Chance me for colleges please

Applying to Harvard ED, UChicago EA, Oxford PPE

GPA: 3.98/4.00 UW

SAT: 1580/1600

Subject tests:

-SAT Literature (780/800)

-SAT US History (800/800)

-SAT Physics (800/800)

-SAT Math II (800/800)

ACT: 36/36

ECs:

-Editor in chief of school newspaper

-Officer in two CS clubs

-Officer for local economics tournament

-Played instrument for 10+ years (state awards)

-Captain of history bowl team

-Captain of school quizbowl team

-Did research with professor at state university

-Cofounder of education nonprofit

-Model UN


What are my approximate chances for the above schools? Thank you.

 

Depends on a lot. If you did this at a top prep school that regularly sends kids to ivy's a good shot. If you go to a run of the mill school (especially if you're Asian) I actually think it could be really tough. Unfortunately this profile is exactly that of a ton of Asian kids, and its not like you had a sport or something else to mitigate that. If you were at Dalton or  Groton or a similar level school, that GPA alone could get you in though

 

You obviously seem like a really smart student based on your stats, but my advice to you is to not worry about your “chances” and instead think about what to do now to secure our application. First, make you essays as perfect as possible. Write multiple drafts, ask your college counselor, English teacher or anyone you trust for advice, reread and check for typos etc. Make your application memorable for the adcom; show some personality. Lastly, if you get deferred or something, make sure you stay in touch with your admissions officer and send them updates to show your still interested, but make sure not to annoy them with bs updates. Quality over quantity. If Harvard doesn’t work out, your can move your UChicago application to the ED2 round if you are confident it is your new first choice school. Admissions is still competitive, but ED rounds will always boost your chances. The downside obviously is that you would have to withdraw all your other applications if your get in ED2.

 
Funniest

I had a similar profile with perfect GPA and almost perfect SAT. Was very involved in a lot of things but only took 9 A.P's (All 5) and 1 SAT Subject (800/800). Only got accepted to a state school lol. I am a white dude from a broke family. 

 

Yeah the application process is very competitive nowadays. I echo what someone said above. If you have this profile at a school like Exeter/Andover, you have a good shot. But at a “run of the mill” high school, it’s going to be tough because so many kids have these stats, especially among Asians. Assuming OP is not at a school like Exeter, to maximize chances of getting into a “prestigious” school, I think OP would have to apply to a school with a binding ED program (like Columbia UChicago or UPenn, not HYP). Or he could keep the early application to Harvard to see how that goes and then go EDII to UChicago if that doesn’t work out. 

 

Mid Tier State School. Recognized by football team even though I do not follow the sport. Got paid to go there and am now working in I.B recruiting for P.E, so not bad eh.

 
Most Helpful

All about the essays at that point and crafting a good story/making them think you’re an interesting person. Academic test scores are a dime a dozen nowadays. No guarantees of an Ivy unless you’re a URM, but should land you at least in the top 20 schools so you just got some bad luck or had shitty essays. As the other person said below it’s really all a crapshoot and numbers game when it comes down to it. I applied to college a year early with 18 APs and similar test scores and ECs. Applied to the 20 USNWR schools - got rejected from everywhere I applied to except Duke Stanford Cornell and Princeton (waitlisted by my safety schools as well). That Johns Hopkins ding still stings

 

Have you been involved in college admissions at any point in the last decade? Athletics are just another EC. OP has a number of other ECs that he has excelled at so he certainly doesn’t need athletics. Another thing: you don’t NEED athletics, you NEED ECs. Unless you’re a recruited athlete or at the very least a varsity captain that led their team far in some tournament, nobody gives even a sliver of a shit.

 

Not true at all. If you’re a varsity level athlete with the scores that this guy posted up, even with zero chance of playing at the collegiate level or getting athletic scholarships - this guys application looks 2x better. You know how many people post these scores and do fucking math league and debate club vs. post these scores and play a varsity sport? You’re tripping if you think academic ECs are on the same level as Athletic ECs bruh

 

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