i even have a chance apply to brown even with good essays and recs?

BandTenHut

Sure, you have a great shot at Brown.

danman3303

Would writing an essay on my perfect attendance be any sort of a hook?
I have already written one and like it, I also wrote one about being tall, and made it apply to my greater picture.

BandTenHut

The fact that you only got sick in the summer or on weekends isn't really a hook.