Chance me for Ivies?

stupiddorkyidiot
Sat, 10 Nov 2012 16:00:42 +0000

[fair warning - I’m copy/pasting this from the multiple degrees program forum]

Well, I promised myself I’d never make one of these threads, but reading everyone else’s chance threads has been rather discouraging, so I’m curious to know what you all think of me.
I’m applying to HYP, Brown (PLME), Dartmouth, and Columbia.
Also applying to Northwestern, UChicago, NYU, Barnard, BU, and possibly Tufts and Wesleyan. I don’t want to aim too high and get shot down, so I don’t really know what to do here…

GPA: 4.0 UW/4.23 W
Class Rank: currently #8. unfortunately, this will go down when semester grades come out as I’m only taking 2 APs this year.
Class Size: 314 (I’m currently in top 5%)

SAT I: 2350 (800CR, 760M, 790W)
SAT II: 800 Math II, 760 Chem, 770 US History
PSAT: 225 (NMSF)

APs: 5 US History, 5 Calc AB, 5 Lang + Comp (all taken last year). I’ll be taking Physics B, Bio, and hopefully Lit + Comp, Calc BC, and Psych this spring (I’m self-studying those last three).

Course load: this year’s is AP Bio, AP Physics B, Futures (a sci-fi based English class), gov/econ, and two choir classes.
I was originally signed up to take 5 APs this year, but there were ridiculous scheduling issues, so I ended up with this. My physics class is actually an independent study, but I don’t believe my transcript will reflect that.
I’ve also taken community college classes (3 years of Italian, and a semester of college algebra).
I spent my sophomore year in an independent study program in order to take a monthlong trip to Italy. Unfortunately, no honors classes were available.

ECs:
Volunteer in local ER - since spring 2012. Only ~50 hours so far.
Music - I sing in several choirs, including a select 12-voice jazz ensemble at school and a select 15-voice early music choir through Sonoma Bach Society (I’m by far the youngest member of the group). I also play piano and guitar.
Photography - I was invited to partner with Getty Images and am currently selling several photos through their website. Best in Show at county fair (as if this means anything… haha). I’m considering sending in an arts supplement to Brown and Harvard. I can post the link to my online portfolio if anyone wants to see it
Interact Club - member for 2 years, president 2012-13. Organized a service trip to Mexico. All the usual Interact Club stuff.
Athletics - I’m a self-taught weightlifter (random, I suppose, but I’m writing my short answer on this). I did ballet for a few years and have danced with the Moscow Ballet in their Nutcracker production for the last two years.
Church - I’ve taught the preschool church school class/provided childcare for the last three years, but I can’t get community service hours for this as it’s a religious activity.
Math tutor - off-and-on for the past few years. I’ve tutored junior high kids and my friends in classes from Alg I to Calculus. This is paid work, not volunteer.

Recs: I’ve waived my rights to see these, but I know my English teacher’s will be fabulous - she loves me. Not sure about my chem teacher’s writing ability, but he likes me very much as well. Counselor… well, this is a crapshoot. He likes me but doesn’t know me too well, so I’m not sure what to predict.

No hooks… I’m white, female, upper middle class. We’ll see how that serves me! I go to a magnet arts high school.
Dad went to Harvard for UG and received a PhD from Yale. Mom has a BS in mechanical engineering from University of Michigan.
It might be worth it to note that Princeton has sent me a fair bit of mail (presumably because of National Merit).

I’m a little bit peeved about my class rank - like I said, I wasn’t able to take any honors or AP classes sophomore year, and that’s what’s pushing it down (it’s determined by weighted GPA). I was the only NMSF at my school and, as far as I know, have the highest SAT score of anyone in my class.

Wow, I never meant for this post to get so long. No wonder my first draft for my common app essay was 200 words too long… Anyway, thanks very much in advance, and props if you read the whole thing :)