The Final Countdown

phoenix17 · 09-30-2007, 01:00 PM

Hello, all. In all likelihood, this will be my final chances thread, so please give as much (constructive) input as possible. Here we go.

Gender: Male

Ethnicity: Caucasian

Income: Middle Class

High School: Decent Public

GPA: 3.92 UW

Class Rank: 20/547 (top 4%)

SAT: M-590 W-790 V-640 Composite-2020 (Retaking)

ACT: 30 Composite (Retaking)

Courses of Note:

AP Chemistry (3)
AP European History (4)
2 Years Advanced Math
3 Years Honors English
4 Years Foreign Language (French)

Taking This Year: AP Statistics, AP Calculus BC, AP Lit&Comp, Physics

ECs:

4 Years Varsity Tennis
National Honor Society
Student Council (Grade 11 Treasurer, Grade 12 Rep.)
3 Years Academic Quiz Bowl
About 150 Hours of Volunteer Work

Awards/Honors:

2006 County Tennis Player of the Year
2006 All-State Tennis Player (Honorable Mention)
2006 All-Area First Team
3-Time All-County First Team
3-Time All-County Academic Award
2006 Conference and Regional Champion at No.1 Position
Named 2007 Team Captain
Named 2007 Team MVP
Academic Quiz Bowl Co-Captain
High Honor Roll

Schools:

Wheaton (IL)
UMich (in-state)
Michigan State (in-state)
Bowdoin
Carleton
Colgate
DePauw
Washington and Lee
UChicago
WashU St. louis
Princeton

I'm also open to any suggestions you guys have that would be good matches for me based on my stats. Thanks in advance.

phoenix17 · 09-30-2007, 05:40 PM

alright, people. lets get some chancing rolling. I forgot to mention that I am a Guitar Hero Legend and won my school talent show in the dance category by performing okgo's "A Million Ways" with three of my friends.

Rutgers Hopeful · 09-30-2007, 05:59 PM

Accepted at all except Princeton. UMich will give you a lot of cash depending on your situation. Expect full ride to Michigan State, and UMich most likely.

amb3r · 09-30-2007, 06:02 PM

Rutgers, unlikely. Full ride to Mich state - I doubt it.

All schools are matches except UChi - low reach/reach, WashuStL - low reach/reach, Princeton - not gonna happen, kiddo.

Rutgers Hopeful · 09-30-2007, 06:03 PM

"What are you kids,on dope?"-Fast times from Ridgemont High

Look man, he is in. You must be crazy to think otherwise about that. I think this quote applies to you.

amb3r · 09-30-2007, 06:12 PM

With 2020 SAT, no club presidents (minus a sports captain), a very light course load with almost no APs, lack of academic focus, and no other hook, you think this applicant can easily make Princeton? Do you actually know anyone who's gotten into Princeton?

Rutgers Hopeful · 09-30-2007, 06:13 PM

I know plenty of kids from recent years with 3.6ish GPA and 1800 SAT who got into Princeton among many other top tier schools. There is more to a Ivy School than just numbers, thats just for state schools. Besides,your only comparing the subject to the numerous kids on this site with 2300+ sat and 4.5W GPA's.

amb3r · 09-30-2007, 06:16 PM

"I know plenty of kids from recent years with 3.6ish GPA and 1800 SAT who got into Princeton among many other top tier schools."

What kind of incredible hook do those "many kids" have? One half Eskimo, one half Cherokee, one half dinosaur? Quadruple legacy? Ridiculous. Most hookless applicants to Ivies have >2100 SATs and almost 4.0 UW. Of course I don't only consider grades and scores; leadership, volunteering, sports, ECs, teacher recs.. all are important. But you make it sound like any old high-achiever can make Hahvahd. If the "numerous kids on this site" with amazing stats and other non-numbers based activities are applying to Princeton, then what does the OP have that they don't?

Rutgers Hopeful · 09-30-2007, 06:17 PM

Why must you always have a condescending tone to all your replies. I am just giving my thoughts from what I have seen. Obviously, you have seen different things, and so your view will be different.

phoenix17 · 09-30-2007, 06:30 PM

Let me just say, i do think that rutgers is being a bit generous in his/her predictions, but i do take offense at "having a lack of academic focus" and taking "almost no APs." A lack of academic focus is the kid who shows up high to school every morning, and taking one AP class would probably be closer to taking none than taking 5. My school only offers 8 APs total, so I have challenged myself according to my surroundings. Tennis takes up a huge amount of my time which is probably the only reason I haven't already won SIEMENS........................................... ....................................twice. Let's not turn this thread into a debate. I would just like an accurate assessment of chances. Thanks.

enderkin · 09-30-2007, 06:32 PM

Rutgers, take a look at the results threads for the Ivy Leagues on CC. Even with this site's above-average EVERYTHING, most of the applicants are rejected. An 1800 would almost require that you be unique in some absurd fashion.

Edit: Do you honestly think that you could win the Siemens competition that easily?

Rutgers Hopeful · 09-30-2007, 06:32 PM

Phoenix, while I do understand your thoughts, I still stand my assessments. And, thanks for making it clear for some people who have to understand that sometimes the school itself is a limiting factor, not the student.

amb3r · 09-30-2007, 06:33 PM

Phoenix, sorry, I only saw the two APs you had taken junior year and forgot the ones you are currently taking. True, your course load this year is rigorous. Depending on the competitiveness of your high school your may have a very good point.

And yes, a kid who shows up drunk and high to class every morning DOES show lack of academic focus, but we're talking about Princeton applicants here, and in comparison with THAT pool of highly qualified kids, my comment might be placed into better context. Next to most kids, you're definitely very academically focused.

Rutgers Hopeful · 09-30-2007, 06:36 PM

Well, I know many kids who toke before school and are very directed and know what they want to do with their life. They have very high scores on there test, and most want to be engineers.

amb3r · 09-30-2007, 06:36 PM

Rutgers, point taken, but I don't think it's a good idea for you to go around to Chance threads and say to everyone that they're going to get into HYP, unless you really know what you're talking about. Your comment about knowing many kids with 1800s SAT and 3.6 UW get into Princeton only makes me doubt how much you understand about Ivy League admissions and the quality of the applicants who are admitted... I have seen people on CC with amazing resumes who make the full sweep of HYPMS but most of the posters here will not get into Harvard, just as most people ANYWHERE cannot get into harvard.

EDIT - okay, sorry for hijacking your thread, phoenix! I'm off.