
James asks…
Do I have a shot at Columbia?
3.95 GPA unweighted, but only top 14% of class (does not take classes into consideration)
SAT 2030: CR 630, Math 710, Writing 690 (taking it again)
no SAT II’s yet
family income about $60,000
did all honors/ap classes available
Freshman: Orchestra; Physical Science; French I; Japanese I; Honors Eng; Honors Stats (all A’s)
Sophomore: Orchestra (A, A); Biology (A, A-); French II (A, A); Honors Eng (A, A-); Multimedia (A, A); Honors Algebra II (A, A); World History (A, A); Health online (A); Foreign Policy online (A)
Junior: Orchestra (A, A); Precalculus (A, B+); AP US History (A, A); AP Eng (A, A); French III (A, A); Honors Chemistry (A, B+); Broadcast (A, A)
planning on taking Senior year: Orchestra; Physics; AP Eng; Microbiology; French 308; Japanese 203; AP Psychology
EC’s: lieutenant governor of key club division (oversees 3 schools), KeyTV committee chair; created many videos for Key Club and Broadcast, over 500 hrs community service, senior class president, piano study for 10 years (attended camp over summer and composing), play violin in orchestra, languages (speak colloquial Arabic along with Japanese/French study), work at a lab over summer
Other colleges: Cornell, Hopkins, UC San Diego, University of Chicago, Northwestern, Georgetown, Washington University in St. Louis

Martin answers:
No. Columbia is an Ivy League school. Realistically, you don’t have a chance.
How about Columbia College, in Missouri?
ADDED
All of the universities you’ve listed are out of your league — not because your application is bad, but because the competition for these elite schools is fierce. You need to lower your sights:
Colgate
SUNY-Binghamton
Santa Clara University

Paul asks…
What are my chances of getting into Dartmouth ( I am currently a sophomore)?
7TH/8TH YEAR
Honors Computer Science-C
Honors Algebra-B
Honors Environmental Science-A
Honors Survey Literature-A
Honors Band-A
Honors Geometry-C
Honors Biology-C
FRESHMAN YEAR
Health/Gym-A
Honors American Literature-B
Honors Chemistry-B
Honors Band-A
Regular Art I-A
Regular Trig-C
AP Human Geography-C (4 on AP test)
FRESHMAN YEAR
Jazz Band, Top Advanced School Band five years, Jazz Combo/Big Band, Jack and Jill of America
6th Grade ACT; 21
9th Grade ACT; 30
3.10/3.89 GPA
Junior and Sophomore classes as a Freshman
Community Service Chair of Jack and Jill of America Windy City Chapter
Floor Hockey Club
Certified level 8 Referee 2009-2010
South SIde Fire 2011 Summer Soccer Camp Junior Counselor
South Side Fire 2011 3v3 Camp Referee
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Junior and Senior classes as sophomore
Performed at Carnegie Hall with Advanced School Band
Weight Lifting Club
Anti-Animal Cruelty Club
Community Service Chairperson of Jack and Jill of America Windy City Chapter
Courtesy Chairperson of Jack and Jill of America Windy City Chapter
Varsity Letter-Winner
AP CLASSES(class-score)
Human Geography- 4 Fr.
World History Jr.
Music Theory Sr.
SOCCER STATS
8th Grade; South SIde Fire; 4 goals, 2 assist, Started and played every game, Defensive Mid/Centerback, 1 shutout Defensive Captain
freshman year; JV; 3 goals, 1 assist, Started and Played Every Game, City Semi-Finalist, Centerback/Center Mid, 3 shutouts
Chicago Fire Juniors Developmental Academy Pool; MRL First Division, Premiership NISL, State Cup; 7 goals, 3 assists, Started 7 out of 14 games, Centerback/Striker, 2 shutouts, State Cup Quarter-Finalist, Team Top-Scorer, Team Ranked #11th in the state
sophomore year;Varsity: Starter, Center-Back/Wing-back, 1 goal 0 assists
Chicago Fire Juniors Red 11; MRL Premier Division, Premiership NISL
Olympic Development Program

Martin answers:
This is a great Goal!
If you keep at it you WILL get in!

Helen asks…
What are my chances of getting into Duke University – early decision?
GPA: 4.0 unweighted…about 4.5 weighted
SAT: 700 CR, 770 Math, 800 writing – 9 essay but 80 MC (total 2270)
800 Math II; 800 Biology M
APs:
Soph: AP World
Junior: AP Bio; AP Calc BC
Senior: AP Gov, AP Econ, AP Stats, AP Lit
All 5s thus far (will be senior next year)
ECs:
Key Club for community service but have a lot of community service projects through ASB
(key club – 10th grade to 12th grade)
ASB (VERY VERY ACTIVE) – 10th through 12th
Sophomore President (10)
Junior President (11)
MEND Drive Committee Chair (10)
Outreach Commissioner (10)
Homecoming Parade Committee Chair (11)
MEND Drive Committee Overseer (11)
Student Services: Locker Policy (11)
Spring Spirit Week Committee Chair (11)
ASB President (12)
Governing Board member (12)
Math tutor (30 hours) (9th-10th grade but then I got involved in ASB)
Save the Children VP (11)
California Association of Student Councils Summer Camp (past 2 summers)

Martin answers:
You have an average shot, since all other applicants have the same stuff. Write a killer essay and you’ll be more competitive

John asks…
Am I on the right track for Stanford?
I’m going into my senior year of high school and starting applications, and was wondering how I am looking for Stanford. Of course it’s impossible to tell exactly w/out essays, but, based on what I currently do/have done, do I have a reasonable chance?
GPA – Somewhere between 4.0 and 4.5, school doesn’t do GPA
–SAT – 2110–
SAT Math – 790
SAT Reading – 620
SAT Writing – 700
–Freshmen Year (All Honors)–
English I
Pre-Calculus
Biology
Foundations of Science
World History
Spanish I
–Sophomore Year (All Honors)–
English II
AP Calculus AB (Scored a 4)
Chemistry
Intro to Humanities
US History I
Spanish II
–Junior Year (All Honors)–
English III
AP Calculus BC (Scored a 5,5)
AP Chemistry (Scored a 4)
Physics
US History II
Spanish III
–Senior Year (All Honors)–
AP English
Calculus III
AP Physics
AP Statistics
Global Ethics/Economics
I also have received certification in Microsoft Office, A+, and Oracle
–Extracurriculars–
Piano for 7 years
Co-started and co-editor for newspaper club from nothing to creating relationships with local business for advertisements
Treasurer for Student Council, 3 years
Alumni Chair/Faculty Liaison for Student Government
Publicist for National Honor Society (Only available Senior Year)
Math League
Dodgeball, 4 years, team won championship twice
–Work/Volunteer–
Went to Mexico for mission work with a Catholic group
Volunteers every week for the past 3 years at local church
IT Internship this past summer and throughout senior year
Acting/Improv camp work the past two summers
Mowing Lawns for 4 households the past 4 years
I’m working on improving my SAT reading score, hopefully for the next test, getting it closer to a 700.
How do I look for getting in? Any other things I could work on with the last 4 months I have?

Martin answers:
I would have to agree with BAB. This will be the hardest year in history to get into a top college and Stanford is one of the very hardest to get into in the world. There is no room for weakness in any of the key things they look at and you seem to not be strong in two out of three of those things, SAT scores and ECs. Realize that Stanford rejects more valedictorians and 2400 scoring candidates than they accept and without a hook you need to have exceptional ECs and 75th percentile SATs across the board for a real chance. Sorry! I do agree some very good colleges will accept you. Berkeley across the Bay could be a good backup.
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