I know, I know, chances threads suck...

Colleges & Universities Carnegie Mellon University
1

<p>…but I’d really appreciate some objective feedback. I’m a junior in high school but am trying to plan ahead as much as possible.</p>

<p>Asian-American
Twin Cities, Minnesota
Public High School</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.96, Weighted GPA: 4.02
(both GPAs will rise after this year, at least a 3.97 and 4.24)
Unweighted rank: 22/407, Weighted rank: 17/407</p>

<p>Taken sophomore year:</p>

<p>SAT I: 2100 (M 600, CR 760, W 740 Essay 12)
(am retaking this November, shooting for ~2200)
SAT II: French 720, Literature 730, U.S. History 740
AP: U.S. History 5, English Lang/Comp 5
(took Lang/Comp exam without prior study/class)</p>

<p>Classes, sophomore year on:</p>

<p>SOPHOMORE</p>

<p>French III: A/A
AP U.S. History: A/A
Health: A (required)
Honors British Literature: A
College English: A
Honors English 10: A
Honors Precalculus: A-/A-
Honors Chemistry: A/A</p>

<p>JUNIOR</p>

<p>AP Government & Politics
CIS Composition (a college course for those who have finished AP English)
AP World History
AP Calculus AB
AP Biology
AP Microeconomics & Macroeconomics
French 1004 at the University of Minnesota (exhausted French at school)</p>

<p>Harvard Summer School 2006</p>

<p>Beginning Fiction: A-
Twentieth-Century American Poetry: A-</p>

<p>SENIOR (projected)</p>

<p>Either switching to Andover or Choate, or:</p>

<p>AP Calculus BC
AP Computer Science
Honors Physics
AP European History
AP Psychology
All other courses at Macalester College</p>

<p>EXTRACURRICULARS & OTHER</p>

<p>-Co-president of the French Club
-Co-president and founder of the HEEK Club, a student group that promotes diversity and community
-Soccer (11 years)
-Piano (12 years), 2nd place MMTA competition, finalist in Northwestern College competition, passed “Superior” level of Northwestern College jury examination, passed level 8 of MacPhail Crescendo Program
-Teach Piano (2 years), have taught seven students, arranged recitals, arranged for students to play at nursing homes
-Senior leadership in Youth Group (member 5 years)
-Volunteered at Feed My Starving Children
-A Honor Roll since Freshman year
-Member of Earth Corps</p>

<p>Other information:</p>

<p>-Began French Freshman year but advanced to the highest level after less than two years
-Will have taken at least 14 AP tests by end of Senior year
-Was the first junior in the state of Minnesota to be allowed into CIS Comp, a strictly senior course; accelerated through French and English
-Have killer recommendations from Harvard professor, English teacher, and APUSH/AP World teacher
-Am compiling a collection of poetry/short prose for publication this year</p>

<p>Thanks! I know these things are so silly, but what can you do. Do you think I stand a chance?</p>

2

<p>Hey boijia, what school(s) are you planning to apply to within CMU? Selectivity varies for different schools. Obviously you have some impressive credentials; the number of APs taken is awesome and not too many people are going to have teacher recommendations from professors at Harvard. The one area that hopefully you can improve is the SAT math score. Depending on what school you’re applying to, the more critical this could be. For instance if you are applying to SCS, the 25%-75% SAT math range is 720 to 800, so your current math score could really hurt. </p>

<p>Having said that, because you’re only a junior (and I’m guessing you’ve only taken the SATs once so far), with some preparation and the experience from taking it previously, a raise in the math score is very likely. Overall your chances are good. If you’re applying to math/science oriented school (MCS, CIT, or SCS), aim for 700+ on the math SAT I (as well as for the Math IIC and Science Subject Tests when you take them) and you should be good to go. </p>

<p>Best of luck in the college process and feel free to ask any more questions you might have.</p>

3

<p>This is advice from experience.</p>

<p>We live in the south, which is attractive to some northern and western schools – and is very attractive to midwestern schools. Not many people from the sun belt care for Minnesota – sorry about that – but it is the sad truth (something about the weather).</p>

<p>My daughter moved to a school like those you proposed. And, her college chances decreased. Why? Let me tell you.</p>

<p>First, obtaining a high class rank at a prestigious school is not easy. She did very well at her school – but was not first or second in the class anymore.</p>

<p>Second, AP’s count for a lot. And, Andover and Choate (and my daughter’s school) do not “teach for the test.” Hence, you will see very few AP test takers from these presitgious schools – which may be a hinderance if you are a star 4 or 5 AP test recepient.</p>

<p>Third, location location location. If you attend Choate or Andover, you are a Connecticut or Massachusetts applicant. I was amazed to hear this from the college admissions people who came to the boarding school. Your numbers are compared to that state’s and your odds are based upon how you compare to that state’s applicants.</p>

<p>That last issue is important. If you seek to go to an Ivy League, and for all practical purposes your resume is identical but for where you complete your education, your odds are probably better by being a Minneapolis person as opposed to Conn. or Mass. Alternatively, Macalester or Carleton may like you more if you came from Mass or Conn.</p>

<p>Having said that, college admissions is not the end all for education. And, the education you would receive at Choate or Andover should well outweigh your fears of not getting into the “perfect” college. So, I would say go for it with the boarding school. Tell your mother I am sorry to say this as boarding school is a mother’s worst nightmare – we parents think you are FAR too young to be leaving the home before your 18th birthday.</p>

<p>Lastly, I am confused how someone who obviously likes and accomplishes so much in qualitative thought (English) seeks to attend a school which is often described as techie. Is it the Warhol Museum? Are you not better suited for a school that is more weighted for your strengths? I just find your choice for Carnegie Mellon a curious choice.</p>

4

<p>Carnegie Mellon was ranked the best for creative writing. </p>

<p>Also I don’t see how you can see that he is applying for HSS just because of what he has listed. If anything if I’m reading correctly I thought I saw some Comp/Science background. Anyways, I think this person’s chances are pretty good for admission. The E.C’s are great and so are the test scores.</p>

<p>Lastly, I don’t see how your personal anecdote proves that this person will not have a good chance at admission. Any CMU student will tell you that New Jersey, Northern VA/Maryland/DC and New York kids are the overwhelming majority and yet these kids repeatedly get in (some with pretty low scores). If anything I think a kid from Minnesota will have a BETTER chance than applying from NY/NJ/DC area which combined probably comprises of 80% of the student body.</p>

5

<p>I checked one list for creative writing which uses US News and World Report. For Master’s in Creative Writing, Carnegie Mellon apparently could not be included. <a href=“http://www-as.phy.ohiou.edu/~rouzie/569A/compcreative/University.htm[/url]”>http://www-as.phy.ohiou.edu/~rouzie/569A/compcreative/University.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>But, it is listed as a school for an undergraduate major.
<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/tools/search.php[/url]”>http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/tools/search.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>But, I could not find the list that made the undergraduate program the “best” in creative writing.</p>

6

<p>Father of the Boarder, I think that AcceptedAlready is confusing CMU’s creative writing program with their technical writing program,which is well- regarded.</p>

7

<p>Thanks, everyone. Do they have geographic quotas? I’ve always been a bit hazy on that. I don’t think they do, but does location still factor in?</p>

8

<p>I’d advise going to the best school you can to help your development. If your daughter is running out of classes to take in your public high school in Minnesota, then going to Andover for a year would be a very good idea in my opinion. Your daughter would get a lot more out of that (adjusting to dorm life before college and be able to take courses that are challenging to her) than wasting a year at public high school where she wouldn’t get much out of classes.</p>

<p>I would agree that from your daughter’s stats, her strength would seem to be more verbal than math, but that said, I’d recommend going into what you LIKE to do, not what everyone else is telling you that you should go into because you’re good at that.</p>

9

<p>Creative Writing:
"The Department of English boasts nationally and internationally known programs in creative writing, rhetoric, and literary and cultural studies. The Department’s Creative Writing Program is recognized as one of the best in the country. Its programs in technical and professional writing—which were among the first in the country—still rank among the best, and its Ph.D. program in rhetoric is one of the best known and most successful in the country. "
<a href=“http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases04/040308_kaufer.html[/url]”>http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases04/040308_kaufer.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“English - Department of English - Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Carnegie Mellon University”>English - Department of English - Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Carnegie Mellon University;

<p>To the op:
No they don’t have geographical quotas though they won’t take 99% of New Jersey + New York kids. Being from Minnesota, geographical location should be the last thing on your mind. If you aren’t from NY/NJ/DC area then you should be fine. Obviously certain locations like Alaska helps (we have quite a few Hawaii kids that always apply from Pohnahou or whatever high school and quite a few from CA). IMO Alaska helps the most and then everything else is pretty much equal. I’d say NY/NJ hurts but they have amazing public schools like Stuy and etc. All in all, just don’t worry about it.</p>