Chances of getting into USC, Stanford, UCLA, Columbia…?
So, I did this a while ago but didn’t get any responses; here I go again! I really would appreciate some feedback this time!
I am currently a junior in a Sacramento Area public high school. High school is okay, average.
*Freshman: 4.0 GPA (No AP’s offered – Took all CP classes) CP English, Student Govt, Spanish 1, Biology, Geography, Geometry, Health/Safety.
*Sophomore: 4.2 GPA (Took the 1 AP class offered, 1 Honors, and all CP’s) AP European History, Honors English, CP Chemistry, Student Govt, Spanish 2, Spanish 3, Algebra 2.
*Junior: so far 4.33 GPA: Spanish 4, Anatomy/Physiology, Student Govt, AP Art History, AP Lang and Comp, Honors Pre-Calc, US History and Sociology at Community College.
*Senior: probably about a 4.5 GPA; Expected Schedule: AP Spanish, AP Human Geography, AP Govt/Econ, AP Literature, AP Psychology, Student Govt, AP Stats, and 2 more Community College Classes
*Top 5% of class
*15/515 Class Rank (expected to rise to top 5 or 10)
*ASB Vice President of my school (ASB President next year??)
*Intern in California State Senate
*Capitol Hill/D.C. Congressional Page
*Varsity Track and Field athlete
*Speech and Debate Champion
*Youth Commissioner in my city’s government which handles over 0,000 that is dispersed to local non-profit organizations
*Started my school’s Junior State of America chapter this year, where I am President
*CSF member
*20+ hours of community service with a local Children’s hospital
*20+ hours at Elementary schools with Special Education Students
*20+ hours at local Retirement Home
*Extensive work with Make-A-Wish Foundation
*20+ hours at local Rehabilitation facility
*20+ hours with local campaigns, and a bit of time with other various organizations.
*EXCELLENT personal letters of recomendation
PSAT last year as a sophomore: around 170 (but very high in reading/comprehension), with literally no preparation. I took a sample one with kaplan that was very accurate with last year’s PSAT results and recieved a 198; just took the real one last month and pretty sure I got over 200.
I am extremely passionate about politics, so I would like to study Political Science and minor in International Relations/Business. Possibly minor in Spanish.
So far, in order of preference, my lists are:
Reaches, partially realistic:
1. Stanford
2. Harvard
3. Princeton
4. Yale
Realistic:
1. USC
2. UCLA
3. UCB
4. NYU
5. Columbia
6. Georgetown
7. Pepperdine
Do I have a chance at any of these schools? Am I on track? Is there anything specific I can do to set myself apart from other applicants? Any other suggestions?
*And I know it may help that I live in California for the UC’s, and I know they say it doesn’t matter but for what it’s worth I am 1/2 Mexican, 1/4 Armenian, and 1/4 Yogoslavian.
ALSO… hypothetical situation: I got into USC and Stanford. Both cost the same. I LOVE LA, not so much the Bay Area. I want to pursue an acting career also, so obviously the best place for that is LA. I feel like I will enjoy going to USC more but then again I don’t know much about student life at Stanford. Is it worth it the bite the bullet and go for the prestige and so-called better education, or should I go to USC and pursue my other interests?
Mail this post
Sphere: Related Content
Articulos relacionados
- No related posts
Hello,
I am also interested in Columbia University and did some research on the university. I also know a few alumni and current students attending there. So I know a little bit about the university and can answer your question about Columbia. I’m sorry to say that I won’t be much help with all your Cali schools.
To start off, it sounds like you are involved with quite a few different things there.
As for school work, you look like you are challenging yourself with AP classes and it looks like you are performing well in those classes as well. From what I looked up, Columbia puts a big emphasis on your GPA and your coursework because they work with a core curriculum.
One thing I suggest though is your SAT score. I know that their average SAT score for admitted students is quite high. The first two things all colleges look at are your GPA and your SAT scores. To match up with your current GPA, I would suggest that you get your SAT score above 2200. That would definitely give you a higher chance in admission to wherever you may apply. Also, make sure to take some SAT II tests to show your interests and show them your areas of expertise.
Another thing I might suggest is, when you write your essay, make sure to have a very specific focus and theme. And request booklets and such from colleges and really know the colleges and incorporate your research into the essay and it should help you a lot.
Columbia has its own online application and if you have seen some of the questions they ask, they really want to get to know you as a person and they are into the whole ‘holistic’ view of students.
And just to add, I’m not sure if you can classify Columbia as a ‘realistic’ school. I understand that you have a high GPA and are taking quite a number of AP courses, but Columbia is still an ivy league school and therefore the admission rate is quite low. When you write your essay and do interviews, make sure to sound confident, but not over-confident and proud. And your ethnicity might help your chances because Columbia loves diversity.
And for future ‘chance’ questions, I suggest you visit college confidential. They have a lot more information about admission chances and such.
Good luck with your college application process.
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:02 amI think you’ll get into UCLA and Pepperdine. The rest of them on the list, I think you’ll get rejected from. You should be top 3 not top 15 if you want to get into any of those other schools.
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:02 amFOR YOUR REACH SCHOOLS, I’D SAY A 50/50 CHANCE. THOSE SCHOOLS ARE HARD TO GET INTO UNLESS YOU ARE RICH. FOR THE REALISTIC SCHOOLS, YES YOU HAVE A GREAT CHANCE OF GETTING IN. JUST DON’T SLIP SENIOR YEAR AFTER YOU GET AN ADMISSION BECUASE THEY WILL TAKE BACK YOUR DECISION.
I AM IN A SIMILAR SITUATION BECAUSE I APPLIED TO STANFORD AND USC AND I CAN’T DECIDE WHICH ONE. STANFORD PROVIDES MORE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT USC IS JUST A LOT OF FUN. I’M THINKING OF GOING WITH STANFORD BECAUSE USC IS A BIG PARTY SCHOOL AND I MIGHT NOT FOCUS.
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:02 am