strife15

Grade: Junior
Ethnicity: Indian (born in India, moved here in 5th grade)
School: Ranked somewhere in the top 50 public schools in the nation, we send many kids to Ivies and top schools each year
Planning to Study: International Relations, Finance

GPA: 3.5/4.0. not including Junior. Yeah, it's bad. I'm trying to raise it to a 3.7. If Freshman year is discounted, I have about a 3.84 in just Junior+Sophomore.
Rank: School doesn't rank, but I'll be in the top 10-15% probably, if I'm unlucky, top 20%.
Financial Aid: Don't need.

SAT I
Math: 800
CR: 710
Writing: 790
Total: 1510/2300

SAT II
Math IIC: 770
Chem: To be taken
Spanish: To be Taken

AP Courses:

Sophomore
AP Computer Science (AB) (4)
AP European History (4)

Junior
AP American History (4 Predicted)
AP Calculus BC (5 Predicted)
AP Chemistry (5 Predicted)
AP Physics C: Mechanics (5 Predicted)

Senior
AP Statistics
AP Spanish
AP Psychology
AP English (Not sure which one at the moment)
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

I have the most rigorous courseload in the school (More APs than the valedictorian), I'm sure my counselor will mention it. Of course, there are honors classes, but I'm not going to bother to list them, except to say I've taken every honors class possible.

ECs
Work at library for 4 years
Work at Kumon math/reading for 4 years
JV tennis for 2 years, Varsity Tennis for 2 Years
Work over Junior Year summer at Microfinance organizations in India
Indian Drums for 5 years
Model United Nations Club, Officer, Awards Won
Member of Academic Challenge Team for 4 Years

Schools I'm hoping to apply to

UPENN (Wharton) (ED)
Brown
Princeton (Worth a shot. I know, it's highly improbable)
Georgetown
Tufts
Cornell
Columbia
Northwestern
U Chicago
Williams
Johns Hopkins
SUNY-Binghamton (Safety)
University of Michigan (Safety)

I realize there's very few Safeties, and many big risks, but I think it's worth a shot.

So, what do you guys think?

sak09

I think you need to add more safeties.

Brown, Princeton, Georgetown, Cornell, Columbia and Johns Hopkins are probably anywhere from big reaches to slight reach.

Others are better fits, but I think you have a better chance than most, and you'll probably end up getting into at least a couple of the reach schools.

strife15

That's interesting. It seems I have another thing to add, which will be a summer internship at a Microfinance organization in India over the summer.

Also, I'm the founder of a club at my school that helps kids learn to use tools and equipment properly either for competitions such as Science Olympiad or just around the house.

While I'm here, any suggestions for safeties for international relations?

momreads

American University and the U. of Richmond have strong international relations programs.

strife15

Would you (or anyone) consider those safeties for someone with stats like mine?

strife15

Bump please?

chubeebo

Wassup strife. Yes, according to the princeton review, American University is pretty good. Lewis & Clark college as well.

International Relations

strife15

So, bump if no one minds chancing me/suggesting something?

swoop

okay so basically you are similar to me!
same SAT score, same ethnicity, same interests (international relations/finance)..

so it's kinda weird for me to give you advice.. Junior (Class of '09) Going to Apply this Fall

your GPA isn't so hot but your course load looks exemplary. i understand that you have done these extracurriculars for many years but stick to ones that you are more passionate about.. the only problem i see is that, well, i don't see anything unique.. try to find out who you are and your chances will increase drastically..


as for safeties, Berkeley is safe for me since i'm in state but it might be a little tougher for you if you are out.. sorry i don't know much about public schools outside of CA

good luck though!

svg1990

You definitely do need to add more safeties and middles... Because all you're basing your "safeties" or whatever on is the fact that you have good SATs... Your list is basically a bunch of high reaches, a middle-- Michigan (and no, it's not a safety given your GPA), and one safety-- SUNY Binghamton. You should add some more schools that aren't high reaches...

strife15

I should say that coming from our school, the average into Michigan is a 3.6 with a 2118. We regularly get above 30 kids in a year, and above 20 at Cornell.

And does Michigan take Freshman year into consideration? If not, I have a 3.8 (as I've said before), which should be enough, I think.

svg1990

They do take freshman year I believe, and you need to pay attention to the fact that Michigan's data for OOS students is much more competitive, given that 65% are in-state, with overall lower stats.