I’ve finished my junior year, and I don’t want to take more standardized tests. I’m just wondering if all of what I’ve done so far is enough to have a chance at these schools:
Yale
Harvard
Columbia
UPenn
Georgetown
Tufts
Boston U
Brandeis
Northeastern
Haverford
Bucknell
ACT: 34 (I would have no problem with this but here is the breakdown: English-36, Reading- 36, Math-36, and Science-28. As you can see that’s really unbalanced, BUT I don’t plan to do anything in science)
SAT: 1470 on the new SAT, probably not going to send that.
SAT II: 770 in world history, awaiting scores for U.S history and Spanish.
My unweighted GPA is a 99, give or take a tenth of a point or so. Have no idea how it’s going to be weighted. I take a bunch of AP’s and all that. I took four so far and plan to take five my senior year.
As for extracurriculars, I do only a few things, but I do them A LOT. I play violin and have been in like five orchestras, did NYSSMA all state level 6, all that fun stuff. I’ve been in the drama club since my freshman year, and I’ve been on crew, acted in the cast, and played in pit orchestra. I’m the editor-in-chief of my school’s literary magazine and on the earning staff. I’ve gotten gold in the national Spanish exam three years in a row, and I’ve won other random Spanish and writing awards. I’ve been to regionals for Poetry Out Loud. I’m in honor societies, tutor other students and give a portion of the money I make to the American Cancer Society. Most of the community service I do is through the chamber orchestra I founded and run. I also plan to volunteer for an organization that my dad is on the board of. Hopefully I wrote a pretty kick-ass common app essay, as I love writing and am applying to schools as an English Major.
I know some kids are literally geniuses and do WAY more extracurricular wise and better standardized test wise, but I just wonder if my weird ACT score puts a damper on all the hard work I put towards everything else, and if it’s worth more loss of sanity to take it again??? And I also want to know if I’m being unrealistic. OBVIOUSLY I don’t expect to get into ivies like Yale, Harvard, and Columbia, and I also have some in-state local safeties that I didn’t list.
Thanks!!
Your stats are good and similar to tens of thousands of other Ivy hopefuls. you, like most of them, have a very small chance of acceptance. Apply and see what happens.
You have reaches and matches. You need a couple of safeties,
I would definitely say you’re in the running. Don’t worry about your ACT scores. A 34 is great, despite your science score.
Yup haha. I have a few safeties, I just didn’t list them. Thanks!
Alright, I was a little worried about that but that makes me feel a little better, especially since I’m not doing science. Thanks! Obviously I’d be happy with any good school, whether it’s an Ivy or not.
UVA, NYU, Williams, and Middlebury should be on your
list
ACT is fine and obviously hard to say which ones, but you are possibly an ivy league candidate
All the ivies are going to be reaches no matter what. Make sure you find a few match and safety schools where you would be happy ending up. Look for schools with 50% admit rates. Your stats may match more selective schools but so do everyone else’s applying.
My safeties are Hofstra, Lafayette and SUNY Binghamton
@Wisdom2share I don’t like NYU and the other three are a little out of my geographic range haha
@rebecca12345 assuming you can don’t mind all women’s college I would also recommend Smith and Wellesley. Your safeties are really safeties… I feel you could aim higher for your safeties. have you looked into Muhlenberg College and Amherst colleges
Lafayette and SUNY Bing are perfectly good schools (as is Hofstra, but not quite the same level) - in fact, I would say Lafayette’s more of a match since they could reject you for yield.
@Wisdom2share like UMass Amherst?
@usualhopeful that’s what I’m fearing, getting rejected for being “overqualified.”
I’m also worried about that for American U, one of my lower matches, I guess.
@Wisdom2share also with schools like Muhlenberg and Villanova, I’m Jewish so I’d rather go to a school that’s not affiliated with Christianity. I might make an exception for BC or Georgetown (especially Georgetown) because they’re really good in the programs I want.
Fully one third of Muhlenberg identifies as Jewish, I don’t see the Christianity thing as being an issue. They have a large Hillel program and excellent kosher dining options. They might be worth a look. Best of luck to you!
Lafayette’s admit rate is around 30%. It might be a match for you, especially considering the “yield protection” factor that’s already been mentioned. Hofstra and SUNY-Bing are probably more like safety material for you, though; you’re still covered.
@beenthereanddone oh really? Thanks for the information!
@prezbucky yup. I’m trying to have more reasonable schools on my list. Thanks
@rebecca12345 not UMass Amherst, I meant Amherst College… a really good LAC