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Well, I go to a specialized science high school (so everyone is gifted) that boasts a little over 1000 seniors. The problem with this is that everyones grades are very close together and seperated by hundreths, in some cases thousanths of a point. My school does not release ranks. I have ~87 average, mostly due to my dismal freshman year. My mother got sick my freshman year, thats why I started the research at a doctors office.... I'm thinking of writing an essay about this as a supplement.

Taking this info. into account, what do you think my chances are at:
Cooper Union (ED)
Lehigh
Barnard
Columbia College
Cornell
Brandeis
Wellesley
SUNY - Stonybrook

1440 SAT 1 (will not take again, 3 hours is too much time to waste)
730 CHEM
800 WRITING
800 MATH 2C

senior schedule (chemistry major):
AP Econ
AP English
AP Calc AB (no room for BC in my schedule)
Honors American
Yoga (gym is required)
Quantitative Analysis (triple period)

in the spring substitute Quan for Organic Chem (triple period). Both are major requirements.

My EC's are pretty good, I think.
1. I intern for a doctor 4 times a week. In addition to doing the work required, I track the progression of Hepatitus C in his patients and what medications theyre on. He's helping me with my personal research.
2. Volunteer at a soup kitchen and at a hospital. 500+ hours
3. Teach a class on jewish traditions at a yeshiva nearby as part of an afterschool program for jewish children whose parents can't afford to send to yeshiva
4. president of jewish club
5. belly dancing club
6. took a sociology course at Hunter College - 4.0
7. involved in math research with a professor from Cooper Union, nothing worth publishing yet.
8. a couple more things (don't want to turn this into a laundry list)

So, What do you guys think?

By Casablanca (Casablanca) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 02:29 pm: Edit

bump

By Btbvector (Btbvector) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 05:03 pm: Edit

Very, very good chance if you are in top 15% of your class or even 20%.

By Casablanca (Casablanca) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 05:19 pm: Edit

=(

By Casablanca (Casablanca) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 05:19 pm: Edit

Well, my school doesn't release ranks or anything of the sort. I doubt I'd be in the top 15 or 20%. Our grades are unweighted so alot of people with high averages didnt take any honors or AP classes.

I'd probably sitting somewhere around 25% but, colleges won't know that.

By Kinshasa (Kinshasa) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 05:26 pm: Edit

I don't think you're an average student, not with a 1440 SAT. Brandeis is probably a match for you, and Columbia a reach. The 800 Writing SAT II is impressive.

By Paulhomework (Paulhomework) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 06:49 pm: Edit

you're not an average student by any means. you've got excellent chances everywhere, and a decent chance for cornell and columbia.

By Casablanca (Casablanca) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 10:59 pm: Edit

I'm not so sure, maybe applying to more reaches would be a better strategy?
I could add Brown, NYU and Colgate to the list.

By Reidmc (Reidmc) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 11:13 pm: Edit

Colleges will know your school's reputation and factor that into their review of your application. Also, your GPA will be higher at those schools that do not include freshman year in their calculation.Your counselor will have a lot of experience with admissions at the schools you list, so he or she will be able to help you calibrate your chances.

Are you fine with your safety: SUNY- Stony Brook? What are your academic and career interests? Answers would help posters suggest some other schools.

By Casablanca (Casablanca) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 11:42 pm: Edit

Sadly, my counselor is not one to ask for help. Though I'm sure she's skilled in her field, she refuses to see the students. I can't blame her, one counselor per one thousand seniors is quite a load.

Stony Brook is an absolute safety as is Hunter College. If I have to, I'll have no problem going there, though I prefer my other schools.


I am not looking for enginnering schools. Cooper Union is the only college that I'm applying for engineering. Other than that, I really have no preference. Size doesn't matter. Some might call me preppy, but I really get along with everybody. Although I am a republican, I respect other views so political affiliation doesn't matter to me either.

Basically, I'm looking for an accepting atmosphere with grade A academics. I'm looking for colleges close to home - NYC. My mother isn't well and my parents aren't young, I'd prefer to stay as close to home as possible.

By Casablanca (Casablanca) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 01:41 pm: Edit

bump