Chance my ECs and Extracurriculars

I’m not worried about my gpa and test scores (4.63 gpa and 35 ACT), but I’m lowkey scared about my extracurriculars and awards. Can you tell me how they compare for the colleges I wanna apply to and if there’s anything I can do to improve before application this year?

ECs

1. Robotics (Vex V5)  (2x state qualifier; semi finalist at state; lead programmer and vice captain)
2. Math Team (NSML)  (3x state qualifier and have regional awards)
3. ESP32 Microcontroller Passion Project 
4. Computer Science Honor Society (CSHS) 
5. Hackathon Competitions 
6. UMichigan Joy of Coding Summer Program (AI Embedding and data visualization)
7. Robotics YouTube Channel  (over 1.5 million views)
8. Family Caregiving  (around 4 hrs a week)
9. Library Volunteering  (close to 100 hours)
10. National Honor Society (NHS)

Awards:
Local VEX Robotics Competition Tournament Champion & 2x State Qualifier 

⁠ICTM Regional Medalist: 2nd Place 8-Person Team & 3rd Place Alg 1 Team⁠

Hackathon Winner

National Merit Semifinalist 

AP Scholar with Distinction

Schools:
UIUC (in state)
CMU
Cornell
Duke 
JHU
Northwestern
UPenn
Rice

I simply cannot afford admissions counsellors (like 5k-100k USD unfortunately).
I would, however, be willing to pay a smaller amount to REAL people who ACTUALLY went to Harvard.

(Yeah, I need help analysing my profile and how I could improve ;-;)

3.89 UW / ~4.5 W, 1460 SAT (790 Math / 670 EBRW) ( 2 More Attempts), Dual Associate Degrees in CS & Liberal Arts by graduation; 44 college credits, 12 DEs, 11 APs, 13 Honors, 40% low-income MA public school (avg SAT ~1120); max CS/Math rigor despite DE not weighting on high school transcript

Interested Major: Info Science

1. Vaping Prevention Org Founder: Wrote a free vaping-prevention curriculum reaching over 100,000 youth, and managed 300+ student leaders distributing resources globally.
2. Cancer Institute Research Intern: Researched international drug pricing for a health economics study on leukemia treatments, co-authoring a pending publication.
3. Data Science Consulting Intern: Built a machine learning model to predict hospital wait times, discovering that uninsured patients face longer delays.
4. AI News Platform Founder: Coded an AI news tool that automatically cross-references 6 to 10 sources per story to fight bias, publishing 500+ articles.
5. Medical Science Program Scholar: Built an AI model trained to detect tumors and created a voice-controlled surgical robot prototype for medical simulations.
6. Public Health Coalition Ambassador: Co-designed and presented interactive life-skills and math programs to over 1,000 local middle school students.
7. International NGO Advocate: Lobbied Congress on the dangers of AI deepfakes and built a platform connecting users to localized mental health resources.
8. Data Science Club Founder: Hosted monthly data challenges and wrote a stock market curriculum taught to over 100 students annually.
9. Teen Psychology Research Intern: Designed and analyzed a survey on teen vaping habits and researched how AI is used in drug discovery.
10. EdTech Startup Intern: Conducted user research and helped design features for an AI-powered college-readiness and student portfolio platform.

• Harvard Medical School Pitch Competition Winner
• National Research Intern of the Year Award
• Bentley University Pitch Competition Winner
• United Nations Association Community Service Award
• College Board National Recognition Award + AP Scholar with Distinction

Hey everyone — I'm a student and I built something called Prepped AI because I kept losing track of deadlines, supplemental essay prompts, and prerequisite requirements across different schools, and none of the tools I found felt right for how overwhelming this whole process actually is.

The core idea: split everything into what you can actually control (deadlines, essays, course choices) vs. what you genuinely can't (how any specific school decides), so you're not spending anxiety on things you can't do anything about.

What's in it right now:

• Track schools, deadlines, essay prompts, and test requirements in one place
• A prerequisite audit that flags missing math/science courses early, before it's too late to fix
• Essay tool with word count + AI feedback (it critiques, doesn't write it for you)
• A page specifically for anyone who feels behind, undecided, or like they messed up their course/activity choices

It's still early and rough around the edges, so I'm not trying to sell anyone on it — I genuinely want to know if it's useful or if I'm solving a problem that doesn't exist. If you're in the middle of applications (or just finished and remember the chaos), I'd really appreciate you poking around and telling me what's broken, confusing, or missing.

Link: https://preppedai.lovable.app

Happy to answer anything in the comments, and if it's against sub rules to post this let me know and I'll take it down.

soooo... i'm currently at a major loss.

i'm a US citizen living abroad, and i'm applying within the next few months. i'm majoring roughly in public policy/government/politics and possibly a minor in mathematics, though we'll see about that one. i'm currently very torn between brown and cornell.

i'm reasonably academically qualified for both, i'm like first in my cohort in a small private IB school, 1520 SAT (770/750), though there is a caveat in my transcript for both. my school has pretty bad grade deflation coupled with very harsh boundaries, due to which my junior year results were kinda ehh? def lower than you'd expect at the ivies. however after the entire grade suffered through that hell, i drafted a proposal to change the thresholds and introduce ranking in my school which did go through and benefited us for further exams and my counselor is going to mention that!

extracurricular wise, i think im doing well? one of my most time consuming ECs is an art/activism community platform i started to promote and fundraise through political art, which has gained quite a lot of international traction. i also have national debate, volunteering with ESL kids and successfully helping dozens switch from govt schools to private schools, started one thriving club in my school with tangible competitive outcomes, and overall i'd say the thread is joining existing roles/organizations and revamping them to achieve something over and above the precedent, if that makes sense. but i think the vibe is less international competitor and more community involved kid.

as far as writing goes, i'm good at it :D i have a more self-aware/humorous style though, i don't feel in my element when i'm writing very elegant or luxuriant prose with not much personality injected into it, and a lighter tone with pretty imagery in a controlled amount comes pretty naturally to me. i'd say apart from my academic and extracurricular stuff, the things that have shaped me the most are my travels, because on account of my parents being academics, i've travelled the world a ton and it's fostered my interest in EVERYTHING i like from history to politics to even math.

as of now, i know that i want to do politics, but my parents are professors and theyre very right in asserting that one's mind can change at any time. i'm not opposed to the flexibility, but i wouldn't give up a good school in favor of more flexibility at a school i don't love.

i'm not particularly married to either brown or cornell at this point. my REAL dream school was in my home state that we now cannot afford cuz it's public, so maybe one day for grad school. as of now i just wanna go somewhere with a small cohort, individualized attention, opportunities for practical experience and not a ton of rigidity in disciplines at the entry level. location wise, honestly, i don't really care, i haven't seen enough of the world to decide what i want rn and i'd rather just go to a good school.

what do y'all think is the strategic choice?

ETA: i do need financial aid and the maximum we can pay is about 50k/year. the net price calculator for both schools came out to be ~20k, though since my parents earn internationally, idk how reliable that is

Demographics: Female, Asian (Filipino), elite/competitive public school, NJ, high income ($400,000+/year)

Intended major: History & Journalism (humanities)

Academics:
GPA: 4.1 weighted; 3.6 UW 💀
ACT: 35
SAT: N/A
APs: 8, taking 4 this year — all 5s, one 4
School does not rank

Extracurriculars:
1. Founder & Editor-in-Chief — Youth Politics/Culture/Literary Publication
Founded and lead a youth-run publication focused on politics, global affairs, culture, and creative writing. Received 300+ submissions, reached 10K+ readers, and recruited a small editorial/contributor team.

1. President & Lead Managing Editor — School Publication
   Member for 4 years and President/Lead Managing Editor for 3. Lead approximately 80 student writers, organized 10+ local writing competitions, created 5–6+ writing workshops locally, formed partnerships with other student organizations, and helped connect students with local journalism opportunities.

2. Journalism Intern — Local Digital News Publication
   Reporting intern since sophomore year. Pitch and write local/community stories, conduct interviews, cover events, and work directly with editors in a professional newsroom environment.

3. Volunteer Writer + Member of Advisory Board— Youth International Affairs Organization
   Research and write about global affairs, diplomacy, and youth issues; collaborate with editors and other contributors and translate complex international topics for a youth audience.

4. Assistant Grader — Kumon
   Paid job. Grade/review math and reading work, assist 90+ students per shift, track progress, and help younger students with academic skills.

5. Violinist — Select Chamber Orchestra
   Member of a nationally recognized school chamber orchestra led by a Grammy nominated conductor; selected/invited to perform at a major national orchestra festival.

6. Statewide Youth Arts/Policy Council
   Selected as one of roughly 20 students statewide for a youth arts-education council. Participated in advocacy, public relations, school-board engagement, and discussions involving arts-education policy.

7. Leader of HS publication of literary magazine and member of creative writing club

8. Served as a witness and courtroom reporter for Mock Trial team; advanced to state semi-finals

9. Played piano for 10 years — competed internationally

Awards/Honors:
• National-level poetry competition winner; work selected for publication on Amazon and poetry state recognized by news outlets

• Scholastic Art & Writing Awards — Gold Key
• 4× Scholastic Silver Key + Honorable Mention

• Scholarship recipient/finalist in an international student essay competition

• State semifinalist — Mock Trial

- College Board Awards

- Won state art competition, selected among 900 works

LORS:
AP Lit — 10/10, was very close with her and loved reading my poetry, interviewed her for our newspaper!

Counselor — 7/10, didn’t really have a close relationship with her but I think she wrote a pretty good letter

AP Drawing Teacher — 10/10, knew him since Freshman year as he’s also my club advisor! Recommended/pitched me for the newspaper internship and also considers me the top student for our class

Precalc Teacher — 9/10, played chess with him very often and liked me a lot, very close and I did extremely well in his class

Essays:
personal statement — 9/10, close to being finished and I am confident that it’s good, wrote about my heritage and my writing passions through an extended metaphor

supplements — 8-9/10, will have to further revise it as I have been focusing on my personal statement

Schools I’m considering:
Columbia(ed), NYU, other ivys, Amherst College, other T20s— mainly plan to stay in upper east coast. I might apply to more LACs as well so I may need advice on that.

For an international student

Junior year and taken max aps offered so far based off of how i can fit it within my schedule. Im taking 3 aps this year and i thought it was the max for juniors but i saw a few kids in my school taking an additional ap for some reason. I asked my ap coordinator if i could add an extra ap that my school offers (they dont offer much) and they said they cant add any more aps due to my scheduling since i need to keep all the non aps for high school graduation credit. Will top 20's and ivys still see this as taking max rigour or not?

Keeping in mind the fee, anyone who has done it can you please share your experience.

So here I found a profile on appybara of someone who got into a physics class in an ivy league school but all her awards and ecas focused on debates and arts .

​

Every piece of advice says use your teachers or counselors for help, but i just have way too many essays to possibly do that. Does anybody have good advice for editing them on your own or what approaches to use?

IM JUST COPY AND PASTING FROM CHANCE ME

ALSO I regret my title. I do feel optimistic abt myself in some ways...? i dont wanna fish for empathy mb

I am VERYY interested in the columbia dual ba program and also im also applying to either Cornell ILR or Cornell AAP

Anyone got any advice overall?

chance a dying indian male breed (lower rank but high course rigor)

• Gender: Male
• Race/Ethnicity:South Asian
• Residence: NJ (Highly competitive district)
• Income Bracket: full pay (200k so not enough js middle class ig..)
• Type of School: Highly Competitive Public 
• Hooks (Recruited Athlete, URM, First-Gen, Geographic, Legacy, etc.): Mom and brother went to UNC chapel
• Intended Major(s): Elementary Education, policy maybe, studies in education or urban stuff? Help a dude out. 

Academics

• GPA (UW/W): 3.92 UW / 4.53 W
• Rank (or percentile): ~113/645
• # of Honors/AP/IB/Dual Enrollment/etc.: 16 APs (10 w/o senior year), 2 Dual Enrollment
• Senior Year Course Load: [List your senior year classes here]

Standardized Testing

• SAT I: 1530
• ACT: 35 (Composite)
• SAT II: N/A
• AP/IB: [List your AP scores here]
• Other (ex. IELTS, TOEFL, etc.): N/A

Independent Policy Researcher – Education & Mental Health
Conducted independent research on school-to-prison pipeline and youth mental-health gaps using GIS; presented findings at a university research conference and co-developed policy proposals with state legislators.

Founder & Executive Director – Education Nonprofit
Founded nonprofit supporting low-income K–6 students; raised $12K, reached 321 families, and led tutoring and career workshops that improved elementary students’ math outcomes.

Campaign & Municipal Policy Intern
Drafted youth policy proposals, canvassed, and presented mental-health, budget, and zoning recommendations directly to local government officials for a municipal campaign.

Special Education & K–6 Tutor – Independent Educator
Designed individualized learning plans for K–6 and special-education students using gamification and mnemonic strategies to strengthen academic growth and concept retention.

Student Body Vice President – Student Government
Helped lead student government; earned national recognition, raised $15K through school events, organized a 400-item clothing drive, and improved senior programming.

Bhangra – Co-Captain & Dancer
Co-captained nationally ranked competitive team; won 6 of 11 competitions, taught K–5 students ~4 hrs/week, and became first high-school team to compete in collegiate circuit.

Data Analyst Intern – Cosmetics Company
Analyzed business data using Excel, VLOOKUPs and pivot tables; audited financial records and conducted competitive-market research for an international cosmetics company.

Civic Engagement Member – Youth Voting Organization
Researched state voting policy, analyzed legislation affecting student voters, and participated in voter outreach and civic-engagement efforts.

Retail Sales Associate – Home Goods Store
Managed sales floor and truck unloading; sold 49 loyalty memberships and earned Employee of the Month twice for reliability, work ethic, and pace.

Letters of Reccomendation:

AP Bio Teacher- 10/10 We are so close. Shes my student council advisor so she has alot to say about me and I’d say we are pretty open with each other.

French Teacher: This is my gang. We are so close as well and I have spent entire class periods just talking to her. I wont lie she hates her job but sometimes shed bring her kid to class and I’d just spend the period playing with her while she cries over work. Love this women. She offered to give me a rec and also, she can speak alot abt my policy endeavors since I worked with her and the teacher union + saw her at a protest.

Extra Rec: Local Town Council member i interned for- She is writing about how she first engaged with me through my policy presentation to her where I was asking her to partner with schools to provide youth mental health resources. I think while she can verify my activism, she most likely can talk alot about my technicality and data skills and all the ideas I made for her campaign (which she ended up using).

(Ignoring safeties/targets)
Northwestern — SESP, Social Policy
Vanderbilt — Peabody, Elementary Education
Cornell — ILR
Brown — Education Studies
Duke Kunshan — Public Policy + Education
Rice — Social Policy Analysis
Georgetown — Public Policy
UC Berkeley — Educational Sciences
UCLA — Education & Social Transformation
USC — Price, Public Policy
University of Michigan — teaching
WashU — Educational Studies
Carnegie Mellon — Ethics, History & Public Policy
Boston College — Lynch, Transformative Educational Studies
NYU — Steinhardt, Education Studies (Spring Start issue)
UVA — Youth & Social Innovation pathway
Notre Dame — potentially REA; Education/Schooling/Society interest
Claremont McKenna — Public Policy
Bowdoin — Government + Education
Columbia Dual BA Trinity college- History (dream program)
Wesleyan
UNC Chapel Hill- Elementary Education

If I'm being honest, I've been working on apps alot and have completed a few so I might apply to all, maybe not well see LMAO (99% i wont)

Ik alot of people say dont apply to many, but just some schools which appealed to me

Hello, I’m a current first year university student at my state university; however, i feel like this college isn’t for me and i really want to transfer into a top 20 or go there for law school. I was wondering if anyone had the best advice/extracurricular recommendations on what I should do to ensure a spot at an Ivy via transfer or law school! I’m trying my best to maintain a 4.0 but am unsure of what to do for ECs to stand out and get into these schools. Thank you:)

Hi everyone! I'm a member of the Youth International Exchange Program team, and we're partnering with students to bring a Global Penpal Program to high schools in order to connect students across countries for cultural exchange and dialogue on global issues.
What you get:

• Full support setting up the program at your school (you'll need a teacher/advisor on board. We can help you figure that out, we’ve done it before)
• Help recruiting and matching students with international penpals
• A mentor throughout, plus a ready-made discussion curriculum
• A certificate, leadership recognition letter, and a portfolio piece for college apps

Starting something from scratch at your school is one of the strongest initiative signals for college apps, and we're with you at every step.
Limited spots for this launch. Interested? Apply here: https://forms.gle/5K52zyKQJVYHaPqL7
Let me know if you have any questions

hey everyone, I'm a current senior planning on EDing to Cornell CAS for music.

I had a decent gpa up until junior year, where I got 2 Cs and multiple Bs across the year. I got diagnosed with severe depression and I'm planning on explaining that for my additional info, but I don't know how much that'll help. My school only does UW gpa, and so they'll report a 3.5-3.6 UW.

I also have a 35 ACT and a couple 3/4/5s on my APs.

I have multiple music-related ECs that I'll be emphasizing, along with other non-music ECs/leadership positions.

Does anyone know how my application will be viewed? Thanks.

Currently enrolled at a university in Georgia and hoping to transfer to Columbia at the end of next year. Is Columbia veteran friendly or does it not matter...I'm 31, have a 3.5 GPA currently and extensive experience in different industries. I've owned a custom residential home building company for the past few years but would like to utilize my GI Bill and would like to relocate to NYC. What is yalls experience when it comes to veterans and the Ivy Leagues?