Chances for Fall 2013?

[arcticbelle]

What are my chances with the following stats? I'm a (white, female) junior at a flagship state university and plan on grad school straight out of undergrad. I started college more than 3 years early, and my parents wouldn't let me apply to any schools other than the one I'm attending right now. I was a shoo-in for that (4.0 unweighted GPA, co-valedictorian, 31 ACT without cracking open a review guide, scores of 5 on 4 AP courses), so I know zilch about the admissions process and am bewildered by actually having choices.

GPA: 3.98, 3.95 in major

1 conference presentation so far (talk, not a poster)

1+ year research experience so far, should be 3 when I graduate

Senior thesis in initial planning stages

GRE- Will take in December, have 750-800 for quant and verbal on first practice exam

Contracted for 2 semesters as an undergraduate TA in a general ed course plus 90% of the way to a major teaching certificate

Goldwater Scholarship (national STEM scholarship, reasonably big deal according to school's Top Scholarships advisor)

Chair of board that directs large student center ($2 million budget)- not Chemistry-related

Minoring in mathematics and have a 4.0 in the minor

I'm hoping to apply to the following schools' Physical Chemistry grad programs:

1) MIT

2) Berkeley

3) Caltech

4) Harvard

5) Princeton

6) U of Maryland- College Park (as a safety school)

I have a chance, right? If not, please tell me what I need to do to improve. Also, on what schedule should I plan to take the Chem subject test? I know that MIT really wants it, and that's my dream school. Thanks so much!

[Eigen]

Your stats are great-they won't hold you back. What's more important at this stage is fit- exactly what kind of chemistry you want to do, and who you want to work with. Don't just pick a big name school, pick a research group or advisor that you really want to work with and who's research you're passionate about.