<p>Now that I have just finished junior year, I was wondering about my chances about getting into college. I probably should also admit that I have always aimed to go to an ivy league. I am seeing how difficult it is these days and am wondering if this is realistic for me? Here is some of my personal info:</p>
<p>GPA: 93.3 (weighted), 91.2 (unweighted)
SAT: 780 in math, 780 in verbal, 730 in writing
SAT IIs: 800 in math, 800 in chemistry</p>
<p>I took AP Physics and AP Stat in 9th grade; AP History and AP Chemistry in 10th grade; AP English and AP Biology in 11th grade. Most of my other classes were honors classes. So far I have all 5s on the AP Tests. Because I finished my school's math curriculum by 9th grade (finished AP Calculus in 8th grade), I have taken my math classes at Princeton University since 10th grade and gotten A-s in the classes there. I will be taking Physics at Princeton next year too (by the way Princeton is one of the schools I am considering). I realize my GPA is kind of weak compared to others applying, but I think that is is because I have taken harder AP classes since freshman year and have had less easy As to put in; is this any viable excuse for the people making the admissions decisions?</p>
<p>For extracurriculars, I have 150+ hours volunteer hours at the local hospital and piano and swimming (though not competively). For co-curriculars, I am on the school's math team (have went to national level, ARML), science league, and National Honor Society (though a lot of people get this from what I understand). This summer I will probably be going to a state-sponsored summer school called NJ Governor's School and studying engineering.</p>
<p>So there it is. I guess my main question is, how are my chances if I apply, say, to Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, or UPenn? Am I overreaching myself or being too ambitious? If so, what schools should I really be be looking at?</p>
<p>GPA: On the low side, though it's impressive that you took AP courses so early and are taking physics at Princeton (I live near Princeton and I know a few kids who've done stuff like this).</p>
<p>Standardized Tests: Excellent. Definitely a strength.</p>
<p>Extracurriculars: They're pretty average, very average for the Ivy League applicant pool (unless I'm missing something). Do you have any leadership positions? On your application, try to emphasize unique contributions you've made to the things you're involved with. The volunteer hours mean very little unless you had a leadership position or did something pro-active.</p>
<p>On a whole, I'd say that the Ivy League admissions process can be weird and arbitrary, so it's impossible to tell. The list of schools you gave would be an unbalanced one for any student, however qualified. If I were you, I'd apply to one or two of the Ivies you listed and make the bulk of my list out of great but more realistic schools like U. Mich, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, U. Chicago. And include safeties, of course.</p>
<p>Remember that essays and recommendations are also crucial and for some schools, the interview can determine a lot as well.</p>
<p>I was always worried about my GPA, especially after I got 3 Bs this year (all in AP classes that were very hard with difficult teachers. I got an 81 in AP BIology, 82 in AP English, and 85 in AP History. Is it true the grades you earn in junior year matter more than those in other years? In fact, the AP classes in my school are generally so hard it is quite impossible to get an A, except maybe a student or two who are really really well versed in the subject. Is it realistic to expect Ivy admission officers to realize this and have mercy, or am I thinking to wishfully?</p>
<p>I also think that my standardized test scores are my strength, but how much will they really matter?</p>
<p>For extracurriculars, I could say that I have am the captain of the math team, but unfortunately I don't have much other leadership positions. The Governor's school I am attending this summer is supposed to be quite prestigious, as only the top 40 kids in the state are admitted, and only 2 from each county are even considered.</p>
<p>Next year, I will probably apply early decision to UPenn or Columbia, and then regular decision to Princeton, Harvard, Cornell, UCLA, UVA, Rice, and Rutgers. Am I overreaching my bounds? Please advise.</p>
<p>i think those Bs may have some impact because those aren't very difficult AP courses. bio is one of the easiest and if you are talking about US history then that shouldnt have been very difficult. different people have different advantages though.</p>
<p>elsewise, i don't think it's ever possible to say you're definitely "in" but i don't think you're unqualified to be accepted.</p>
<p>still when like half of applicants are asian and committees are looking to fill 15-20% of their student pop with asians, it will be pretty selective</p>
<p>Probably in any other school, those couses should have been easy, but the teachers in my school were ridiculous. Literally no one got an A in my Bio class and very, very few people got an A in AP History. In my humble opinion, my teachers for those classes this year were a tad too self-important about their subject and consequently felt a need to be extremely harsh on grading (for example my history teacher would get mad when people referred to her class as a "class," she insisted we call it a "college course," no kidding). But just my opinion.</p>
<p>Anyway, my guidance counselor has talked about attaching a comment in her letter explaining this to the admission officers, that "a B in those classes basically meant an A," so could this help?</p>
<p>"Next year, I will probably apply early decision to UPenn or Columbia, and then regular decision to Princeton, Harvard, Cornell, UCLA, UVA, Rice, and Rutgers. Am I overreaching my bounds? Please advise."</p>
<p>I would advise that you do apply ED to UPenn and Columbia, and that you apply to the rest of the schools on your list but perhaps include UMichigan or JHU. This way you have something to fall back on if you only get into UCLA, UVA, Rice, and Rutgers (not that those are bad schools, but you may want some variety if the Ivies refuse to take you).</p>
<p>Oh man, chancing the ivies are so hard. But based on your own scale of possibility (good, fair, impossible etc) I would say you have between a good and an excellent chance. I think your B's are going to be offset by your Princeton classes and your amazing standardized test scores. However the first thing adcoms consider is the GPA, which is of course, kind of low for you right now. But I think you have a good shot. What would help is more leadership positions in EC's. Other than that, I think you are a very rare HYPS applicant that could go far in the app process!</p>
<p>Which is more important GPA or standardized test scores? To me GPA can vary so much from school to school while standardized test scores are more fair and a measure for compasiron among all students. Is it better to have a high GPA and low SAT or low GPA and high SAT?</p>
<p>GPA is actually a little more important than standardized test scores. Is it better to have A. a high GPA and low SAT or B. alow GPA and high SAT? It is actually better to have: C. a high GPA and high SAT.</p>
<p>Do I have a better chance for UPenn or Columbia than say Harvard or Princeton? Please tell me which ones I have a good realistic chance of getting into really apply to so I don't have to waste the time and money next year applying to schools that I will never get! :)</p>
<p>If you are considering either Penn or Comumbia ED, you should check your school's guidance office to determine which school in the last few graduating classes applicants had more success with....In our school, for example, it would be Columbia, especially for ED....For your school, it could be Penn.......Totally depends where you are in NJ.....Penn seems to have more feeder schools, though, than Columbia.......</p>
<p>i know this isnt really what you asked but if you got a b in your ap class...and you get a 5 on the test. then the admissions officier will realize its a hard class. so depending on your ap scores then officers will be more understanding to your grades and gpa.</p>
<p>I'll chance you because I'm Asian, and from NJ too. :-)</p>
<p>GPA: solid considering you've been taking APs since 9th grade (I'm so jealous, my school doesn't let us take them until 11th grade). The fact that you're so ahead in math is really impressive. I definately agree, that all your GPA proves in contrast to your standardized testing scores is that the classes are difficult at your school, and there might be grade deflation.</p>
<p>SATs: strong, puts you in the ballpark. </p>
<p>EC's: weak. I know that Governer's School is pretty impressive. But everything else is really unremarkable. You need to improve you involvement in math and science related EC's. For example, since you are so strong at math consider tutoring, opening a Mu Alpha Theta chapter, and what about AMC and Math Olympiad? You will not get into colleges unless you demonstrate your passion for math and science, you still have time to do in the beginning of senior year.</p>
<p>Overall, its a toss up. If colleges want to admit you simply because you are intellegent (and obviously you are very much so), or whether they admit someone with maybe slightly less impressive scores and more passionate ECs. Either way, I encourage you to at least apply to Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia. But I think that they are reaches.</p>
<p>Pl. pay heed to the advice of above posters re applying to realistic schools and safeties. Even for the most qualified applicants, Ivy league is a bit of a lottery. Remember that the top 25% of your class will be applying to these schools and you will be compared to them. Even if you have a better academic record, ECs, essays and recommendations from your teachers can tip the scale. Choose a good safety first -- will you be happy attending Rutgers, push comes to shove? Lehigh, Villanova other options you might consider. </p>
<p>For kids in the Northeast, especially male asian engineering applicants, (or female caucasian liberal arts applicants) college admission is a gamble.</p>
<p>I will certainly look at some other safety schools I should apply to now because getting into the Ivies is never assured. What would be some good safeties? Cornell? My counselor suggested UVA and UMDNJ if I wanted to go into pre-med (which I am considering).</p>
<p>What other ECAs should I try to squeeze in before my application goes out next year? I have done the AMC before, and tutoring for NHS. Should I try to start my own club (even if it is in name only)?</p>
<p>LOL I don't like it either but a lot of kids in my school are starting "business clubs" for that purpose either. Wouldn't want to be left out ;)</p>
<p>I just got back my SAT Biology and I only got a 760. I am sort of dissappointed, should I retake it in October? I really want to get all 800s on SAT IIs. I am planning to maybe take History as well.</p>