Take a shot yes. You’ve worked hard and earned that right.
Will you get in - unlikely - but there are so many great schools you’d be a likely to get into althiugh for most are hard gets. Villanova, Lehigh. You’d get into the TOP IB school (but it’s mid southeast and you’d be direct admit to a top 10 b school with IU (but it’s Midwest).
You are talking about schools with low single digit acceptance rates. That’s why you are unlikely. It’s the only reason.
Don’t let peer pressure make your college choice.
There’s many great colleges - and all produce successful and not so successful grads.
As far as I know, they offer very few resources. My school is currently in a state takeover and experiencing budget cuts. Things regarding class rank and full gpa were supposed to be released last year, but we have yet to receive access to them. It is a miracle our 2023-2024 valedictorian went to Harvard.
I can only figure my chances by having discussions with various guidance counselors or alumni of schools I’m looking at applying to. Even then, it’s quite challenging to gauge my odds.
It’s quite challenging to gauge odd of acceptance at ANY college with a 20% acceptance rate…or less. So many well qualified students apply. You have no ide what might catch the eye of an adcom…or not.
Apply and see. If you do…or don’t get accepted, you will never know why.
You are applying to single digit acceptance rate schools. You are not near top ranked but ranked well. Your SAT is great but on the low end for these schools.
If you were a 1600, you’d be a reach. But these are high reaches.
You don’t need a guidance counselor or alum to see that.
But again, you’ve worked hard and statistically are close enough that you should take your shot.
But you need to spend more time on the schools underneath.
You stated you wouldn’t love AU and Babson. You’re far more likely to end up there than Brown or Penn. so put your focus on THIS part of your list. You have the two reach but now you want to ensure you find a school where you want to be.
If it’s not AU or Babson, there’s plenty others. In addition to Lehigh, Nova and Pitt, look at Dickinson - strong in your arena.
Why does Penn feel right for you ? Lets find its cousin as a back up. It’s not the only fine school in your area of interest.
I have a sad feeling that you’re falling to peer pressure. And that stinks. It’s not a race.
Not everyone chooses the highest ranked. More important is you are comfortable where you are as you’ll be there four years, day after day.
UPenn just feels right due to the preprofessional environment and the programming and mission statement of Huntsman. I don’t feel like I am falling to peer pressure. No one on the outside is trying to persuade me into going to an Ivy League and few of my friends are looking to go down that path. I would say my SAT score and the amount of APs I have taken are the weakest parts of my application. My extracurriculars and awards are what I think will make up for some of those lower numbers. Other than that, I have a great deal of experience working with the school district, city, and state so I will attempt to play that up. Majority of my extracurriculars are outside of my school and are apart of the city or district- all in which I have an active role in. I think the connotation that UPenn gives- the we know what we want to do and we have a vision for our future- is fitting. That’s why I am drawn. I am focusing on the other options, as well, granted that UPenn is indeed extremely selective. But, because I am curious about applying early, I am focused a bit more on that since it’s quite a major decision.
In addition, I attended NSLI-Y, which is an intense language immersion program through the Department of State. It was quite competitive, so having done that process and being selected has given me a more “YOLO” perspective on competitive programs. Since there is no formula, I believe that if I am drawn to Huntsman, I should just give it a shot.
Yeah, on the CommonApp I can mark that I am proficient in both. From what my peers have said, Korean and Italian are “rare” languages that other students have learned. - I only speak English at home and identify as a white American.
Could you please tell us how far south you would consider for colleges…and how far to the west? This will help folks target their suggestions to your desires.
For example…would you be willing to be further south than DC? Would you go as far as Ohio or Indiana to the west?
I don’t think it’s surprising at all. The top students from Classical tend to do very well in highly-selective admissions. Urban exam and magnet schools are a source for FGLI and economically diverse students who are seen as reasonably well-prepared for demanding college-level academics.
You have a lot going for you, especially with respect to community leadership and impact, which is something Penn values a lot. Shoot your shot.
Follow the advice you are getting in this thread, however, and make sure you have a balanced list of schools. Don’t put a target or likely school on your list just to have some more predictable acceptances. Have schools you could really see yourself attending.
Also, understand the trade-offs in your criteria. You have two that are producing some conflict: the desire to major in a strong international business program, and an affinity for the northeast. Holding fast to one limits the other.
I have a kid at Penn. Look into Perry world house at Penn great program that seems up your alley. My kid had most of their ECs outside of school. I think that is a plus as it shows a progression in a field and a leadership aspect. I agree with others your SAT is a little low? Did you take ACT? Also with AP’s will your counselor say you took a rigorous schedule? That is what you need.