<p>What are my chances of getting into an ivy? I'm hoping for Harvard, but Duke/Johns hopkins/etc. work as well. I really want to get into Wharton too. Here are my specs: </p>
<p>SAT I's: 2230 - M790CR710W730, Essaay 8 (this is my first time taking them)
SAT II's: Just got my first one back - 770 Math level 1. >>
GPA: 4.74 cumulative, class rank = 18/474 for freshman and sophomore years.
ECs: Went to China summer between 9th and 10th grade and taught english for a week to impoverished children in villages. Made my own textbook and put up fliers, etc.
- Treasurer of Math Honor Society
- Member of French/Science/National Honor Society
- Member of some clubs (not really significant, no officer places)
- Member of JV soccer team, didn't make varsity this year though.
- Plays basketball for county - just a rec team though.
- Member of Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Association</p>
<p>harvard- no
duke- no
wharton- no
JHU- maybe. </p>
<p>class rank isnt great but is good. your ecs are really weak. write a strong essay on your time in china and maybe you can get into some of these</p>
<p>I see Duke and JHU, you might get into Penn but don’t see Wharton at this point. Bringing up your scores would help and it looks like you have time to bring up your rank. Unless you go to a very competitive school, even mid tier ivies mostly take unhooked kids who are at the very top of their class.</p>
<p>Your rank is really going to hurt you–even Penn might not be possible because it tends to accept a lot of vals and sals especially when there’s no hook. No offense but you really need to find a way to make yourself stand out. Right now, to me, you just seem like a typical smart student. Unfortunately there’s a ton of them just like you competing for the same spots. </p>
<p>Your essays, recs and ECs will have to stand out somehow.</p>
<p>Wow, your stats are pretty similar to mine: SAT I Math: 790, SAT II Math I: 770, honor societies, etc. Harvard is a dream school, and unless you do strike it ridiculously lucky or do something significant to get them to notice you, I really doubt it will happen, but you still may have a 5-10% chance. The class rank will really hurt if you don’t compensate with ECs or a demanding job, and a week in China isn’t quite a hook. If you go back this summer for a month or so, it may really help your chances at some of your schools (still probably not Harvard though). You seem to like languages and music, maybe do something over the summer to show some passion and add some flavor to your resume. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Why “any Ivy”? I’d think of what you’d want to do for a career, and choose the best schools for your major. You really need to show/prove to the school why that school is a perfect fit for you. But, don’t overdo it in the essays or it’ll backfire. You’ve got good grades, and are active in student groups. That’s great. Some schools have so many applicants, that there’s very little setting any of them apart-- so it’s luck sometimes. I wouldn’t include a laundry list of extracurriculars. Pick a few to be more involved in to include in your application. Somehow connect the dots-- how do they fit in your life and career goals. Show a passion for them. The overseas teaching is commendable. You might look into doing that every year. </p>
<p>Wharton-- I’m guessing probably/good chance. Keep working on the test scores, and keep your GPA up.
Harvard- Probably not, just because of the insane number of applicants. It’s really a gamble with those types. Why Harvard? There might be a better school out there for you that has everything you want, Ivy or not.
Duke-- Maybe a chance, if you can find a hook…
Johns Hopkins-- better chance, depending on which major you apply for…</p>
<p>I’d also look at other solid/top schools out there: Northwestern, UCLA, NYU, Penn State, American, Boston U., etc. Find what really fits you, ignoring generic status, and see which has a major that you’re in love with. Let the passion for your chosen major and career field show in your application, and you’ll be sitting pretty. :)</p>
<p>What kind of school do you attend-- top public, generic public, private? Ranking 18 at a superior pubic or private school is a larger feat than a similar ranking at a school with a lesser caliber of academics (clearly, ranking 18 is good… we’re just up against a ton of competition). Demographics also can be a factor (diversity of the student body, etc.). If you’re from, say, Alaska, and are applying to NYU, that’s icing on the application. Ranking 18 is good. When you’re applying against 30,000 people who have similar or higher stats as yourself (Harvard apps.), it’s not as pleasant as a scenario. Same thing if you had a 4.0 and perfect test scores. There are just so many people with similar stats and extracurriculars that it takes a hook to make them want YOU. You’ve got to stand out among tens of thousands of applicants for limited spots. Don’t let it get you down or stress too much about it. Enjoy school, life, and you’ll end up in a school that’s right for you-- whether that’s Wharton or Washington U.</p>