CHANCE ME PLEASE--high GPA but sub-par SAT test scores!!

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>Hi I’m a junior right now and I have really good grades, but I’m just scared that my average SAT scores might hurt my chances for all the schools I want to apply to. I’m applying as a BioE major and any input would be much appreciated!!! </p>

<p>So here are my stats: </p>

<p>Asian American, Female, Private Catholic High School in California
Grade: Junior
Cumulative Unweighted GPA: 3.99/4.0 (straight A’s, one A-)
Cumulative Weighted GPA: 4.56
Ranking: my school doesnt do rankings but I think I’m in the top .1% of my class…</p>

<p>AP’s so far: Chinese, European History, Biology, APES (all 5’s)
AP’s taken junior year–Calc AB, US History, English Language, French, Psychology
AP’s taken senior year–English Literature, Stats, Calc BC, Econ, Gov, Chem (15 by the time I graduate)</p>

<p>SAT II: Math Level II (800); Biology E (780); Chemistry (730)</p>

<p>SAT I: 2220 (750 Math, 770 Reading, 700 Writing)
PSAT: 233
ACT Composite: 35 (36/35/35/34)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Research Club (Vice President of Mentoring/Competitions)
Interact Club (Publicity Officer)
A# Quintet (local charity group that I started to play piano in senior homes)
National Honor Society
Varsity Swimming all 4 years
Water Polo
Science Bowl
Robotics
Science/Engineering Club
KSFH 87.9 (I am a DJ for my very own FM radio show in the afternoons!! )
Tutor other students in bio and chem
TA for my school’s Science Department Head
Foreign Language Honor Society
Over 100 Hours of Service–tutored/helped Autistic children</p>

<p>Awards/Honors:
AIME Qualifier (scored an 11 on the AIME…totally not expecting that. missed the USAMO cutoff by 4.5)
Semifinalist for the USA Biology Olympiad (first-ever from my high school!)
4.0 Medal (twice)
National Merit Semifinalist (not official yet but I know that my PSAT score is definitely high enough)
AP Scholar with Honor (gonna be National AP Scholar by next year though)
Department of Energy Regional Science Bowl Top 6 Team
Varsity Scholar Athlete
Brother Eamon Schaffer Service Award
Science Department Award
Nomination for the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine
League Champion in 50 Free (JV)
Several other swimming/water polo awards</p>

<p>Summer:
Stanford EPGY–Bioscience & Biotechnology
Research Internship at the National Cancer Institute/NIH
Research Internship at Baylor University, Department of Chemistry
Clinical Research at UCSF Surgical Department of Urology (helping to publish a clinical trials paper)</p>

<p>Colleges I really like so far:
Columbia
Stanford
MIT (top choice!!)
Duke
Harvard
Johns Hopkins–BME (hopefully…but I know it’s tough)
Cornell
CalTech
Yale
UPenn
UCLA, UC Berkeley, etc. (all the UC’s)
USC</p>

2

<p>A 33+ ACT and 2200+ SAT isnt ‘sub-par’ at all. You have a legitimate chance at all of your schools. Some are reaches but they’d be the same for almost anyone else</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1500936-chance-me.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1500936-chance-me.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>hey! thanks haha I know my SAT scores aren’t “sub-par” I guess oops sorry about that but they’re not exactly “competitive”? Do you think I have a decent chance at MIT (I love the school so much, sigh)</p>

4

<p>I think you have as much of a shot as anyone else at MIT. It’s impossible to predict their admissions, but you have a higher GPA than me and similar scores, and I got into MIT. That said, MIT tends to just check that your grades/scores are adequate, and then decide based on your overall application – so a 2250 and a 2400 really aren’t that different to an MIT admissions director.</p>

<p>Just work hard on your essays, work hard in school, and TAKE PHYSICS! AP if at all possible (but just AP Physics B, I’m taking AP Physics C with no physics background and it gets insanely hard in E&M – even with my knowledge of multivar calc). MIT expects a year of physics (not required, but most people have it), and you should definitely definitely try to fit it in next year. It will definitely look better than one of the easier APs (econ/gov are pretty easy from what I hear).</p>

5

<p>LOL. I almost thought my DD was posting this except that you are from California. She got the same GPA and ACT scores (down to each section score). She got a chance to rescue that A- to A in Q4 though. You are definitely a qualified applicants to all these schools. You may want to use your ACT score for application if there is a choice. With many UCs as safety, you are fine even with so many highly competitive (low acceptance rate) schools on the list.</p>

6

<p>For MIT: Exactly what luisarose said. But I think you have a fairly better chance than most of the others.</p>

<p>I expect you to get into “at least” a couple or three of the top ten in your list.</p>

<p>STAY CALM. BE COOL. YOU ARE SURELY GONNA BE ALRIGHT. GOOD LUCK.</p>

7

<p>thanks everyone!
@luisarose my school will only let me take one AP science total in high school (I had to self-study Bio and APES), so for my senior year science course I chose AP Chem. But now that you mention it, AP Physics might be a good idea too. argh, so conflicted. Do you think I should try to switch science classes? I was thinking that Chem was the better choice since I was trying to go for bio or bioE in college and maybe do pre-med but idk. what do you think?</p>

8

<p>Wow… Chill out, a 2200 is HARDLY “subpar.” Besides, you made a 35 ACT… If you’re so ashamed of your SAT score, just send the ACT score. </p>

<p>For the record, a friend of mine got into Dartmouth with an 1820… Another got in with a 27 ACT… Another friend got into Northwestern with a 33 ACT… Another friend got into Emory with a 31 ACT… None of these schools will condemn you to a life of misery and failure… You’ll be fine. Chill.</p>

9

<p>2220 is sub-par? Okay…</p>

10

<p>I agree that Chem AP may be more relevant for your intended major. My D is taking AP Chem in Junior and will take AP Physics C in Senior but skipped AP Bio as she wants to major in Chem E. It is good that you did AP Bio by yourself. What science class did you take for junior?</p>

11

<p>I just felt my confidence go down the drain. Since when did 2100+ become “sub-par?”</p>

12

<p>35 and 2200 SUBPAR??? are you freaking kidding me… ugggh stop it. you have GREAT chances at the majority of those schools</p>

13

<p>I think all the replies should make you realize how silly your concern is. Relax, those are great test scores and you’ll get into a great school. If you’re so worried, send the ACT only.</p>