Help- What are my chances, plus a couple of application questions

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Colleges: Colleges: Harvard, UChicago, Yale, Stanford, Princeton

The colleges I would like to attend the most are Harvard and UChicago, and I was planning on applying ea to Harvard. I was wondering if you think I have an average Harvard app, or if it is above average. I am considering applying to UChicago early if my chances at Harvard are too low instead of taking the risk, but if not, I will apply early to Harvard.

GPA:
Unweighted GPA: 4.0

Weighted GPA: 4.63

Class Rank: Tied for 3rd out of roughly 750

Standardized test scores:
SAT (New one)- Composite: 1530; Math-790, Writing-740 (Haven’t taken the essay yet, plan to in October), took the old sat in 9th grade, got 1940

SAT II- Math1-750, US History- 740

Courses-
Freshman year- 1 AP Class
Sophomore year- 3 AP Classes
Junior Year- 3 AP Classes
Senior Year- 2 AP classes
IB Programme:
Higher Levels: English, History, Math
Standard Levels: Spanish, Chemistry, Biology

Exam Scores-
AP Scores:
5’s- Human Geography, Calculus AB, Statistics
4’s- Macroeconomics, Psychology, European History, US Government and Politics
3’s- Literature
IB Scores:
Chemistry-4
Spanish-5

Extra Curriculars:
These are the 10 EC’s I’m putting on my CommonApp:

  1. Research at the University of Central Florida Nanoscience and Technology Center for the summers after 9,10, and 11 grade.
  2. Investment and Financial Management Club- Founded it and I am president for 11 and 12 grades
  3. Model United Nations- Participated all 4 years, VP Junior Year, President Senior Year
  4. Relay for Life, Tem Captain- led a team at a local Relay for Life in 9, 10, and 11 grade, raised about $500 in total
  5. Chess Club- Participated all 4 years, VP Junior Year, President Senior Year, 4th place in a national tournament in U1200 section and 1st place at a local tournament in the U1200 section
  6. Quiz Bowl- Participated on team Junior and Senior year, I have one several awards, participated in Central Florida History Bowl/Bee
  7. UNICEF Chapter at my High School- VP Junior Year, President Senior Year, led the chapter thorough events such as trick or treating for UNICEF, went caroling every year at Christmas time, raised about $900 from this Junior year
  8. Played the Violin/Orchestra- Was in the school orchestra for 9,10, and 11 grade, tutored for a local middle school’s orchestra for all four years
  9. Attended Florida Boy’s State in the summer after Junior year (for those of you that don’t know, Boy’s State is program where you are selected to go to the state capitol and debate, run for offices, and write bills), and I got elected to County commission, and the Senate, and I was selected to speak in front of everybody because of a speech about Americanism
  10. Science Olympiad- participated 10,11, and 12 grades, Captain senior year, achieved state level in Sophomore year

Honors:
These are my 5 Academic Honors I am listing on my CommonApp:

  1. National Merit Semi-Finalist (I don’t know for sure, but I am assuming, my score was 1450 and my index score was 218)
  2. Honorary Mention at a Research competition in 11 grade where I was displaying my research and I was competing at the Undergraduate Level
  3. 2nd Place (Team) at a STEM quiz bowl-type competition hosted by Lockheed Martin in 11 grade
  4. Top Ten (Individual) in History at Central Florida History Bee
  5. AP Scholar with Honor during 11 and 12 grades

Recommendation Letters:

  1. One of my rec letters will come from my Senior History teacher. She is also the sponsor for the Model UN club, and she knows me very well and said she would write me an excellent letter.
  2. My other rec letter will be from my sophomore economics teacher. I also started the Investment club with him as the sponsor and he is my advisor for my Extended Essay for IB.
  3. I should also have on supplementary rec letter from the professor I have done research under for 3 years

My strong points are my extra curricular activities and my rec letters, and my weaker points are my test scores.

A couple of questions as well for anyone who can answer:

  1. Is it okay to use a sophomore teacher as a rec teacher if they have experience with you in another way like the one I listed, or should I find another teacher?
  2. Should I use the recommendation letter from my research professor, or is it unnecessary considering I already put research on my CommonApp?
2

aye

3

The competition for both schools is high and I don’t think you’re going to have a clear advantage at either school over the other by applying early. Apply to the school you like best.

Only include a supplementary rec if they will provide new information about you that you’re teacher recs won’t already be able to supply. Does this professor know you well? If the purpose of you obtaining this letter is to highlight the fact that you did research, then the rec isn’t necessary since it will already be on your activities list. Remember the purpose of the letters of rec is to give admissions officers insight about who you are as a person.

As long as the schools you are applying to don’t specify that recs MUST be from junior/senior year teachers, it’s fine. If he knows you better than your junior year teachers, it’s a good idea.