Debating on whether I should even try to apply for Ivy League schools or other prestigious colleges. I have a 4.0 and 29 on my ACT which I hope to improve on (taking it in Feb and March). I do a lot of extracurricular activities which I hope will help push me over the top. I have help co found a non profit for mental health awareness and founded an organization that provides free college readiness tools and study sessions for students in my county, I’m on a council that advises the commissioner of education in or state, I’m on a student advocacy group for better education in my state, I’m an ambassador for a non profit which provides education to orphans in Kenya, and I participate in school clubs; I’m a BETA and NHS member (running for office next year) I’m a current DECA Officer, and class secretary! I don’t know still if I do enough or if I’m smart enough to be accepted in to the colleges I’m looking at (Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth)
You’ll never know unless you apply. My daughter is finishing up her applications. She is also top of her class. She intends to study foreign languages & has 4 years of Japanese (we’re not Asian) & Spanish (honors both). Yet, she considers herself an “average” student. Initially, she had 5 colleges on her “list.” No Ivys & most were middle-weight schools. I pushed her to push herself to apply to more challenging schools. Now, she’s applying to ONE Ivy & a smattering of super selective schools. Maybe she won’t be accepted - but maybe she will! I told her what I’m telling you: you’ve got a shot, hold your head up high and take it.
Try.
But cast a wide net. No one has good odds at the Ivies… many accept 5 or 6% of the incredibly qualified applicants they get.
So try, but no one should consider them a sure thing.
Your ECs sound great and you should keep doing those things that you’re passionate about. Would it be possible to redirect a bit of your energy for the next few months into really studying for the ACT? Unfortunately with an ACT of 29, admissions to the schools you list is going to be unlikely since fewer than 25% of their admitted students have a score that low (and those are often applicants with an admissions advantage like legacy, athletics or minority status.) Increasing your ACT score would give you a better chance.
You’re a junior? Your standardized test scores need to get considerably higher to have a fighting chance (32+)! My kids are domestic students with higher test scores than yours and also strong ECs. We didn’t bother applying to the Ivies. For one, I can’t pay 250K for an undergraduate degree. We’re middle class and wouldn’t get any financial aid. Second, our high school allows us to apply to a maximum of 12 schools, we didn’t want to use a spot for a school for which the chance of admission is very low. It really is a personal decision. For some students getting into an Ivy League is their dream come true and they would move heaven and earth to get there. For others it just isn’t. My kids have approached this college hunt in a very pragmatic way and I’m glad they did. There’s hundreds of really great schools across the US graduating smart kids. Most important questions to ask when putting your list together: what major? City or small town? Big school or small LAC? Weather? Distance from home? Do you need financial aid? Can you pay the full price of the school? You want to try for merit aid? This is a long process so have fun along the way! Good luck.