Early Decision? And some New Schools.

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>YES- I have gotten chanced before, but I am now looking at some new schools, and have a rough essay sketched out, so I was hoping to get your input. </p>

<p>-South Asian (Indian) Female
-Massachusetts
-Attending a very small, Catholic Prepschool in NE Connecticut
-Class Rank: They don’t release, but top three in class of 90
GPA: Currently 4.1 unweighted (might go down senior year)</p>

<p>** We only send one, two tops, kids to ivies. Will that help for Brown?</p>

<p>SAT I: 730 Writing (10), 750 Math, 800 CR
SAT II: 710 Biology M, 740 Math I, 780 US History
AP Biology: 5 (as a sophomore)
AP US History: 5</p>

<p>Senior Year:
AP English Literature
AP Physics
AP Calculus AB
AP American Government
French IV
Laboratory Teaching Assistant- Biology</p>

<p>*NB: I have taken all the AP courses allowed in my school. There is only one available to juniors, and I am not allowed to take more than 4 as a senior. I have taken the hardest schedule all four years.</p>

<p>Extra-Cirriculars:
-Varsity Cross Country, 4 years
-Varsity Track, 1 (will be 2) years
-JV Lacrosse, 2 years
-National Ocean Sciences Bowl, 3 years
-Model UN (President/Co-Founder)
-Writing Center Editor
-Calliope (Literary Magazine) Editor
-Math Center Tutor
-Administrator of a scholarly forum on etymology and onomatology
-Headmistress’ Welcoming Committee Tourguide
-Modern Philosophy Club 2 years
-National Honor Society
-Student Council Secretary</p>

<p>Community Service:
-Relay for Life, Planning Committee
-Muscular Dystrophy Turkey Dip
-Special Olympics Volunteer, 2 years
-India Day Health Center Services Volunteer
-Students in the Preforming Arts Fundraiser Participant for New Orleans
-Helped Organize Thanksgiving Food Drive
-Helped Organize Christmas Giving Tree</p>

<p>Awards:
-Model UN Confrence Honorable Delegate 2006,2007
-Biology Medal 2006
-Rennselaer Medalist 2007
-Middlebury College Book Prize 2007
-Science Symposium Winner 1st Prize (Physics and Overall), 2005
-Won a Full Scholarship to my High School
-Calliope Writing Contest Non-Fiction 2nd Place 2007
-Cross Country, SENE Championship 13th Place, 2nd Place Team, NE Championships, 16th Place, 2nd place team
-Relay for Life Jell-O Eating Contest 1st Place, 3 years (yes, I fully intend to put this on my application. It’s community service, and I’m quite proud of it.</p>

<p>Now, I realize that because I’m Indian, I’m competing against a more difficult applicant pool. My essay is about the significance of my blood, and how I’ve been different from it, yet how it defines me as a person. I’m hoping to might justify my erm, Indianness?</p>

<p>I’m probably going to apply pre-med, since I really do love the biological sciences, but I want to show myself to be a well rounded applicant, not just Bio crazy. But does my application even come off as Med Oriented? I’ve also noticed that my application isn’t particularly “standout”- I’m not a National Merit student, haven’t done 4-H work, or any Elite science fairs; just regional community work, and some stuff at school. How will that affect my running in the schools I’ve listed below? Any experienced veterans out there?</p>

<p>Furthermore, I’m asking your advice: For my EC essay, I’m trying to decide what to write it on: Cross-Country, or my love of names and my work on that website. What do you think would be better? </p>

<p>Do I have any “hooks” I should play up? How else can I improve my chances? I’m probably going to go for Brown ED (I realize it’s a crapshoot. Oh well :P). But now I’m also considering RD Johns Hopkins, College of William and Mary (guidance counselor suggestion) and University of Chicago. I was hoping to get some chances for those schools? Furthermore, how would I fare ED for Brown (or perhaps Columbia?) based on your impressions?</p>

<p>Thank you, and I’d be more than happy to chance you as well. I’ve come to realize that it is far easier to look at an applicant other than yourself and evaluate them!</p>

<p>-M</p>

2

<p>there’s nothing wrong with being indian, you should be proud of your roots (im indian 2)</p>

<p>not the best essay topic if you ask me…but the IVY’s u selected are reaches as they are for everyone</p>

3

<p>Your GPA is a little weird. 4.1 UW? What does that translate to out of 4 or 100?</p>

<p>Your EC’s and Awards are good, better than the average applicant, but not phenomenal.</p>

<p>About the AP’s, I’m pretty sure that colleges will take the amount of courses allowed into account, but… you could have homeschooled yourself too (I realized this myself pretty late).</p>

<p>One thing I’m wondering about: If you’re passionate about Biology, why is your SAT II Biology score so low? If you took it in Freshman year, that might explain it. Your SAT’s are good though.</p>

<p>It’s a crapshoot for Brown and JHU, yes. If I were you, I’d ED JHU instead if you’re really that interested in the field, although Brown has more diversity in field strengths from what I know.</p>

4

<p>Well, they’ve kept it on a 4.3 scale, with a 4.3 being an A+ in any subject, regardless of rigor.</p>

<p>SAT II Bio is low because I took it as a sophomore; Biology had been my very first AP Level class. SAT II Bio was my first SAT type test.</p>

<p>Yeah, homeschooling never really occurred to me. Our school <em>is</em> rigorous, and I was always under the assumption that the coursework was enough. </p>

<p>As for being into Bio, I chose to ED Brown because I while I am truly interested in the feild, parts of me still want to explore other feilds, such as political science and law. I thought I could best do this with Brown, and I think I simply liked the atmosphere and environment of Brown better (yes, let the cliche alarms ring. I’m well aware of it). But, chances are I’m most <em>likely</em> not going to end up there! :smiley: Oh well, worth a shot, right?</p>

5

<p>you’ve got a very reasonable chance at brown. go with your first choice.</p>

<p>good luck!</p>

6

<p>schools will know that you’ve taken the hardest possible courseload because your counselor tells them. it’s one of the boxes on the supplement. taking only 1 AP junior year won’t look bad if your counselor checks the box that says you’ve taken the hardest possible courseload. my verdict:
Brown ED:slight reach</p>

7

<p>You have as good a chance to get into Brown as the best possibly non-hook/URM/LEgacy/Athlete would</p>

<p>I think you will get in</p>

<p>Brown - Match</p>

8

<p>Thank you for your input. Any other suggestions/advice/chancing?</p>

9

<p>hahah hmm
we actually have similar stats, ish. i did ED brown … last… year, headed to campus in a few days, and i finally decided to come back to CC and help some kids out, anyway.</p>

<p>work on your essays, you definitely DO have a shot at brown. as for the hooks… brown takes people with hooks, they take well rounded people, they will take you as long as you as long as you can convince them that you’re right for brown, and you can really do that in your essays. and so that is my advice - work on the essays. really, really work on them, and you’ll be good. i think i just PM’d you, i’m willing to read whatever / give advice.</p>

<p>best of luck!</p>