<p>So here I am, yet another high school senior aspiring to attend a top-tier college and wonder just how likely that is. Your thoughts?</p>
<p>Colleges of Interest:
Harvard
MIT
Stanford
Yale
Columbia
NYU
Texas A&M
Rice
Cornell
University of Wyoming (though this one’s already guaranteed)</p>
<p>Gender: F
Location: Wyoming
College Class Year: 2012
High School: Public
High School Type: sends some grads to top schools
Will apply for financial aid: Yes</p>
<p>Academics:</p>
<p>GPA - Unweighted: 4.00
GPA - Weighted: Not calculated by my school
Class Rank: 2
Class Size: 218</p>
<p>Scores:</p>
<p>SAT I Math: 800
SAT I Critical Reading: 720
SAT I Writing: 690
ACT: 35
SAT II Math Level 2 (IIC): 790
SAT II Chemistry: 730
SAT II Spanish: 640</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:</p>
<p>Significant Extracurriculars:
Student Council
Academic Challenge (State Champion Team)
National Honor Society
Job as hostess and waitress
Orchestra
Honor Choir
Girls’ State</p>
<p>Leadership positions:
Student Body Secretary
Student Body President</p>
<p>Honors and Awards:
National Merit Semifinalist (as of right now)</p>
<p>Classwork has been the top that my school offers, i.e., GT English, honors, APs (1 sophomore year, 4 junior year, 5 this year), with nothing less than in “A” in anything. Major electives have included computer science and music.</p>
<p>You make an attractive candidate for the second-tier schools (Duke, Rice, Emory, ect.), but you have nothing that stands out for the elite universities.</p>
<p>Great grades, great ACT…and that’s about all. You are, however, very well-rounded with an instrument, sports, and student government. This works well in your favor. Your awards are very, very lacking. You need something to make you stand out among the many thousands with applications just like yours.</p>
<p>Harvard, Yale, Stanford: Reach
Cornell, Columbia: Slight reach
MIT: Slight reach / High match (they love girls)
Rice, NYU: Match
Texas A&M, U Wyoming: Safety</p>
<p>Since when is Duke a second-tier school? Ivies aren’t the only elites. Your ECs aren’t that great, which is probably why gaffe’s are a little harsh, but close enough.</p>
<p>Whoops… I forgot some things, and I didn’t realize that you can’t edit posts after replies. So add to the list:</p>
<p>All-State Violinist
Conference and State Qualifier in Swimming
National Finalist in MathCounts (in 8th grade, so does that not count?)
Rocky Mountain College Computer Programming Competition two-time champion
Four-time All-Wyoming Math Team</p>
<p>Also, planning to retake SATs to please the NMSC.</p>
<p>As for ethnicity, I’m a white girl. Well, nearly half hispanic, but not quite enough to really count for anything.</p>
<p>Thanks for the chances, guys. More will also be appreciated.</p>
<p>Those simply add to your well-roundedness. You are a great musician and athlete. Your general chances remain the same.</p>
<p>A tier two school is still an extremely selective and excellent college. It simply is not as difficult to get into as HYPSM. The Ivies past HYP and UPenn are tier twos. Duke is also a tier two, albeit one of the top in that group.</p>
<p>It’s a good question, actually. Mom is mostly Hispanic (something to do with the great-grandparents, I think), Dad isn’t Hispanic in the least. I think… 3/8 for me?</p>
<p>But I don’t look Hispanic at all, nor do I identify culturally, so I’d feel guilty for using it.</p>
<p>Not trying to be offensive here, but why you Americans are so desperate to “strip” yourself? I mean, trying to list an Avogadro number of activities in order to sell yourself. As a foreigner, I have no idea about all these strange words appearing on you people’s extracurriculars. Are nominations and even appearances the very factors of US college admission? No wonder American girls look sexier, externally and “mentally” though (jk).</p>
<p>Again, just an international applicant’s point of view. Hoping any one can critique on my opinion for me to gain some insights.</p>
<p>If you don’t live in the US, it’s hard to understand what the activities and awards are like. The same is true vice versa for US people who are mostly clueless about the things of foreign countries.
Example: You mentioned a math organization that you are involved in. How does it compare to US math programs and competitions?</p>
<p>All right, so I have a question now. Not reflecting any college in particular, nor am I trying to change any of the chances I’ve been given. It’s just a general question I’ve been wondering about.</p>
<p>When I was an underclassman, I was involved in a bunch of things, but by the time I got to be a junior, I realized that I was subconsciously resúmé padding, so I cut back so that I could actually enjoy the things I dedicated myself to.</p>
<p>So I have two years’ worth of Spanish Club (even was elected secretary), Debate team (won a tournament, elected treasurer), and Key Club. Would it be worth putting those on apps to reflect the leadership positions, or would it just show a lack of dedication since I dropped them?</p>
<p>Considering that Wyoming has a population around 400,000, there are very few Ivy level candidates and they are highly valued. It’s called a geographic hook, and you have it. My D came out of a Wyoming HS and is starting Jr. year at Harvard. You need to raise your lowest SAT a bit, but otherwise I would say you will get into at least a couple of Ivies if not more. The very top 3-4 schools are more of a crap shoot, but still you have a chance.</p>