<p>Here I am... I've lurked for quite some time and posted a few times, and now I've finally created a chances thread. MIT is the outlier in my list, in that it's the only school over 6 hours away; it would be incredible to attend, but is unlikely for a few reasons.
What I'm really looking for here are not only chances, but also ball-parked projections of how much merit aid I could possibly get from these schools. For example, how much merit aid could I expect to get from Georgia Tech or Illinois or Bama? Any suggestions will be graciously accepted (though schools within ~6 hours of Memphis are preferable.)</p>
<p>Schools:
-MIT
-UIUC
-Georgia Tech
-Washington U. St. Louis
-Vanderbilt
-The University of Tennessee
-University of Alabama
-Mississippi St. University</p>
<p>White male, Tennessee
Small, very rural private school outside of Memphis.</p>
<p>Intended Major: Computer Science
Weighted GPA: 4.55 (beginning of Jr. year, likely higher now)
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Rank: 1 of 52</p>
<p>SAT: 2240 (780R/720M/740W)
ACT: 34 (34R/34S/34E/32M/9W) Retaking next week.
SAT Subjects: 780 BioM, 750 MathII</p>
<p>APs: Bio - 5 hopefully
US History, Calc AB, and English Lit. next year.</p>
<p>Junior Schedule:
-AP Bio
-English 11 Honors
-Spanish 11 Honors
-Dual-Credit Algebra (Precal Honors 2nd semester)
-Government/Economics
-Band</p>
<p>Senior Schedule:
-AP English
-APUSH
-AP Calc AB
-Physics
-Personal Finance
-Band</p>
<p>Clubs/Organizations:
-National Honor Society (now Vice President)
-Student Government Association
-Spanish Club (Vice President)
-Mu Alpha Theta
-Ecology Club ("Artistic Director") </p>
<p>EC's:
-Marching Band/Wind Ensemble: Section Leader (2007-2008), Drum Major (2009)
-Varsity Men's Soccer (Defender/Striker, Starter) (2010)</p>
<p>Service:
-Volunteered in successful State Senate campaign (data entry and the like) (~14 hours)
-Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge
-Special Olympics City Basketball Tournament (~8 hours)
-Band Hall Renovation (~30 hours)
-Relay for Life Team Captain (~50 hours)</p>
<p>Awards:
-All-West TN, All-State Saxophone
-Attended 2009 TN Governor's School for the Arts for Music (Month-long residential program to which each student accepted receives a full scholarship. We essentially lived like music majors for a month at Middle Tennessee State University, studying with professors from around the country. Four saxophonists from around the state were accepted.)
-Commercial Appeal (Memphis Newspaper) Academic All-Star (Half-page insert in the paper, basically with a paragraph about some of the things I've done. Several of these are awarded each year in a few different categories.)
-Band "Woodwind of the Year" (3 times) and Leadership awards (Awards voted on by band students at my school)
-Various Wins/Places at regional math competitions</p>
<p>I haven't thought too deeply about essays or recs yet, to be honest. </p>
<p>Any advice, suggestion, etc. is very much appreciated, and I will definitely chance you back. I know that math is clearly my weakest academic point, which is killer as I want to study computer science. However, I am confident that I will be able to step up and be competitive in any class in which I may enroll. How badly will my lower math scores on ACT/SAT hurt me?</p>