Thank you in Advance

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Hello College Confidential readers! I am currently a junior, going to be a senior next year. I am looking for guidance. In essence, I simply want to know what I can do to strengthen my application. Up until this point, the things I have done, I have done solely for fun, but I wonder if I should be doing more. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

I plan to apply to the following schools:

Yale
University of Pennsylvania
Harvard
Stanford
Princeton
Brown
Dartmouth
Duke
Johns Hopkins
Northwestern
Juliard
University of Iowa (State School)

Here are my stats:
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.62
ACT: C:35 (M:35, S:36, R:34, E:35, W:9)
SAT: N/A, but will take as a part of the National Merit Finalist process
SAT II: I am taking these in June. I’m taking the Math II, Chemistry, and Spanish exams.

Senior Course Load:
AP Music Theory
*Statistics (Dual Credit Course)
AP Government
AP Macroeconomics
AP Microeconomics
AP Literature/Composition
Chamber Choir
AP Physics I
AP Spanish
Orchestra
Gym

Extracurriculars:
Piano- Classically Trained Pianist, Have won Divisions C and D at the state level of the IMTA piano competition and received Honorable Mentions in levels B and E, have won various local competitions and scholarships, was a finalist for our Symphony’s concerto competition. Also pianist for our local Youth Symphony.

Violin- I play in my schools orchestra as associate concertmaster. I am also assistant concertmaster of our local Youth Symphony.

Vocal Music- In our schools top Chamber Choir, received the “Best of Center” award at this years State Solo & Ensemble festival. 3-year All-State Chorus Member.

Drama/Theatre- Many leading and supporting roles. Directed a show this year and will be directing another next year. Also schools head lighting designer. Have one schools “Best Actor” and “Best Technician” award. In addition, I have achieved the International Thespian Honors letter. I am also State Thespian Officer, one of six students in the state that represent and advocate high school theatre.

Tennis- Junior Varsity tennis team for three years

Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do

Three-Year Student Council Member, class president during my sophomore year.

National Honors Society

Jazz Choir- 2-year member of our schools top a cappella jazz choir. Was a member of our second-tier jazz choir my freshman year. My freshman year, my jazz choir got 5th in the state. Last year, my jazz choir got 3rd place and this year we got 4th place in the state. Also, a finalist in the All State Jazz Choir auditions. Received outstanding soloist award at Millikan Vocal Jazz Festival.

I volunteer on a regular basis at my local library (about 100 hours total so far)

HOBY Alumnus

Gender: Male
Financial Aid: No
Ethnicity: Asian

Once again, any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

2

Oh and I forgot to mention that I’m the two-year Vice President of drama club at my school

3

You’re a strong applicant and are doing everything right so far. Make sure you write good essays and get strong recommendations and I’m sure you can get into top 20 schools.

4

Bump

5

Update: I took the Chemistry and Math 2 subject exams yesterday and I’m almost positive I got an 800 on Math 2 and at least a 750 on Chemistry.

6

You should consider applying Early Decision at your favorite school from your list in order to significantly increase your chances there.

7

You can get a 35 on the ACT but can’t tell the difference between one and won?

8

Your application itself looks very strong. My only suggestion would be to add some safety schools to your list. A lot of the schools you have are very unpredictable no matter what your stats/EC’s are.

9

@HH12345 I realized that after I posted this but it wouldn’t let me edit a second time to change it haha

@livelaughlove16 To be honest, if I don’t get into these schools, then I’m pretty confident that Iowa is my best bet. I already have some scholarships to the school, and it has some really good programs for what I want to go into (Dental).

10

Pretty incredible application you’ve got here. I’d be surprised if you don’t get at least 5 of those schools in all honesty. But who knows, with these schools it is never easy to tell. I would look for a few more safety schools just in case.

The only thing I would worry about really is the SAT II’s, as many of these schools require them. If you end up not doing as well as you thought you did, however, you still have some time to retake them. But with your high marks I’m sure you will do fine. Other than that, I would suggest applying to a few good safety schools, write some solid essays and you should be good.

11

Does anyone have any safety school recommendations that have very strong music and theatre populations as well as a good overall academic reputation?

12

You obviously are very qualified. You do run the risk of only gaining admission to Iowa because your schools are so competetive.
Maybe consider Rice? Rice has a very good music school. The admission rate is still very low.
Possibly University of Rochester with its Eastman School of Music. perhaps Carnegie Melon? Theses are all good STEM schools. I’m not sure what your thinking for a major.

13

Wow. Do you mind sharing your ways…

14

@txstella I actually won my schools Bausch & Lomb science award, so I might be able to get some scholarship money for the University of Rochester. Also, I heard that Carnegie Mellon is especially good for theatre. I might have to look into that more. I also have a friend who will be attending Rice next year and I’ll ask him what he thinks. Thanks for your input!

15

Update: I got my SAT Subject Test scores back and I got a 790 on the Math 2 test and a 770 on the Chemistry test

16

Also, I have come up with an updated list of the colleges I want to apply to:

Yale SCEA
Harvard
UPenn
Columbia
Brown
Princeton
Johns Hopkins
Carnegie Mellon
Rice University
Northwestern
University of Iowa

17

You need 1more safety and(50%+ acceptance or guaranteed) a couple more matches (colleges with 30-45% acceptance rates that you like and can afford).

18

You’re an extremely competitive candidate. Feel confident that almost any institution would appreciate a student like you. That said, you’re applying to extremely competitive schools.

Yale SCEA - Waitlist
Harvard - Waitlist
UPenn - Accepted
Columbia - Accepted
Brown - Accepted
Princeton - Waitlist
Johns Hopkins - Waitlist —> Accepted
Carnegie Mellon - Accepted
Rice University - Accepted
Northwestern - Accepted
University of Iowa - Accepted

Chance me back!

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18606058#Comment_18606058

19

@MYOS1634 Why?

@j4jai127 Wow, no rejections? I’m flattered! Thanks for your input! I really feel like I’m pretty much going to apply, and just see what happens because like you said, most of these colleges are extremely competitive, and can be quite unpredictable.

20

Because there’s too much difference between your reaches and your safety. In addition, you should be able to find a strong(-er) Honors College if you bother looking. Pitt would be an obvious example. Apply this summer, get the answer in the Fall, an then you’ll be able to build a list that is less risky. All students want to have choices in the Spring. You’re applying to universities known for being crap shoots. You’re a very strong student and obviously both smart and able to strategize. Can you imagine yourself Spring 2016, everyone is discussing choices…
Don’t put ypurself in the situation oof not having one