What are some ways of improving my chances of admission at a highly selective university if I own and operate two businesses, am an active member and leader in many financial clubs, have had amazing internship experiences, have played piano for 15 years and have a 35 on my act and near 800s on my subject tests. My GPA is only a 3.2. Am I still a contender for Ivys and Other very selective universities?
Unless you happen to have attended a school with such grade deflation that all the top students have a 3.2 or 3.3 GPA, you have zero to almost zero chance at very selective schools.
You’ll easily be generalized as this: smart kid but didn’t make good decisions
You’ll get into some very good schools, I don’t doubt. But for the ultra top tier? Not a one, IMHO
The Ivies and other schools at that level will get thousands of applicants whose ECs and test scores are just as impressive as yours, and they will also have 4.0 GPAs. I’m guessing with your scores you are on a path to become a National Merit finalist? Many schools will give you full ride scholarships in their honors programs because of your test scores and excellent ECs. Sure, feel free to apply to as many Ivies as you want to shell out application fees for, but know that your chances are extremely slight.