Can I plausibly get into ivy league schools?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello,

Im a junior in high school, about to be a senior, and ive been worrying lately about whether I’ve done enough on the extra-curricular front to get into ivys and other highly selective schools.

Academically I think I’m fine, I have a 4.6 GPA on a 5.0 scale and I am ranked 36 in my class of 778 in a very tough Texas public school. I also have a 4.0 unweighted GPA and I’ve taken 6 AP courses so far, gotten As in all of them, and I am taking 5 more next year (AP scores pending until July, however from last year I have a 5 for AP world history.). I got a 1470 on the new PSAT (pending national merit, I’ll be on the border for semi-finalist), and on my SAT i got a 1490 with a 23 on the essay, I’m taking it again in June because I really want to break that 1500 mark.

For my extra-curriculars, I really feel that I am lacking for a lot of the top schools. I am in NHS and Spanish National Honor Society in my school, which both require volunteer work, and I have started my own volunteer project going on my own to an after school club for underpriveleged youth and helping out by tutoring and coaching sports. I started working as a lifeguard at a local pool which will last through the summer, and I plan on getting a job when this one ends and school starts. I have played soccer since before I can remember, currently I’m no star and I probably won’t end up playing for a college team, but I have played for over 10 years now and I still do just because I enjoy it. I am also planning on taking online courses in psychology out of pure interest and possibly taking a week or two long course at a school like Emory over the summer.

I dont know if these count for anything, but I am a self-taught pianist and I have been lifting weights for 3 years and have been training a friend for the past year. Just thought I’d put that out there just in case.

Like I said, I don’t know if my extra-curriculars are even close to up to par for the ivys and schools like UChicago. I figure the only way I have a shot is if my essays and recommendations are stellar. Am I being overly critical of myself, or do I actually really need to ramp my out of school activities up? Do I have a decent shot at any of the ivys?

Thanks in advance!

2

Simple answer is yeah you definitely do. Work on ur EC’s but only do them if you love them- they’ll be easier to do when ur exhausted from 5 aps haha. But ur numbers are good so do what u can and definitely apply
Chance me back?

3

Unless you have a hook, it’s truly a crap shoot. Most valedictorians get rejected from the Ivy’s and top 10 schools like Stanford and UChicago. They are looking for that combination of academics and some deep passion or interest. Focus on what you love to do and spend a lot of time doing it, demonstrate that in your essays and have a lot of great backups.

4

I think you are doing some great EC work that could result in a terrific college essay. Apply to a handful of Ivies and other top schools like UChicago without wasting too much much time on all the extra essays they want. Why? Because the school that may be the best fit for you may not be one of those schools, so don’t restrict your planning to those schools or spend all your time worrying about those schools. Also, think about which schools make the most sense financially, have the best FA or merit aid. You can find info on such schools right here on CC. Good luck!

5

@notoriousJEL I think your you have a shot but a very small one. Do you have any hooks? Broaden your reach schools.

6

@Harpguy2022 I would but I have no clue about these things haha! All I know is good grades, test scores, and the rest I’m not sure about at all. Good luck though and thanks for the help!

7

@VANDEMORY1342 Not too sure if anything I’ve done or am is really a great hook, I’m from an upper-middle class Jewish family, however I really feel strongly about my experience volunteering at the boys and girls club, this sounds cliche but I’ve really grown as a leader and a person from that experience and I’m sure any of the staff would be willing to write me a rec letter of some sort if that would hold any weight.