<ol>
<li>Very competitive senior high school(Top 100 USNEWS), GPA is 4.5(out of 5.0), top 10% out of 700 students. The #1 student’s GPA is 4.98.</li>
<li>Had taken 7 APs(all 4s) as of the end of Junior year(got AP Scholar with Distinction)and take 6 APs senior year(for sure get National AP award end of senior year)</li>
<li>SAT score 2160 SATII: Biology 760, U.S History 760-not strong enough-will retake SAT and SATII on November and December for regular application</li>
<li>200+ community service hours(library and hospital)</li>
<li>Got research internship-molecular biology(paid) and published first author review with PI in summer before senior year.</li>
<li>Vice-prisident of Academic Decathlon for 12th grade</li>
<li>Secretary of debate team for 12th grade(Debate team ranked #1 in Nation out of 2,700 high schools by the National Forensic League)</li>
<li>Secretary and Treasurer of Model UN for 11th and 12th grade</li>
<li>Qualifier for National level debate once(NCFL)
10.Qualifier for state level debate twice(TFL)
11.Quarlifier for regional level debate twice(UIL)
12.TA for AP Calculus AB</li>
</ol>
<p>Could you please give me some suggestions, like which schools for dream, just right and no problem? </p>
<p>My major could be: Government & politics, biology, language and history.</p>
<p>I was in TX, so, UC system, U of NC system etc. didn’t work for me.
Northwestern for ED?
Rice(harder to get in from TX), Emory, USC, Georgetown- dream schools?
Maybe some LACs for just right?
NYU, UT-Austin for safty?</p>
<p>You can apply wherever you want. I assume you feel borderline, and that’s why your asking. But even people with “shoe-in” stats…are NOT “shoe-ins” at top 20s. My D is in a similar boat to yours. Some stats higher, some slightly lower. But she’s going to apply to a couple top 20s. No one knows EXACTLY what they want. Even THEY don’t know. Do your best to convince them of your FIT. In my D’s school (large public, also ranked), very few Ivy admits. Those that are admitted to “top” Ivies are pretty much ONLY the 5.0-5.2 kids. But, that said…those kids have shown to have lower standardized test scores than my D. So…??? Does this mean GPA means more? Yeah, probably. That IS what they’re all telling us, why would we second guess them? BUT…it’s not EVERYTHING. Here is my take…fwiw - </p>
<p>Though they SAY there is no “threshhold”…I’m sure there must be. You can’t tell me that a 2.67 is going to cause the admissions personnel to waste any more of their time, likewise a 26ACT or 1600 SAT. </p>
<p>But, there are SO MANY “perfect” applications…I think it would take something incredible to overcome just one aspect that is less than perfect. In a 4.0 world where a 5.0 is possible with weighting, they get all the 5.0’s they need. And plenty of those with “top” SAT scores. From those, they select the best of the best…those that ALSO have the ECs, recs, essays. That’s how I assume it works. There must be rare instances where someone stands out. Whether it be due to a “hook” such as a legacy or URM, or perhaps internationally recognized vocalist, whatever. Otherwise…I just don’t see “less than perfect” being considered. BUT…the #1 thing I would want to ask of yours is…“top 10%”? Does that mean WELL above, such as “top 5%”, or … barely scraping by…like 69th out of 700? Because they DO look at rank. (some SAY they don’t, most do admit it). WHY would they want student #59 at ANY school…competitive or not? Rank is the only way they have to “sort through” the ridiculous variables regarding grades. Starting with a school that gives and easier A, then translates that to a DIFFERENT GPA than the next school, and finally weights it totally differently as well. </p>
<p>I personally think you’re a qualified top 20 candidate. Apply. Cross your fingers. Good luck. However, I will say…I don’t really see many “top 20” schools in your list. I’d say you’re “money” at many/most of those schools.</p>
<p>Thanks!!!
You’re right!!! My worst part is GPA and class ranking-the 60 out of 750 students. I can not beat my classmates(like top 50s)! For the record of class of 2009, top 50s of our school can get into Top 20 schools(national university rankings)- (our school’s top 50s can consider top 5 students at any high schools of the same school district). Like 1 H, 1P, 1Y, 1S, 1M, 2UP…So, it seems useless for me to apply these schools(HYPSMC, like top 5). And for top10 schools, another 20 people will fill in(like U chicago, Northwest, John hopkins etc.) and the rest 15 will go to Rice, Emory…</p>
<p>Maybe my best part is: national level debater
intership(paid) and published first author review with PI
AP award with distinction
GPA upwards trend since 10th grade
need retake SAT and SATII hope get better score</p>