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<p>Based on what you shared, you certainly are. Ignore WhatAreMyChancez; he or she seems to be rather negative.</p>
<p>Wow, I just back two minutes later and this thread is up to its third page!</p>
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<p>Your chances are looking okay with your current stats, and it’ll probably look great by the time you actually start applying to college.</p>
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<p>But the ideal purpose of chance threads is to get honest opinions (because it’s anonymous) from people who may have information that may be of use to you in the college admissions process… I think it’s more dangerous and potentially harmful to be told that you have a good chance at the colleges on your list when you in fact do not, than to be told that you should be more careful, take the application and the essays seriously, and add more safeties to the list.</p>
<p>v haha, yeah second that.</p>
<p>haha. both of you have helped me. you guys don’t need to compete against each other for the best help. I think that WAMC has been a great aid, and hasn’t been negative, but rather a more cautious approach; while silvertutrle has been more straight forward.</p>
<p>By definition, a hook is something most applicants do not have.</p>
<p>BUMP for a post that is actually about my chances!</p>
<p>BUMP 10Char</p>
<p>You have good ECs and seem to be taking a demanding corseload just from the names of the courses. Obviously because you are just entering junior year and without your SAT we will not be able to chance you as well. It is very good that you came to this forum before most, who are faced with applying in the fall and cant really do much to improve. Just like a previous commenter said, try to get the best grades you can junior year, and especially in all your ap classes, because you average a B in the only other AP classes you have taken, and it may bring into question how hard your honors classes are/were along with your other classes. Just wondering, how is your high school in terms of difficulty? Also helpful would be if you have an idea of what your class rank might be, in if your school does that, and try to improve on that. Also keep up the good work with the ECs. Oh and BTW, Silverturtle is not a ■■■■■, he is actually one of if not THE most helpful people you can find on CC to help you with any questions you may have. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Solar- My school provides a difficult course load, with 19 AP courses but itself isn’t a reputable school that send many student to top notch colleges. On average 2-3% of a graduating class will go to top-tier colleges. My school doesn’t rank, but I am within an undisclosed 10%…there aren’t too many advanced people in my school with a class of 750…</p>
<p>About silverturtle, I quickly found out that WhatAreMyChancez was the ■■■■■. His account must have been reported because all of his comments got deleted…and I have looked up SilverTurtle, and have discovered that he is super helpful. I am looking at his SAT guide as we speak…</p>
<p>My only suggestion is to wreck junior year, get awesome grades and keep doing your ECs. Study hard for the SAT because you can’t be chanced well without it, but MIT doesn’t really differentiate between SAT scores as long as they are above their “cut off”. By the way, I’m afraid none of those are hooks, but being Basque is quit interesting (though the stereotype of your little hats were stolen by the french). Bonne chance avec ton avenir.</p>
<p>I can’t chance you, I’m not experienced at that, but as a rising senior in high school, I can tell you two things:</p>
<p>Treat your SATs wisely. Devote a good chunk of your time to studying for it - actually studying for it - and make every single time count. Colleges won’t reject you because you weren’t in their percentile, but just knowing that you got to that “range” or that “goal” will give you a lot more peace of mind instead of waiting to sit the test again in October of your senior year. Do the same with your SAT subjects.</p>
<p>Breathe. I was a trainwreck junior year, freaking out over every single little grade and thinking that it would greatly hinder my chances or hurt me in the end. What I found is that it only raised my heartrate and made me sick and that you just need to remain calm and focused. What is bound to happen will and freaking out will only harm you! </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
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<p>Yeah, neither is Cancer, or Aids, or any childhood trauma such as a rape or near-death experience.</p>
<p>Depending on the seriousness, it could be a great hook!</p>
<p>RockyChen- Im going to need open heart surgery…is that serious enough? These people obviously have heard hooks of overcoming cancer, being homeless, and many others. Mine doesn’t compare, but is still fetal…</p>
<p>TJKid- I don’t speak french, but translated it, and thank you. Thats what I’m hoping on doing, cuz I bombed last year, so now I need to make up for it.</p>
<p>Carman- Yeah, I didn’t devote anytime to the math 2, and didn’t meet my goal of 750+…I learned my lesson, I definitely will use your advice. my highest PSAT was an 188, so I really will be studying my ass off. I know it sounds easy to tell me to relax, but this is my MOST important year o.O Its super hard not to stress.</p>
<p>I don’t want to dig in too much, but know this. If you feel like it is worth mentioning, (as in, you have strong strong emotions… or possible lifelong struggles… etc. if you don’t know what I mean, you can ask more) it’s probably a hook. If you feel like it’s just like getting surgery for a torn ACL… probably not so much.</p>
<p>I fully agree with carman about studying for the sat alot and getting it done with during junior year. Study as if it will be the only time you are taking it, and get it done in january or earlier (so you can take it again if you need to) I like carman am a rising senior and I need to take it in October. I took it before, but because of score choice and laziness, I never studied. I am cursed with both being very lazy yet I set the bar very high for myself. You can bet I will be working my @$$ off until I take that test.</p>
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<p>Like near the end of the year, I figured out how to be satisfied with the work I’m doing AND satisfied with my life outside of school. I think one of the most important aspects of a stress-free junior year is to make sure and hang out with your friends. There will be sacrifice and so forth, but if you just push your friends aside and devote your entire life to studying, I actually think the stress and pressure will be much higher. Don’t forget about your social life and having fun - but at the same time, keep it to a manageable limit so it doesn’t hinder your academics/ECs/SAT studying/etc.</p>
<p>There was a poster here who overcame 2 bouts with cancer, was a legacy with in range grades and was rejected by her legacy ivy. </p>
<p>The point is, while the committee will look at you as a whole, an illness is not a hook. They see so many kids with so many problems that few stand out. Cancer, the homeless, hurricane victims, disabled kids…they could fill many classes with these groups alone.</p>
<p>In the end, any of these things adds to the picture, but none are a hook.</p>
<p>Thank you two for the insight about the SAT, I plan on taking it twice junior year, unless I don’t meet my standard (2000+), then I will take it one more time senior year. I will also take 3 SAT2s…Math (again), Chem and US</p>
<p>Redrose- I see your point…hooks are super hard to come by, and I can’t use a superficial hook, because it isn’t geniune and adcoms won’t favor my “hooks” because they aren’t real. thank you.</p>
<p>@RedRoses:</p>
<p>Why should being a URM be a hook either? I understand recruited athlete (duh) or being famous (duh), but how is a URM a hook and not just something that “adds to the picture”?</p>