If only “5-10 students get >=85% at all” that means your grades aren’t THAT bad. It means you’re still in the upper percentiles in your country. That’s important: American colleges are usually familiar with different countries’ school systems and will judge you in that context. Yes, important EC accomplishments can help offset a year of lower grades. Very, very good SAT scores also matter. But what bjkmom in #1 is telling you – applying to the Ivies is like playing the lottery. The odds are stacked AGAINST you. So if you’re serious about studying in the USA, you will have to research many schools, and apply to many schools - not just the Ivies, which reject more than 95% of international applicants.