ambivalent ambitious fo Harvard, Yale, Princeton, U Chicago, Rice

Chance Me / Match Me
1

hey Y’all

GPA: 91.2 (unweighted); school is nationally ranked
current junior
SAT: 720 but will retake
APs: WHAP (5), soon to have taken AP English, AP Calc AB, APUSH

ECs:
Debate-- Since the 8th grade, qualified to NIETOC in Original Oratory; (soon to be, hopefully) 2x qualifier to Gold TOC in public forum debate (2x (hopefully) national qualifier for those who do not speak debate). Debate Captain next yr.

Started a middle school debate program at my middle school. Started from nothing and now has over 40 middle schoolers involved

Ran a free debate camp for urban debate league middle schoolers two summers in a row. 8 kids last summer, 25 this summer.

Volunteering-- 1,200 hours in grades 9-11th

Cofounded a nonprofit that gives free haircuts to the homeless, which has provided over 500 haircuts to those in need. (I can cut hair… Not well but I can) Org will be expanding to two new cities. Has seven a team of seven hairstylists (and me) and provides free shampoo and conditioner to all our events.

A leader in an organization that teaches classes in speech, which has taught over 400 students nationwide.

Works as a head grant writer for a christian nonprofit organization; lead a team which received over $140,000 in grants/in-kind donations.

President of school’s diversity council

Gay-Straight Alliance Leader (sits on board)

Worked with emergency LGBT youth shelters in my area, brought massive amounts of supplies to local shelters in my areas

President of PAC that lobbies for the repeal of Anti-LGBT

Received some local awards and an honorable mention from the MIT model UN conference.

Other: I’m Hispanic/queer

Chance me: U Chicago, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Rice, Georgetown

2

Whoops Miss typed. SAT 720/740 (English math)
So 1470

3

Your profile seems decent, but I would recommend that you retake the SAT, especially if 1470 was your first try. The colleges that you are looking into are all highly competitive institutions, so a score of 1500+ would help. Also, many schools require you to take the SAT Subject Test, so consider taking it ASAP. Lastly, a short note on your ECs: while I can see your passion for debate, it has become such a common activity these days that it shows very little about who you are. Remember that you are also competing against national and international varsity debaters who represent their country at WSDC. Rather than trying to find an edge through debate alone, also zoom in on a unique passion that really defines who you are–perhaps your interest in diversity and charity is a good starting point. I hope this helps.

4

@qwerty89 where does a 91.2 gpa put you compared to others at your school? Take a close look at the naviance scattergrams for your school. Depending on your school, that could be a score that would make acceptance likely at the most highly compettive colleges, or it could be one that makes it nearly impossible.

5

My weighted GPA puts me at around a 94-95 which is barely below average (or is average) for the people who apply Harvard/Yale/Princeton.

Thanks a ton; I had not considered this. :smiley:

6

I completely understand what you are saying. I will definitely take this into consideration, thank you so much!

7

If your school is nationally ranked, then your college.counselor will be able to give you a much better idea than any of the posters here.