Chances at selective universities? Please!

ksarmand
Sat, 29 May 2010 15:08:04 +0000

Your school-related credentials are excellent. However, as it has been said already, your standardized tests will detract from your application; your 3 and 4 scores on AP classes may cause an adcom to rethink whether or not you had mastered the material.

I’m going to be brutally honest here, so forgive me.

English and Spanish acceleration aside, you’re a pretty average applicant. While you may have an esoteric interest, bear in mind that a good number of the individuals who apply to these schools do (mine was hot sauce, capsaicin, and Scoville ratings). Having what seems to be a cool interest is, in the greater scheme of things, not exactly a deal breaker.

For the Ivies, I’m sure you already know it’s a crapshoot, even for the 2400 scorers. The schools you listed as “others” are also not shoo-ins; I have a friend with a 2290, great GPA, and a boatload of ECs who was waitlisted at Georgetown. Tufts likes to play the yield game; if your SAT goes up, there’s a chance they’ll involve you in it.

And as it has already been said, Emory is not a safety.

I don’t know what you’re considering studying, but since most of your schools are in major metropolises, are you considering others in the same areas? Some suggestions:

Washington, D.C.:

[ul]George Washington University
[]American University[/ul]
Boston:

[ul]Boston University
[]Boston College
[]Northeastern
[]Wellesley [/ul]

I’m not too familiar with schools in RI and PA, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to offer suggestions for those locations.

However, I noticed you didn’t have University of Chicago on your list. Given your stats, I would encourage you to apply EA - scores aren’t necessarily their bigger concern, and they like those who think outside the box. Just based upon your admittedly brief sketch, I think it’d be a great place for you to apply.