Are these Ivies matches or reaches for me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>'m trying to put together my college list for the fall, and I am aiming for 3 safeties, 7 matches, and 5 reaches. Please help me categorize these colleges:</p>

<p>HYP, UPenn ED, Northwestern, Dartmouth, Duke, Brown, UVA, Michigan, and Vanderbilt </p>

<p>SAT I: 1st time (800 CR, 700 M, 770 W), 2nd time (760 CR, 790 M, 800 W)
GPA: 3.95 UW, Rank 7/230 at private school; schedule is most rigorous with 11 APs</p>

<p>ECs: Founded a soup kitchen community service organization that cooks/funds full meals for soup kitchens and also has raised about 1K over 3 years so far - I hope to raise more money and make a micro financial loan senior year</p>

<p>-Sports Journalism (9-12) : sports editor of school paper, founded my own successful sports website with google advertising, write for numerous online blog sites, won local writing awards</p>

<p>-Coach Youth Basketball for my city rec. league multiple times a week
-Student Government (9, 11, 12) (have a major leadership role)
-Varsity Golf (10-12)
-Model UN (10-12) club president, few small awards there</p>

<p>Plan to enter 2013-14 Intel STS for my major research paper on economic effects of civil war</p>

<p>Intended Major: Econ/International Relations</p>

2

<p>I think your ECs are excellent. If you’re doing UPenn ED make sure it’s your absolute top choice. You have a decent chance at getting into all the colleges on your list so I’m not sure if you want to risk getting locked into Penn if you’re not totally sure you want to be there for the next four years…</p>

3

<p>Just so you know… NO ONE is a match for any ivy league schools no matter how good your stats are. They are reaches for everyone. You have a much better shot than most people, but there is still a possibility that they will not take you.</p>

4

<p>^ Not true. Every July several hundred potential applicants learn that their Ivy acceptance is virtually assured. In fact, many of these kids have the choice of multiple Ivies.</p>

5

<p>I’m not sure that HYP specifically would be “virtually assured” for anyone…? The other Ivy schools, maybe moreso…?</p>

6

<p>^i think he’s referring to that rare breed of the combination of great athlete and great HS student.</p>

7

<p>“virtually assured” equals

  1. Developmental cases (think George Bush)
  2. Highly desirable, nationally/internationally ranked athletes
  3. Unusual academic standouts (e.g. Intel STS top 10, IMO gold medalists, etc.)(although I’ve heard of kids in this category getting rejected from schools like Harvard)
  4. Students with compelling life stories (search “Homeless to Harvard”)</p>

<p>Minorities, legacies, and first gens have boosts at most schools but aren’t “virtually assured”.</p>

<p>Everyone else is fighting for spots.</p>

8

<p>Mario, I think your list is too broad. Stemit is right; I was referring to academically strong recruited athletes. I’ve had the good fortune to know a lot of these kids. It’s fun to watch when the coaches discover that a potential applicant who could the team has a 4.0 GPA and a 2300 SAT. At that point, HYP aren’t reaches; I’d dare say they’re safeties.</p>

9

<p>You don’t indicate what state you are from to know whether or not you are applying to Michigan or UVA as out-of-state. While you are a good candidate at any of these schools, they can all be considered reaches as there will be many other students with similar stats and outstanding resumes.
Are you being recruited to play golf? That might make a difference although the golf powerhouse schools by and large are not on your list.</p>

10

<p>“I think your ECs are excellent. If you’re doing UPenn ED make sure it’s your absolute top choice. You have a decent chance at getting into all the colleges on your list so I’m not sure if you want to risk getting locked into Penn if you’re not totally sure you want to be there for the next four years…”</p>

<p>Actually, except for the “possible” Intel recognition, OP’s EC’s are okay but nothing that jumps out as being unusual or unique. Grades and test scores are very good (assuming SAT II and AP grades are in line with the SAT I scores) - so the essays and recs take on an added measure of importance. Also, important is how deep you were able to go into economics research.</p>

<p>Not a shoe in for top Ivies at this point, so keep your options open or ED UPenn if that’s your first choice. Obviously, the dynamic changes depending on how you fare in the Intel STS competition.</p>

11

<p>@sherpa: You are right… I failed to mention that I was not including recruited athletes in my statement. There are some kids who commit to these kinds of schools way before the time they apply, and then yes, their acceptances are virtually assured. But for everyone else, there is never any guarantee.</p>

12

<p>I’m not 100% sure, just basing it off what I know:
HYP: reaches(as for everybody)
UPenn: Wharton(reach, as for everybody) Nursing/SEAS/SAS(low reach)
Darthmouth, Brown(low reach)
Everything else(match)</p>