Chances for Several Top Schools

Chance Me / Match Me
1

I’m a student who’s always seen College Confidential as a place that generally gives me a fairly queasy feeling in my stomach, but I can’t really resist doing this in this context.

Applying to: Top Ivies and other comparatively selective schools (I’d prefer not to specify)

ACT: 36 Composite (36 English, 36 Math, 36 Science, 36 Reading, 9 Essay)
SAT II: Chemistry (800), Literature (800), Math II (800)
Unweighted GPA: 4.0 (4.3 weighted)
Rank: School doesn’t rank but top 10%
APs: Chemistry (5), U.S. History (5), English Lit (5)
Current Courses: School doesn’t technically have APs (purporting to go beyond the AP program) but I’m basically in AP Calculus AB, AP US Government and Politics, AP Physics C, AP Statistics, special elective English courses with heavy writing loads, and an independent study in creative writing
Awards: National Merit Semifinalist, Cum Laude Society, Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Silver Key for Short Story, Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Silver Key for Photo, Departmental Awards for English (Creative and Critical), History (Best Paper by Upperclassman), and Chemistry

School Type: Top Mid-Atlantic private school that “goes beyond” AP program but offers AP testing as a comparative benchmark
Courseload: Hardest offered, completed advanced Spanish electives above Spanish 4 before dropping senior year (replaced with second math class)

Extracurriculars:
Mock Trial 10-12 (Co-President 11-12, Won gavel honors as both witness and attorney), 6 hrs/week during season
Math League 11-12 (Captain 12, Highest scorer on team), 3 hrs/week
Young Democrats 9, 12 (President 12) 2 hrs/week
Newspaper 11-12 (Most prolific contributor to school’s online publication) 4 hrs/week
Forum Council 9-12 (Vice President 12, Organized and helped oversee school’s annual speaker series) 2 hrs/week
Theater 11-12 (Stage crew for two plays and actor in one) 5-10 hrs/week during play season

Work/Volunteering:
Administrative Assistant at preschool’s summer program for three summers, 10-20 hrs/week
Community service (LIT/CIT) at summer camp for two summers, 50 hrs/week each summer for four weeks, chosen to stay on as volunteer staff

Essays/Recommendations:
Not really in a place to judge

Hook:
Hopefully writing.

2

It’s hard to find a weakness in your application, but nothing really stands out. You have a great profile, don’t get me wrong - hard to fault the scores, GPA, or ECs - but if you’re applying to top Ivies your chances are dicey unless you’re Malia Obama or the dean of admissions is a family friend, and national recognition in your academics or an EC, while not essential, will help. You don’t seem to have anything on that level.

If you apply to 6-7 good schools, I can say with near-certainty that you’ll get into at least one.

3

“Chance me, but I won’t tell you what schools I am applying to.” Just a humble brag.

4

I agree with intparent
You’re asking if you can get into the schools you want to get into, but won’t say what those schools are. What would you like us to say “yup, you’re guaranteed admissions to every school out there”?