Hello everybody. As I’m sure many of you guys know, we’re in the final quarter of the school year and, for us juniors, that means were making the final decisions on what colleges we want to apply to or visit. These schools that I’ve listed in the title are my top 5 that I want to get accepted to and I was just wondering what my chances will be come applying.
Intended Major:
- Physics / Astrophysics with a minor in Chemistry
Academically:
GPA: 3.95 (weighted) and 3.85 (unweighted)
- I started out with a 3.63 GPA the first semester of my freshman year. Not only was this because I was adjusting to the high school course load, but also because I was battling an eating disorder and my dad was getting remarried after my mom passed away from presciption drug overdose 9 years ago. Since then, I’ve gotten a 3.96 GPA every semester since and (hopefully) will have a GPA above 4.0 my senior year.
Class Rank: N/A
- I go to one of the best and most rigorous schools in my state, so we don’t publish class rank as it would be unfair for all the student with high GPAs because our valedictorian has a 4.4 GPA (so unfair).
AP Courses: AP Biology (11), AP European History (11), AP Statistics (12), AP Physics 1 (12), and AP Environmental (12)
- Schools recommmends that we only take 2 AP courses each year and only offers them to juniors and seniors. Plus, our regular courses are considered as hard as the local public school’s APs.
Honors Courses: British Literature Honors (10), American Literature Honors (11), and Pre-Calculus Honors (12)
ACT Composite Score: 30 (English: 31 / Math: 29 / Reading: 31 / Science: 28)
Extraciriculars (In school)
- Officer in the National Honors Society (11-12)
- President of the Environmental Club (11-12)
- Planning Commitee Member in the Current Events Club (11-12)
- Fine Arts Week Film Presentor (11-12)
- Book Club (11-12)
- Link Crew (12)
- Senior CROSS Retreat (12)
- National Spanish Society (12)
- Powder Puff Games (12)
- I could not do sports due to my dad not being able to drive me to practice, my commitment to picking up my brother once I got my license, and my eating disorder
Extracirculars (Outside of School)
- Mass Server (9-12)
- Canine Companion at My Local Humane Society (10-12 during the summer)
- Eager Reader Summer Reading Program (11-12 during the summer)
- Vet Intern (11-12 every Monday, Tuesday, and Wedsenday night)
Work Experience
- Babysitter (6-12)
- Head Phone Staff at My Local Pizza Hut (10-12 at 12 hours per week)
Awards
- QP Knight Award (8)
- Knights of Columbus Service Award (8)
- Presidential Award for Academic Excellence (8)
- National Spanish Exam Honoree (11)
- Edgewood High School Academic Excellence Award (12)
- Most awards aren’t given out until graduation so hopefully this category will fill up a little more.
Recommendations:
- Guidance Counselor / Environmental Science Teacher / English Teacher / Vet I Internship With
Parental Education
- Dad = Business Degree from Marquette University
- Mom = High School Diploma
Sorry for such a long post, but I wanted to include as much information as I possibly could to make it easy for you guys to judge me. I can’t tell you how nervous I am to start visiting and applying to college. I’ve always had low self-esteem and going to a school with so many other kids that are more talented then I am doesn’t help. However, it’s my dream to make a difference in the world and I feel that these schools can help me achieve it. Remember to leave me a link so that I can chance you as well.
UCLA and UChicago seem a bit out of your reach unfortunately. UCLA is very tough out of state for anyone…Maybe applying early action to UChicago could better your chances? Not sure. It’s a tough sell for sure. I live in the Chicago land area and many kids from my high school apply there with even better stats than yours and don’t get in.
Madison: High Match
Rochester: Low Reach (not too sure as I’m not that familiar with the school)
These are my best estimates, but take it for what it’s worth as I’m certainly no expert. Best of luck and congrats on what you’ve achieved so far!
Academically, youre not quite there for UChicago, UCLA, or JHU. Your ECs lack pertinence to your major. However, you definitely still have a chance at these schools. The physics major is disconcerting. Why physics? Your ECs have nothing to do with it! If I didn’t see you had said Physics, I wouldve guessed you would be a prevet/bio major. Perhaps it might be better to apply as prevet/bio and then switch to physics once youre in, because it would fit your ECs much better. Also be sure to mention the eating disorder and the death of your mother sparingly; don’t make it seem like youre going for a sob story! Mention each once, or perhaps write your essays about them, and admissions officers will be able to tie it into your narrative and analyze what they see for themselves. I’m very sorry for your ordeals, that must’ve been tough. Colleges will understand that, and it will hopefully help with what youre lacking academically. Also is your school on a 5. gpa scale?
UChicago - very high reach
UCLA - High reach
JHU - high reach
UW Madison - match
U of R (Im from this area, used to live right by it!!) - Low reach
With some minor revisions in the way you present your application, i think you would have a better chance at each school.
UChicago :High Reach
UCLA :Low Reach
JHU :Match
UW - Madison / Rochester :Match
If you can raise your GPA further then you have a legit chance to get into UChicago and UCLA too
Chance me back? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1754325-please-please-grade-me-please-and-ill-grade-you-back.html#latest
Thanks for the input. Are there any other schools that are in my reach? I know that GPA is weighing my down (ARRGGHH) like I knew it would:(
I would work on your act or sat score. If you can study a lot and get it up a couple of points then you would have a much better chance at U Chicago! And your story will help when considering any discrepancies in your application. Apply early at Chicago if that’s your dream school. Chance back? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1754028-chance-me-for-range-of-schools-boston-college-georgetown-brown-etc.html#latest
Are there any other less selective schools that I should consider? Would early decision possibly help me??
UChicago - reach
UCLA - reach
JHU - low reach
Madison - match
Rochester - match
I know that UCLA cares a lot about the essay, and it seems like you will have a lot to write about. If you put a lot of effort into the essay and have instructors review it and assist you in making sure it is as good as it can possibly be, you could have a pretty decent chance, I think. I don’t have as much familiarity with the other schools’ admission processes/what matters to them.
Also, UCSB’s physics program is ranked higher than UCLA. UCSB is definitely easier to get into, so perhaps look into that?
Chance me back! 
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1754754-chance-me-transfer-applicant-smith-wellesley-amherst-just-yes-or-no-please.html#latest
JHU is a match for no one.
UChicago :Probably too high for you
UCLA : Unlikely
JHU :Good chance that you’ll get in
UW - You’re set for these schools
Your test scores are a little low for UCLA and Uchicago, I honestly don’t think you’ll get in 
Your ECs are of good variety but nothing very memorable. I think you’ll get into UW Madison. UW Madison is a prestigious school that would be great for an applicant of your stats. I think JHU is solid as well. Best of luck to you!
Please chance me back?
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1754467-chance-a-refugee-for-ed-dartmouth-ivies-ill-chance-you-back.html#latest
Wow! A good chance for JHU is more than I could’ve ever dreamed of (literally it’s my dream school). Do you think I should apply there as an ED or weight until RD so that my senior year can bring up my GPA more??
Just to clarify, I meant John Hopkins when I said JHU in case that changes anyone’s opinion;)
Another quick question. Do people actually pay list price to go to JHU? My dad is freaking out because I told him it’s 65,000.
Do you go to Edgewood High School (because of the name of one of the awards)? Forgive me if I’m wrong but it doesn’t seem to be a very well-known school. If the admissions counselers don’t know your school to be a difficult one, your schedule doesn’t seem rigorous and that might hurt your chances. Perhaps your guidance counselor could describe the situation in his/her rec letter to help.
It’s a Catholic private prep-school in Wisconsin. You’d definitely know about it if you lived in my area. However, I agree that my counselor should highlight the rigor in case that becomes an issue. Thanks:)
Uchicago: high reach
UCLA:low reach
Jhu: low reach
Madison:match
U Rochester: match
Good luck! Chance me back please!
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1753683-gtown-duke-wusl-chance-me-please.html
To everyone saying you don’t have a chance with UChicago, that’s not true. UChicago is very different from other schools in that they look more at essays than almost any other component of the application. I actually remember reading on their own website that they are willing to overlook lower grades (can’t find it now). If you can write like Charles Dickens and answer their impossible prompts in a very original way then you have good chances. 3.85 is fine. People get in with 3.6’s.
Edit: That said, improving your ACT score would greatly help you. Study over the summer and take it one or two more times and I’m sure you can pull off a 33 or 34. Since UChicago superscores it you might be able to pull off a 36 for them with relative ease.
UChicago - It’s hard because they focus a lot on essays. If you can write a great essay, than even your lower (they’re still good :)) scores shouldn’t matter
UCLA/ JHU - I think if you retake your ACT and get a better score, then you will be a better fit for UCLA and JHU
UW - Madison - I’m not so sure as I’ve never heard of this school, but you do live in Wisconsin so I think that would help?
Rochester - Again, I’ve never heard of it. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help!