<p>I am interested in Columbia particularly, also other Ivies and Standford. What are my chances? If I had to add/change one thing, what would it be?
35 Composite ACT (36 Math and Science, 34 Reading, 31 Writing (8 on Essay))
4.0 Unweighted GPA (4.206 weighted)
5 on AP US History Exam (will know results of 5 others in July)
2290 SAT (800 Critical Reading, 770 Math, 720 Writing)
Some volunteering, sports management, community involvement
Delegate to Buckeye Girls State
Member of National Honors Society
Member of French Club (3 years)
Chem Club (1 year)
Club and JV soccer (2 years in high school)
JV Basketball (2 years in highschool)
Cross Country (1 year in highschool-likely varsity)
Student Council Rep (2 years)
Various School-based awards
Taking Three SAT Subjects on Saturday</p>
<p>I forgot to say- thank you in advance!</p>
<p>I am also taking Post-Secondary Classes, am a Caucasian, middle class female, top 10% in class of 350, scholar athlete, and will continue to take AP and Advanced classes through Senior year</p>
<p>How extensive is your volunteering, sports management, and community involvement? Do you have any leadership positions?
I think except for cornell, expect to get rejected from ivy league schools. How many (and which ones) are you applying to? If you apply to 5-6 of them I’d expect you to get into 1 maybe (excluding cornell).
Sorry for being brutal. </p>
<p>Columbia and Yale I am certainly applying to. Volunteering is 60+ hours, nothing spectacular, but will increase. 1 year only of varsity management. And if you don’t mind, what are my particular weakness? what is one thing I should add? I know my composite scores are high, even for those accepted to ivy leagues. </p>
<p>EC’s seem pretty weak, unless you’ve done some sort of really outstanding volunteer work. Everything else seems to be either average or below average for ivys. Hate to be a bummer but I agree with theanaconda, expect to get a lot of rejections. </p>
<p>okay thank you. I understand Ivies are competitive, but my test scores are hardly below average, even for ivies (<a href=“Ivy League ACT Score Comparison for Admission”>http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theact/a/act_side_x_side.htm</a>) . However, I do know even students with perfect scores are rejected, and much more is considered than scores. I agree more leadership positions in ECs would be a good addition. </p>
<p>The bottom line, OP, is that your scores are great…but, sadly, no greater than anyone applying to the Ivies. So you need ECs that rock…that really show what you would contribute to the school to make it a better place…and later to have that influence on the world. And that, kid, is the really hard part. </p>
<p>Agreed. Thanks. </p>
<p>And @SouthernHope I wasn’t trying to be conceited 
I was just addressing the claim that a certain thing was below average. I know that acceptance rates are low, my scores don’t really stand out, relatively speaking, and my ECs are by no means stellar, and my chances will be low,. Like I said, I know even those with much higher scores aren’t accepted. I do appreciate everyone’s honesty, but I hardly said I thought I was the top candidate for any given school. Thanks for the help though!</p>
<p>It’s quite easy to become hyper-critical on this site, so I can entirely understand the points the other posters are making, however, I don’t entirely agree with all of them. </p>
<p>You have excellent test scores and an enviable academic record (4.0 UW). Might I ask what classes you already took and are planning to take next year? A difficult schedule looks great and will make the 4.0 worth more. </p>
<p>However, your EC’s, as the other posters mentioned, are definitely a bit week, which is something that might be difficult for you to change this late in the game. But that alone shouldn’t abate your confidence when you apply to reach-schools. Keep in mind that applying ED or SCEA can increase your prospects (if you can narrow down your decision.) Plus, your essays will carry significant weight, too, which can outweigh your poor EC’s.</p>
<p>Another thing that I might add is broaden your horizons a bit. What I mean is, don’t get drawn into the prestige behind a school before you really know that it’s a good fit. Yeah, it’d be great to drive around with a Columbia Alma-Mater bumper sticker on your car the rest of your life, but was it actually a significant advantage? There are plenty of schools with comparable academic programs (Swarthmore, Wash U, Rice, Johns Hopkins) that don’t have the sub-8 acceptance rates that Stanford and a few of the Ivies have.</p>
<p>If you could give me an idea of what you’re looking to study, I might be able to throw out a few options. Otherwise, if your heart actually is set on Yale or Stanford, understand that you really will be leaving it up to chance.</p>
<p>@YungLean thanks for your feedback. </p>
<p>In reference to schedule : Fresshman and Sophmore Years: Several Honors, AP US History. Junior: AP Gov, AP Chem, AP Bio, AP Calc BC, AP Lang, Honors French 4, Speech, Drawing. Next year I will take: AP Lit, AP Euro, AP French, AP Enviornmental, Post Secondary Honors Calc, Advanced 2D Studio. </p>
<p>As far as ECs: I know I had planned on sports being my main ECs, but a serious injury sort of ended that. I can at this point just add more volunteering and could likely become President or VP of French Club, possibly work experience too.</p>
<p>And as far as studying: I’m somewhat undecided. I’m thinking right now I’d like to go the Political Science/Law route. Although if long term financial viability weren’t a concern, I’d go the film route. Columbia is my first choice, but I am open to others. </p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>@sw0206 Awesome schedule; it should really work to your advantage! </p>
<p>Unless the essay topics will be anything like UChicago’s (look them up, they can be pretty crazy) you might be able to use the injury as an instance of an obstacle that you overcame. I feel like a b@stard encouraging you to exploit an injury but in all reality it could significantly increase your chances.</p>
<p>In regards to your major I would definitely recommend looking at the top-LAC’s. Midd has really top-notch IR/Poly-Sci program and probably one of the best language programs in the country, which, goes hand in hand with IR. The language immersion program they use will let you do a completely new language, too. (I noticed the AP French) </p>
<p>My brother did IR/Poly-Sci at Carleton, another elite LAC, and learned Mandarin. He became fluent and had the opportunity to study abroad. The year after college he got a sweet job in Chengdu. This summer he’s moving to Brooklyn to work for a great company. My point is, he wouldn’t have changed a thing. Even though he didn’t go to Columbia, he had an awesome college experience with a group of highly intelligent, diverse set of students. Although it’s starting to seem more and more possible for you to get in to Columbia haha</p>
<p>@YungLean Yeah, I will definitely look into those schools. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out. Thanks :)</p>
<p>my pleasure</p>
<p>You have a great chance. Your scores and GPA are very impressive, but I would still mark each of the schools you listed as reaches, except maybe Cornell, because Ivy League schools will have many students with similar stats. I think you have just a good chance as most applicants though. Good Luck!</p>