What are my prospects?

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>Hello, I am a junior, and recently I’ve been quite stressed over college. With what information I divulge, I’d like to know what is good, what is bad, and what I could improve. Currently, I am wanting to get into mostly liberal arts colleges, such as Oberlin, or Ponoma, or Reed, or some other similar school. I would also love to get into Berkeley, or Stanford. However, I doubt I have much chance of getting into any of these schools. If you think the same, then please tell me some of the better schools you think I could get into.</p>

<p>SAT: 2110. 740 CR, 670 M, 700 W.</p>

<p>ACT: Have not taken, do not plan on taking.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.51 (Plan on working harder this semester, bringing it up to at least a 3.60).
Class Rank: 30/172.</p>

<p>EC: I am currently in my first year of orchestra, if this counts (it is a zero period class, but is treated very seriously by the teacher), and I do not currently plan on taking it next year. I did crew for one season earlier this year. I am part of the German Club and German National Honor Society.</p>

<p>Classes: I took 1 Honors Sophomore year, 2 APs this year, and plan on 4 or 5 APs next year.</p>

<p>Work: The past 3 summers, I have worked on my family’s flower farm/nursery, which is our sole source of income (about $39k a year, if that factors in), and I plan on spending the coming summer doing the same.</p>

<p>Location: Northern California, public school.</p>

<p>Potential major area: English</p>

<p>Awards: None to speak of.</p>

<p>Parent Education: My father, who is from Germany, did not go further than trade school, and my mother earned a bachelor’s degree at UCSB.</p>

<p>If there is anything helpful that I have forgotten, please tell me.</p>

<p>Also, I have one problem that I would like help with: For next year, there are two classes that I really cannot decide between. The first, most of you are probably somewhat familiar with; AP English 4 (Literature). The other is a somewhat more unusual class, AAI Media and Communication Arts. This stands for (my town) Arts Institute, and is a a two-class program, the first is the art program, and the second is a CP English class with a special art focus, fusing traditional English assignments with art assignments. I am wondering what would be more impressive to admission committees–the AP, or the art program that you must audition for and is less common across the nation?</p>

2

<p>I should note I also work on the farm and at Farmer’s Markets throughout the year, but much less than the summer.</p>

3

<p>Do you plan on retaking the SAT? And what about subject tests?</p>

<p>Berkeley and Stanford are essentially reaches for everyone, but your stats are below average. You need to work on those and your EC’s if you want to improve your chances of admission to those two. Also, I do not believe that your parent’s education provides you with the First-gen hook, considering that your mother attended college. Sorry :frowning: </p>

<p>I’m not sure about the class thing, but I’m inclined to say take the AP.</p>

4

<p>I do not plan on retaking the SAT, but I am considering it. I did not study besides doing the question of the day that they email you for a few weeks, so if I did study I am sure I could improve. Subject tests I do not really want to take, but will if I must for certain schools. As for improving EC’s, I forgot to mention, I recently joined the National Honor Society at my school, and plan on staying in that for the remainder of my high school career. Just this weekend we had a benefit for Haiti, which I helped out with, and which was very successful. I have never been a sports person, and have never really pursued other EC’s. I do enjoy writing, but have never found any specific classes or EC’s that mesh with that. In general I have not pursued EC’s, I like being able to have free time and have never found an after school activity that I really enjoy. I should mention, the AAI class also is involved significantly int he community, my town has a big interest in the arts, and has multiple community events each month focused on them, and students in AAI will usually have exhibitions in local businesses for these events.</p>

5

<p>Retake the SAT. Your scores are low. Don’t make excuses-- if you can improve the score, improve it. Try to improve your rank. If your rank gets higher and your SATs improve, you’ll have a great shot at Cal. Stanford, I doubt. The rest should be fine.</p>

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<p>And as for extracurriculars, it is a bit unfortunate that you have trouble finding something that captures your interest. That will definitely hurt you for all your schools, especially Stanford and Cal.</p>

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<p>Does my work count for anything as an extracurricular?</p>

8

<p>Probably not much as an EC, but your whole story could be a great narrative about you as a person, re essays.</p>

9

<p>I have been seeing that essays really are the major selling point in lots of schools, but I really don’t know anything about them. What must be in them? How long can they be? etc.</p>

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<p>I have a college admissions officer in my family. At least one high-ranked UC looks at work better than it looks at volunteer activities with equivalent status and time commitment. Isn’t that ironic? Long story short, your work definitely counts for something. Get an award, by the way. Write an essay on The Fountainhead for the Ayn Rand Institute, or something.</p>

11

<p>Thanks. I’ll look for some contest, haha.</p>

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<p>Also, I am thinking as a safety school, UCSC. How good of a school is it? The college match on this site puts me as only 76% compatibility, my scores did not align with it, they are higher than the averages for UCSC.</p>