<p>Hey, better to hear it now than the poor kids who put together a list like that, nobody calls 'em on it, and they end up with no acceptances senior year. It happens.</p>
<p>And remember that even if your SAT scores fall in the midrange for the ivies, it doesn't guarantee you admission-- far from it. Plenty of students who are "admissable" to the ivies given their numerical data don't get in.</p>
<p>I tend to think it's easy to find good fits among "the usual suspects"-- also spend some time exploring school that aren't as obvious for a good fit.</p>
<p>Remember at the end of the day the schools let you in, not the other way around. Don't rule out a place like Princeton because you didn't love it when you visited. the best time to shop schools is "accepted students days" after you get in. I ruled out too many schools for silly reasons out of high school, and although I got into some great places (Columbia and Northwestern) only then did I realize I wish I had applied to some other schools and had better options for me.</p>
<p>I ended up applying to more social schools as a transfer (out of Columbia) and I got into Brown, Duke, and Dartmouth. This time I felt like a kid in a candy store. I had three choices that were amazing fits and strong academically. There are going to be plenty of top schools that fit your needs, just make sure you have options and do your research. Don't not apply to Brown and then have schools that are more intense (like Chicago) as your choices, only to find out that Brown is far more social.</p>