Native American Chances?

Chance Me / Match Me
1

So, I am currently applying to Princeton, Harvard, (reach), and CU Boulder (main) to study and major in Physics. I am registered as Native American and I currently have a 3.6 GPA, but this is because I didn’t know I wanted to do physics until halfway through junior year. I have perfect grades in my 2nd semester of junior year and this year for my senior year, It looks like ill have perfect grades for my first semester as well. I’m taking the highest level of mathematics and physics at my International American School in Italy, which is AP Phys 1 and AP Calc AB. Some achievements I have achieved are -

DoDEA Excellence Award in Physics

DoDEA Excellence Award in Quantum Physics

Independent Study Student in Quantum Physics

Lab Assistant in Physics Classroom 2019-2020 & 2020-2021

Teachers Assistant in IT Classroom 2020-2021

Calculus and Physics Tutor in Seminar

Accepted into exclusive CU Boulder International STEM Research Summer Camp

Eagle Scout with Engineering, Physics, and Leadership Experience

Student leader and representative for my school’s research trip to the CERN Particle Accelerator in Switzerland to study physics for a week

Ranked 35/88 in my class, because again, this is due to my poor GPA and me not knowing what I wanted to do in life until recently.

Also, I currently volunteer to help sanitize and manage food at our American supermarket during COVID-19.

SAT - 1550
SAT Physics - 750
SAT Math 1 - 800
SAT Math 2 - 790

I also know I’ll have EXCELLENT letters of recommendation from Ph.Ds and my AP Teachers at my school.

Just want to know my chances of getting into one of those schools above with my stats aswell as my minority status. There are around only 9 Native Americans at Princeton and something like 13 at Harvard, so I assume ill get some big brownie points for that. CU Boulder of course is my main/safety, and I’d be happy going there either way because its my ideal “dream” college setting.

2

Congratulations on your achievements.

I can’t chance you, of course both Harvard and Princeton are reaches. Are you going to apply to Harvard SCEA?

I would also consider applying to Dartmouth, if it appeals to you. They have an institutional goal to increase Native American student enrollment.

Is CU Boulder affordable? They likely won’t provide much FA for you. Run their net price calculator to get a cost estimate (you should do that at all the schools on your list).

Good luck.

3

@Mwfan1921 I am not applying to Harvard SCEA. And I am applying to Dartmouth, but it doesnt have the stongest of physics programs, so its not nescessarily up there on my list. And yes, CU Boulder is affordable. I am using my parents GI Bill. Also why wouldnt they provide much FA for me?

4

Makes sense on Dartmouth. Why not apply to Harvard SCEA…is it restricting some of your other applications?

Many state schools don’t give FA to OOS students, including Boulder (assuming you are OOS because you are in Italy).

5

Most state universities do not provide much (or any) need-based FA to out-of-state students. However, some do offer merit scholarships to out-of-state students.

Check the net price calculator on the web site of each college you are interested in.

6

But be aware that Dartmouth has a social scene that is very heavy on fraternities and sororities compared to US universities in general.

7

What is your parent(s) state of residence? Because even though you don’t physically reside there, most of them have rules allowing you to claim instate tuition.

You sound a lot like my son, he is Native and was a military kid for 16 years.

Have you thought about ROTC?