Obviously applying to the Ivies is really a chance game for even the most qualified students. But I’m wondering if I’ve got enough to even be seriously considered.
I go to a really small public school on Long Island. Roughly my gpa is 3.8uw and 4.2 w. That puts me about tenth in my class of ~160 however I’m taking just about the hardest course load possible at my school and I’m pretty sure no one else in my class can match it. By the time I graduate I will have taken
AP World
AP USH
AP Chem
AP Lang
AP Lit
AP US Gov
AP Physics 1
AP Bio
AP Calc AB
That’s 9 out of the 10 APs offered at my school with the only one I won’t have taken being Psych. I got a 5 on World, the rest I’m taking senior year or will know what I got in July.
ACT Composite is a 34
36 Reading, 33 English, 34 Science, 31 Math
New SAT 1450
740 English, 710 Math
I’m retaking both in June and aiming for a 35 and 1500+
My extracurriculars are weak and I think that’s by far my greatest are of concern. I play trombone in the School Band and also in a jazz band. The only award I’ve received of any kind is one from my schools music department that basically says hey your pure talent isn’t enough to win any kind of competition but we can see how into music you are and how much you enjoy it so here’s this award. I’m in all the honor societies and do the community service that is required of members. Next year I will be the historian for French Honor Society and will most likely run for a position in Tri-M. I play basketball on a local church team and have for a long time (is that even worth putting on). I’ve also volunteered with that church’s youth group in all four years of high school. I also work 40 hours a week in the summer as a lifeguard at the local pool.
As far as teacher recs go I think I’ve got two good ones. One from my AP Chem teacher who I’ve had 3 years of high school and knows me well due to our AP Chem class being only 7 people and one from my French teacher who I will have all four years of high school.
I also have (to be honest a fairly mild case of) cerebral palsy which did affect me to a greater extent earlier in life but I feel mostly doesn’t affect me now. Would dealing with this be worth mentioning anywhere on the application?
Basically I know my test scores are in ivy range but I feel that I’m severely lacking everywhere else.