<p>I scored a 1590 out of 2400 on the SAT (very disappointing…I excel in class, but I just don’t do well on those kind of big tests). By the end of the spring semester I will have completed 6 AP classes. I am in the top 10% of my class. I have a 3.85 GPA. I am in several clubs at school, and I play varsity soccer for my school and a club. Also, I gained job experience during this past semester. Would it be ridiculous for me to apply to Yale or any other Ivy League school?</p>
<p>I would say it’s pretty ridiculous. If you want to apply for the heck of it then go for it but your chances are very unlikely. Colleges like Yale rarely take sat scores like that unless you have a huge hook. Don’t get discouraged at all by this though. Everything else is great and you’ve proven you can work hard. Try applying to some test optional schools and see what happens. Good luck!</p>
<p>Look at the Common Data Set information for schools of interest, for instance Y:</p>
<p>[Common</a> Data Set (CDS) | Office of Institutional Research](<a href=“http://oir.yale.edu/common-data-set]Common”>Common Data Set | Office of Institutional Research)</p>
<p>Look at the % admitted for various SAT score ranges. Note that for the lowest scores, there will be special circumstances such as: recruited athlete, development candidate, extreme poverty, etc.</p>
<p>You won’t get in</p>
<p>Yeah, I figured that would be the answer. Haha. Maybe Yale can be a potential Grad. School option for myself. So, what schools (similar to Yale, Harvard, etc. but without the strict selectivity) would be the best match for me then?</p>
<p>What do you consider common between H and Y that is not related to its selectivity? What are you looking for?</p>
<p>Well, if looking for test optional schools, try Wake Forest or other test optional schools.</p>
<p>Otherwise, you’re going to have to look at schools way below ivies. </p>
<p>What is your budget?</p>
<p>What is your major?</p>
<p>What is your home state?</p>
<p>What is your Math + CR SAT?</p>
<p>What AP scores have you gotten so far?</p>
<p>What do YOU think Harvard and Yale are “like”???</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad,</p>
<p>What I am looking for…I want to major in either astrophysics (or something similar) or aerospace engineering. I want to go to school at a place that has a soccer team, because I want to play in college. I’m not too worried about cost as long as the school gives a decent amount of financial aid, but if it is $30,000 or so for tuition and average financial aid given is $5,000, then that would be a big NO. I’ll be relying heavily on the aid and scholarships. Loans are something I haven’t really thought about though. I want to go to a school that is going to give me the best education and is going to make me work hard for it. Other than that, I’m not real sure what I’m looking for.</p>
<p>Do you have a school counselor or a parent to help you? Have you used the search tool on this site? There are literally hundreds of colleges that would challenge you, offer opportunities to play soccer and help prepare you for a career in your chosen field. You have a lot going for you and should end up with lots of options if you choose wisely.</p>
<p>Top 20 schools will be reaches. Your best bet for a reach school is Wake Forest which is SAT optional.</p>
<p>The low SATs will hurt. If you are a junior, consider taking the ACTs as some people do better on that exam. </p>
<p>In general, if you test well below what you achieve in the classroom I would consider some test optional schools. [SAT/ACT</a> Optional 4-Year Universities | FairTest](<a href=“http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional]SAT/ACT”>ACT/SAT Optional List - Fairtest)</p>
<p>[The</a> most selective test-optional schools - College, Inc. - The Washington Post](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/college-inc/post/the-most-selective-test-optional-schools/2011/06/21/AGBB3heH_blog.html]The”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/college-inc/post/the-most-selective-test-optional-schools/2011/06/21/AGBB3heH_blog.html)</p>
<p>The list in this article is a year old, so there may be more now. </p>
<p>Good luck to you.</p>