Do I Stand a Chance at a Top-Tier School?

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>GPA - 3.7
SAT - 2300
SAT World H. - 770
U.S. H. - 800
Lit. - 770
Spanish - 710
A little background info: I’m a junior at a large public high school in Brookyn, NYC. Low-income, first generation, if that helps my case. Racially I’m in the “other” category.</p>

<p>I took AP World last year (the only available for sophomores at my school) and I got a 5. I took 4 this year, which is the most I’m allowed to take. They were Spanish, English Comp., U.S. History, and Government. I’m pretty confident about my scores, probably 4, 5, 5, 5, respectively. For extra-curriculars, I’m in 3 clubs (newspaper, UNICEF, Big Sibs). I’m an editor of the newspaper and Secretary of UNICEF. I’m interning this summer and for past summers, I’ve volunteered at my dad’s store because he was struggling financially and needed help and I also volunteered at a local Islamic center as an Arabic teacher for children.</p>

<p>I’m just wondering if i would stand a chance at an Ivy because my grades aren’t crazy good and neither are my extra-curriculars. Any thoughts would be much appreciated :)</p>

2

<p>What is your class rank or what percentile do you fall in or think you fall in?</p>

3

<p>My school doesn’t rank so I have no idea. Probably near the top ten percent.</p>

4

<p>so… LRM?
if your family has a low income, can you afford a top-tier university?</p>

5

<p>Yes, of course. Most top schools give excellent financial aid to kids like me. I’ve calculated and I would hardly have to pay anything.</p>

6

<p>You have a pretty good chance at Cornell if you apply early decision. Regular decision is more unlikely. The rest of the ivy league are high reaches.</p>

7

<p>Cortana-</p>

<p>I think you’re being a little too pessimistic with your chances…</p>

<p>I know multiple people from my school with 1300-1400/1600 SATs who made Cornell, and they didn’t have any real connections or exceptional stats.</p>

8

<p>What if I had a really good essay and recs? I’m going for Columbia.</p>

9

<p>well ok… your sat is good. your GPA is somewhat low for HYP and UPENN, Brown, and Columbia, but ok (not good) for cornell</p>

<p>Your extracurricular are not the best, for many ivys focus on essays, but the low level don’t care very much about first generation, or lower income. However, the higher level HYP do, for they receive many upperclass Asians. </p>

<p>Now for Columbia specifically</p>

<p>Columbia cares for the following and considers them extremely important</p>

<p>Rigor of Secondary School Record<br>
Academic GPA<br>
Standardized Tests<br>
Class Rank<br>
Recommendations
Essay<br>
Extracurricular Activities<br>
Character/Personal Qualities</p>

<p>Breakdown</p>

<p>Rigor of Secondary School Record- While i understand that you have taken the hardest classes possible, they aren’t enough, Lacking<br>
Academic GPA- Low GPA, Lacking<br>
Standardized Tests- toward the upper 25 percent, so top 25 percent, Adequate<br>
Class Rank- Unknown<br>
Recommendations - Unknown
Essay - Unknown<br>
Extracurricular Activities- Only 3 and no awards won, lacking<br>
Character/Personal Qualities- Unknown</p>

<p>Your major points (volunteering, ethnicity, first gen, income) are only considered for Columbia and are not important. Furthermore, the things Columbia cares about are, in your case, insufficient.</p>

<p>Unlikely chance, but reach with amazing essays and recs</p>

10

<p>They’ll know from my guidance counselor that I took the hardest classes, and the colleges say that they always take that into consideration. I’m also a Commended Scholar, projected AP Scholar with Distinction, and I won a writing contest with Writer’s Digest and got my story published in their magazine.</p>

11

<p>what colleges say and do are two very different things. I also got all these statistics from a reputable company that had a profile on columbia. You also don’t have any amazing awards (not sure about the writer’s digest though). Many students applying to Columbia are National AP scholars</p>

12

<p>Thanks for those stats, by the way. I know I’m not a shoo-in for the Ivies. I know I don’t have prestigious awards and I know I didn’t take 8 APs in one year. But this year, 4 kids from my school got into Harvard. I know 2 of them personally. They all took the maximum number of APs (like me) and none of them were valedictorians. The 2 I know didn’t have any major awards, either. I also have higher SAT scores.
Basically, all this gave me a little hope that maybe I can get into an Ivy too. I really do appreciate your input, but I’m sure the colleges will adjust their expectations accordingly when they see my situation.</p>

13

<p>I have to agree with what kiddo has said above, but considering your school’s history, you might make it. I’d focus on really fine-tuning your essay this summer, and maybe even seeing someone about it if it could be your ticket into Columbia. Really wish you the best of luck though.</p>

14

<p>You always have a chance if your essays and recs are amazing</p>

15

<p>Thanks. I know kiddo’s got a point but I’m still gonna try.</p>

16

<p>Are you caramel XD?
Your academics are pretty tip top shape for some of these ivies. Your GPA could be better, but your SATs seem to be set.
Like what the others have said, your ECs do lack a bit. Nothing really shows character. Awards are not necessary, but even then, you need to start finding your passion.</p>

17

<p>I know, kiddo. I just wanted to make sure that the admissions people won’t automatically throw my app in the reject pile.</p>

18

<p>@GiveMeReason, I’m pretty sure my character will show through my recs and essay. Ha, what do you mean, caramel? I’m Yemeni.</p>

19

<p>Caramel is the future race, where ethnicity get so mixed up to the point where your background doesn’t matter. Like Tiger Woods.</p>

20

<p>Whoa, that’s kinda awesome.</p>