Chances for Ivies, Duke, UVA etc.

maxx12345678
Fri, 05 Jul 2013 23:02:38 +0000

Hi everyone! I know you’re probably all sick of chances for HYPSM threads, and I don’t want you to actually chance me. But if one of you people has any experience with people who were actually accepted to those elite colleges, I just want to know if you think it would be worthwhile to apply early to HYP. For HYP, if you apply early, you can’t apply early anywhere else(private colleges), and if I don’t have a shot I’d rather just apply early to somewhere I’d actually get in. So here are my stats:

GPA: 4.0 UW 5.49 W (I go to a public school but it’s nationally recognized)

SAT: 2290 (800 CR, 740 M, 750 W) I know it’s low but I plan to retake it in October and get an 800 math.

SAT II: 630 World History, 780 Physics, 800 Math II, 800 Chemistry

APs: Sophomore; Statistics (5), World History (5), Chemistry (5)
Junior; Physics C Mechanics (5), Physics C E&M (5), English Language and Composition (5), AP Calculus BC (5) (Calculus AB subscore 5)

I self studied both english and calc. I didn’t take the AP English course at my school but took the exam anyway. I also only took AP Calculus AB but just took the BC test.

My coursework is for the most part the hardest my school offers; I did take it easier in required courses I wasn’t interested in like English. I did take AP Chem in sophomore year which hasn’t been done before at my school as well as AP Physics in in Junior year which has only been done once before at my school.

EC’s:
Mu Alpha Theta math honor society President
Science National Honor Society President
Habitat for Humanity
Active Key Club member (participate in a lot of fundraisers and charities such as eliminate walk and relay for life)
Varsity Track (4) made counties and regionals all years
Math tutor at school
Chess Club (participated in Maryland tournament, got 1st place unranked)
Internship at Johns Hopkins this summer for physics
My grandmother used to be the leader of the Katipunan festival in Maryland and I helped her out a lot
Did CMS masterclass workshop
Participated in Maryland Physics Olympics, got first place in one of the events
It’s Academic

I know EC’s are fairly weak but I’m hoping I can write a really good essay, I’m a strong writer if I have time to reread and edit over what I wrote.

Family Income: 100-120K I have 2 brothers who still are in school and live at home
Race: Half White Half Filipino
Gender: Male
My school is in Maryland.

Also, I have legacy at UVA and Columbia University. I plan on majoring in physics and I have a real interest in quantum and theoretical physics.

Again, I don’t want an actual chance, I know everyone will just say the Ivies are a high reach. I just want to know if you people think I have a decent shot applying early action to Princeton, which is my first choice. I just want opinions from people who actually know people who got into HYP and all that so they have a basis for comparison. Thanks for your time!

EDIT: Oh and I also have been swimming competitively for 9 years. I haven’t had any great accomplishments there but I’m not too bad.