Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2160: 730 CR, 720 M, 710 W
ACT (breakdown): N/A
SAT II: Math II: 750, Biology M: 660 (Not sure if I should retake bio in January)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.92
Weighted GPA: 4.38
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 10% (My school does not rank)
AP (place score in parenthesis): APUSH (4) English Language (4)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc AB, AP Stats, AP English Literature, AP Micro/Macro, Honors Computer Science, Honors Spanish
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
2012-Present: DECA (President) - Was state finalist in accounting last year
2014- Present: Odessey of the Mind
2013- Present: Interact
Library Reconstruction
2012- 2013: Euro Challenge
2015-2016: Fed Challenge
2013- Present: History Quiz Bowl (Co- President)
2012- Present: Basketball
Job/Work Experience:
Worked at local accounting firm for 4 years accumulated over 800 hours of experience
Volunteer/Community service: about 100 hours of miscellaneous volunteer work
Essays (rating 1-10, details):
Common App: (10/10)- wrote about how I my job affected my identity.
Cornell Supplement (8/10)
Tufts Supplements (7/10)
Carnegie Mellon Supplements (10/10)
Virginia Supplements (7/10)
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Teacher Rec #1: 10/10- English teacher loved me and I consistently received A’s in the class
Teacher Rec #2: 10/10- Club adviser for DECA we are very close
Teacher Rec #3: 10/10- Accounting teacher who I developed a good relationship with
Counselor Rec: I don’t see why it would be lower than an 8/10
School I would like to be chanced for:
Cornell (Applied Economics and Management)
Tufts (Quantitative Economics)
Carnegie Mellon (Tepper)
University of Virginia (Economics)
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: no
State (if domestic applicant): NY
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 90k+
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Legacy at Cornell (Mother)
I agree-- I wouldn’t send the 660 to those colleges. Unless those schools/programs require SAT II I wouldn’t send them, or I would plan to retake it.
I think you have a great shot at UVA. CMU, Cornell, and Tufts are very selective, so your SAT scores might be a little lower than what they are looking for (but it is by no means a deal breaker). That being said, I think your experience at an accounting firm and your GPA makes you a fantastic candidate. Hope this helps, and good luck!
Cornell (Applied Economics and Management) – Reach Your scores really aren’t that high but you have a shot.
Tufts (Quantitative Economics) – High match
Carnegie Mellon (Tepper) – Low reach
University of Virginia (Economics) – High match
I think youll get into at least one of these.
Find a way to not send your bio score though
Best of luck
Chance back? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19160432#Comment_19160432
Your unweighted GPA is impressive and your Ec’s while lacking that one standout are solid. I think what will set you apart other than your high GPA is the 800 hours at the accounting firm to me that seems very impressive as it is fairly specific to what you want to study. Your SAT is a bit low but other than that your application seems pretty solid I’d say Virginia is your best chance but you’ve made yourself into a fringe candidate at the very least at the others. Best of luck to you!
i agree with everyone else. I think Carnegie will be your hardest school to get into, but you have an average shot at getting in just by looking at what they want. Your resume is certainly strong, Your work experience will give you a good edge over a lot of other applicants.
Cornell: Reach. You don’t have bad chances but i would be a little surprised if you got in.
Tufts Solid chance here
Carnegie Mellon: probably not. The SAT is a little low but you do have a shot
University of Virginia I think you’ll get in.
Retake it! If it was the molecular portions that tripped you up, do the BioE instead as it is more evolutionary and generally easier. The fact that it has lower percentiles is more due to the fact that a lot of students who aren’t prepared for the Bio SATII take that one because they think it will be easier. It’s also curved generously.
Great extracirriculars and if your essays are really good then even breaking 700 will help you monumentally.
Just an update, I was wait listed from CMU but rejected by the other three. I thought I would have slightly better luck but I guess I was just a significantly inferior applicant compared to these schools applicant pools.