GPA: 3.3 UW (hopefully goes up to a 3.7ish) by end of junior year ! Weighted 3.3
Freshmen Year: no AP’s school was IB (moved during sophomore year)
Sophomore " : Apush (2)
Junior: Ap chem, Gov, Lang
Senior: debating but will for sure be 4 Ap’s
EC:
Track and Field (JV) started sophomore year
Volunteer at local hospital
Key club (sophomore-senior year lol)
Student council (Starting junior year)
I just moved last summer and had trouble adjusting but am back on track ! I took multiple honor classes (all that where available since freshmen year). I have flipped my life around and want to go to a prestige school please lmk if you think it is possible. I also am going to be taking the SAT this year. LMK if you think this is dueable i’m open to any suggestions Also any ideas for internships or extracurriculars as i’m either going into the med field or business, thanks ! Ik i dont have the best gpa or anything lol but im having an upward trend in grades and everything
To me it does not look like you are a competitive applicant for Ivy schools. Your GPA is low and your ECs are fine but there is nothing that really differentiates you from the pack. You still have no standardized test scores.
The Ivy schools typically accept under 10% of applicants and routinely turn down students with perfect grades, SATs etc. – there just isn’t enough room for all the qualified applicants.
Your interest in all of the Ivy schools makes me wonder if you are so focused on prestige that you are not really looking at the traits of each of the schools. For example, a person who loves the urban vibe of Penn may not feel equally happy at Dartmouth. A person who loves the idea of the open curriculum of Brown may not want to tackle the large core at Columbia.
It is great that you are improving. But instead of focusing on “prestige” you need to honestly asses your academic stats (including GPA, standardized tests, course rigor) as well as your financial needs and apply to a wide range of reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable (you will have to run a net price calculator for each school you consider) and that you would be happy to attend. You need to expand your horizons and recognize that there are many wonderful schools out there where you can have a great 4 year experience and get where you want to go in life.
Keep doing your best and you should have many fine college choices.
thanks for the input ! Your 100% correct about how my application isnt anything special but do you have any suggestions on what i can do to make it competitive ? My GPA is a big barrier which i understand. So for a safety net school would i be good for U of M ann arbor or decent applicant ? I live in MI so is that a bonus ?
I would consider UM a reach as well with your GPA. You can google “common data set name of school” or check teh school website to get information about average GPA, standardized test scores for each school.
OP what are you passionate about, what would you change in the world, if you had all the time and money needed to live how would you spend your days? Somehow the answers to those types of questions are things that should be reflected in your ECs and ultimately your applications. The right answer to your question is to pursue things that you care about, can have an impact upon and that you can display leadership.
While this all can be cliche, those that succeed largely distinguish themselves along this criteria. Assume every Ivy can fill their classes with 36act/4.5/valadictorian types. The elite athlete, founder of a business, originator of a charitable effort, national science award winner, published author, painter, photographer, kid that provides financial support for family, care giver, etc… You get it.
You have to be genuine, sincere and pationate. To do so you cant start with the motivation being prestige.
I am not picking on you but trying to give you an honest response. Keep working hard and find something you enjoy as an EC.
First thing isn’t to ask us. It’s to do some of your own research to understand what those colleges are about and what they expect from applicants. Have that energy. Top colleges expect that. You’d know it isn’t about the most AP classes or a few hs clubs.
Your 3.3 means you’ve missed A grades. It matters which courses, not so good if these are cores and double that, if they’re in courses related to your possible future college major. The competition is that fierce. And you have an AP score of 2. And a C in chem. So many applicants to Ivies will have no C grades, many won’t ever have gotten a B.
While it’s true they look for more than stats, they can choose plenty of finalists from the vast number with superb hs records.
Spend a little time with a Fiske Guide to Colleges, find the right matches and true safeties that you can afford. Run the NPC/Net Price Calculator for your college targets, to se what you can afford (not as helpful if your parents are divorced or self employed.)
You are not a competitive applicant for Ivy League schools. Hate to bring you down, but your GPA is way too low, your extracurriculars are not at all good for any top schools. My recommendation is just to search for low-cost, affordable schools you can get into.
From what it seems now, you just want to go an Ivy-tier school because of the name, not the education. Focus on what’s right for YOU, and not just because of the brand of school.
Also any ideas for internships or extracurriculars as i’m either going into the med field or business, thanks ! Ik i dont have the best gpa or anything lol but im having an upward trend in grades and everything 