Chance Me? Brown 2012 Admission

Colleges & Universities Brown University
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<p>Brown is my top choice college, second is Yale. then Princeton, UC Berkely, University of Chicago, and so forth.</p>

<p>I am currently a Senior in HS</p>

<p>GPA: 3.6 unweighted
Weighted GPA: 4.0
ACT: 26 (just retook but havent seen scores)
SAT:have not taken/not going to take (am taking 3 subject tests)
AP Tests: AP English language and composition (4)
AP Psychology (4)
AP World History (2) am going to retake
AP Tests to be completed: AP Biology, AP Government, AP US History, AP Literature and composition, AP Environmental Science, AP French Language, AP Human Geography</p>

<p>Volunteering: 8 hrs per week at a theraputic riding center
2 hours per week at a humane society
MORE VOLUNTEERING TO COME</p>

<p>EC’s:
National Honor Society Member
President of French Club-2 years running
Hosted a french exchange student for 3 weeks
Travelled to France for 10 days, stayed with a family for 5 days
Sponsor a girl from Africa
Blog on genocide prevention
Senior Founding Member of STAND Club
Run my own small business where i donate 75% of profit to charity working to prevent genocide
Internship at an elemenary school for 8 summers</p>

<p>Paid Work:
Kitchen Staff at a Girl Scout Camp</p>

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<p>GPA and ACT scores are too low, sorry.</p>

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<p>thats funny because thats not what they rely on completely im oretty sure ive got a chance</p>

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<p>Depends on your definition of “chance”. You’re more likely to get into Brown then win the Powerball, but then again your chance of winning the lottery is pretty low. </p>

<p>you are in fact correct that they don’t entirely base their decisions off of standardized test scores, but as a general rule if your extracurricular activities are not outstanding you need extremely strong test scores or some type of special status status in order to successfully be admitted to a school like Brown. Looking at the admissions statistics they posted on their website here:</p>

<p>[Brown</a> Admission: Facts & Figures](<a href=“Undergraduate Admission | Brown University”>Undergraduate Admission | Brown University)</p>

<p>You can see that for somebody in your ACT range only about 6% of the students that apply are admitted. Nearly all of those people are hooked - which is to say that they are minority students, athletes, or developmental cases (people whose parents donate 10,000,000+ to the school). You don’t seem to have any particular hook based on your post here, so I think that you are unlikely to get in given your current stats. Like I said; you DO have a better chance of getting in then winning the lottery - but winning the lottery isn’t very likely. </p>

<p>My guess is .5% maybe? Same with the other schools.</p>

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<p>I would agree with SniperSAS, stats are pretty low. But Brown is huge on personal qualities and essays, so if you do super well on those you might be able to make up for it. Your ECs aren’t terrible, but they aren’t super above most of the people applying. You need to find something to make you stand out, which is what everyone here is going to tell you.
Then again, if this board represents your average level of writing mechanics and argument-making skills (“thats funny because thats not what they rely on completely im oretty sure ive got a chance”) then you don’t have a chance.
I would consider schools other than Brown/Yale/Princeton just in case.</p>

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<p>I hate when people ask for chances, people say them something they dont want to hear, and then argue it. Pet peeve.</p>

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<p>I wonder if any of you who decided to answer this question have actually TRIED to get into one of these schools? I doubt it. So I’m not sure why you comment if you’ve got no firsthand experience. :)</p>

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<p>and since when do “mechanics” matter when you’re writing on a public chat form? (and since it happens to be my own thread I can write however I like.)</p>

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<p>Okay, Ivy, I have helped and dealt with a lot of students applying to Brown and other schools on your list. Please go ahead and apply to whatever schools you really want to try, but don’t apply just because they are on prestigious lists or whatever. You have some interesting ECs, but realistically it is a very long shot for you to get into the list above. I hope you have someone helping you explore the wide range of schools out there that are just as great schools for you, and that you apply to a variety of “reach” categories (high reach, mid range, “safety”, etc. ) Look for what the school is really like, and how that does or doesn’t fit with what you want in a college experience. Remember that if you look at any group of people you would want to “be like” when you are “grown up” that you will find they come from a wide background of colleges (and some from no college). But some helpful guidance will make your next steps the happiest and best fit for you.</p>

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<p>If you already know that a lot of people on this forum don’t have any “firsthand experience,” why are you still asking? Would you say the same thing if the posters above raved about your stats and told you that you have a GREAT CHANCE at getting in?
It seems as though you already know you have a chance, since you are “oretty sure,” but like sniperas said, everyone has a “chance.”
If you are just panning for compliments and reassurances, I’m sorry; you aren’t going to get any. Like everyone else has reiterated, your GPA and test scores are low. Unless you have a mind-blowing special quality, I hope you have a lot of less competitive schools on your list. Nevertheless, good luck—who knows? Maybe you will win the lottery.</p>

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<p>I think you have a chance! With Brown it’s about showing you have passion for the school and showing what you will add to the environment! If you can do that, you have a chance! Good luck! :)</p>

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<p>0% chance 10 char</p>

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<p>Cmon ■■■■■. First indication was wanting to retake an AP test…</p>

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<p>Haha yesss I was kind of wondering about that.</p>

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<p>i want to second lovelyday’s comment — don’t get mad just because people are not complimentary, face it, realize your limits, even me, a foreign applicant know that your scores are a little bit low for brown. maybe some other schools, ivy or not, it’s your effort that matters most</p>

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<p>you have relatively little chance of getting in perhaps look at some state schools or bring everything you have up to par with other competitive applicants</p>

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<p>Since you’re arguing that most of these people don’t have “firsthand experience,” I’ll let you know that I’m applying to a few Ivy’s myself. While we all tend to be a bit biased toward our own resumes, I’m definitely willing to look at yours like an admissions worker would. </p>

<p>ACT: This alone will not get you in, and hurts your chances considerably. I myself got a 26 the first time around and had to take it again in order to better my chances, even if just slightly. I would take it again, if possible. Since you don’t seem to be of URM status, a 32+ would be safe. </p>

<p>EC’s: You have nice EC’s, good in quality/bad in numbers, which is fine. Focus your commonapp essay & Brown essay possibly on these few very nice pushes. </p>

<p>GPA: Your GPA, hands down, is inadequate for any Ivy League institution. Unless you have a 3.8-4.0, you’re going to be in trouble. I’m already worrying about my 3.89, so I can imagine how you feel. </p>

<p>Subject tests: Don’t take them. You’re not required to take them at Brown, but I see how they’re required for your other schools. I’d take Math 1 or 2 (depending on your math class), English Literature (look over some samples, it’s hard), and World History (since you’re retaking it, study early). Break at least 700 on these, and 720 + would be safe. If they’re really good, send them to Brown to boost your chances. </p>

<p>AP scores: I don’t think they weigh these into your acceptance unless they’re already on your transcript. Honestly, they’re all really weak, but at least it reflects on your 3.6. If you had a 4.0 and bad scores, that would just be really awkward for them to look at. I’d say just take the subject test for World and forget about the exam. You can’t retake the exam until May… What the hell’s the point? You’re either already in Brown or not. They won’t accept you because you’re willing to retake the World History exam, that’s stupid. </p>

<p>Overall: Your chances are slim and I’m not being mean, just blunt and honest. Besides a few good Ec’s, your academics are sub par when it comes to any Ivy League school, and I’d consider putting some safeties on your list… Brown, Yale, Princeton, UofC, Berkeley? Seriously? Even the most qualified kids put some safeties on their list. You will undoubtedly get rejected by a few of these schools, so please apply elsewhere, too. In order:
-UC Berkeley (low-middle)
-Brown (low)
-University of Chicago (low)
-Yale (statistically no chance)
-Princeton (same as Yale)</p>