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Hi, I'm a senior at a catholic school in CA. I'm looking into civil engineering with maybe something to do with business too. What do you think my chances are at schools like Stanford, UCLA, Berkeley, Cornell, UIUC, Duke, Notre Dame, Caltech, and any others that might be good?

Weighted GPA
4.24 (most rigorous schedule possible)

Unweighted GPA
3.75

SAT I (will retake)
1430 (790m, 640v)

ACT
33

SAT IIs
MathIIC - 800
Physics - 760
Writing *still need to take (expecting 700+ to be safe)

AP
5 Physics
5 US History
5 Calculus
3 English Language

I have plenty of community service (200+ hours) and some leadership (president of 1 large club). I'm a big tennis player, having played varsity since freshman year on a good team. I've also played some other sports, but tennis became my priority. I received third place in state science fair sophomore year and am again pursuing science fairs this year. In addition, I've interned and attending multi-week engineering programs during my summers.

Thanks for your help

By Cmaher (Cmaher) on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - 12:02 am: Edit

I don't think you have much of a chance at Stanford or Caltech.

The rest are matches or match/reaches or safeties.

By Futurcivilengnr (Futurcivilengnr) on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - 01:28 am: Edit

Oh, I forgot UPenn...

By Clickspring (Clickspring) on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - 01:44 am: Edit

You can get into UIUC. We have the 3rd ranked engineering college in the country, and our business school is exemplary as well. You would be well advised to look carefull and seriously at UIUC.

By Brianp (Brianp) on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - 02:08 am: Edit

Don't bother with Stanford EA. You still need to take SAT I and II again. They will not be able to evaluate you with those scores. Even if you had great scores, they still probably would not take you.

Do EA at Notre Dame. You go to a catholic school and you have above average SAT scores for ND. I would bet heavy money that you would get in there. It could also help that you live in CA because they want students from the entire country. You can still apply to Stanford RD because ND is non binding. Go Irish!

By Futurcivilengnr (Futurcivilengnr) on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - 02:36 am: Edit

I was just wondering... why do I fall short of having a chance at Stanford? GPA?

By Joel_Set (Joel_Set) on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - 01:23 pm: Edit

bec. Stanford rejects kids all the time with 1550 SAts 750+ x 3Sat2's. and 4.0 gpa.. i know it's a sad thing.. u might as well try.. applying to these schools is like buying a lottery ticket.. good luck

By Patient (Patient) on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - 11:12 pm: Edit

Futurcivilengnr, of course no one except Stanford can tell you whether you will get in, but your grades and scores are well within their profile of successful applicants. Stanford and other highly competitive schools are looking for so much more than just scores and grades. They are looking for genuine intellectual curiosity, special talents, good character, creativity....maybe that sounds corny, but I have seen a subset of statistics showing successful and unsuccessful Stanford applicants and basically you just cannot tell from grades and scores alone who is going to get in, below some obvious minimums. It is definitely that something extra that they look for, and it can't necessarily be defined. They and all competitive colleges are doing their best to put together a diverse, exciting, bright class and they are most definitely NOT looking for just blow-your-socks-off scores.

By Futurcivilengnr (Futurcivilengnr) on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 - 01:31 am: Edit

Thanks for the response Patient. I was starting to get worried...

By Patient (Patient) on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 - 11:36 pm: Edit

Sure! The other thing is, that if you do your research right and apply to several schools that match your interests and abilities, the right match (or matches) will happen. Then, it is far more about taking advantage of the resources at the school you end up attending. I am convinced that really motivated students will thrive wherever they go. The reputation and resources of the college are helpful but not the most important factor in either happiness at college or success later. There is a fair amount of research supporting that, too.

By Bear363 (Bear363) on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 03:17 am: Edit

There is one thing people on this board cannot seem to grasp. They think that since there are 1520 SATs and 4.0 GPA students that get rejected from Stanford, they automatically assume that Stanford only takes the best of the best SAT/GPA/#ECs and only admits a few below that 'range'! Stanford looks at you as a person! Personally, from statistics I have seen from admission specialists, a person with a 3.5 and 1200 SATs who has some unique ECs will probably get in over the person who has a 1600 and 4.0 who did not do anything that unique. I have known kids that have gotten into Stanford with a 3.4! I have also known many that have gotten in with 3.6-4.0s. You cannot tell somebody "Don't bother with Stanford EA". Every person is unique and has their own contributions! There are so many variables in the admission process! Just because a person has really good scores, GPA, and many ECs, doesn't meen that they have the 'uniqueness' to get into Stanford, which a lower scores/gpa applicant might have. It also depends on your letters of reccomendations (how good they are), what your personality and character are like. There is no 'index' for schools like Stanford. Stanford personel have told me thatthey look for what a person can contribute to the school. They want there freshman class to be a unique blend of students of varying backgrounds, academic success and uniqueness. When will you people see this, and stop worrying about the numbers!

By Futurcivilengnr (Futurcivilengnr) on Tuesday, October 07, 2003 - 01:10 am: Edit

thanks