Chances at an Ivy League?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I just stumbled upon this board via Google. Anyway, after reading some of the others on here, I feel like my chances are way down.</p>

<p>GPA (unweighted): 3.66
QPA (weighted): Around 5
Class Rank: 17th (top 5% - barely)
SATs: 740 Math, 710 Reading, 700 Writing</p>

<p>Classes:
Middle School (with HS credit): Spanish I, Spanish II, Algebra I, Algebra II, some more I'm forgetting (I don't have my transcript on me)</p>

<p>Freshman: GT Math 9 (geometry), GT Biology, PE, Fundamentals of Art, Spanish III, GT English 9, GT American Government</p>

<p>Soph.: Spanish IV, GT Math 10 (trig, analytical geo, and college alg.), AP Comp. Sci, GT World History, GT English 10, GT Chemistry, PE</p>

<p>Jr.: AP US History, Hon. Cisco Networking (I & II), AP English Language, GT Physics, Honors Eng. Tech (no GT offered), AP Calc I & II (AB Exam), AP Stat</p>

<p>Sr. (next year): AP Econ, AP English Literature, AP Physics (double period - w/ electricy and magnetism), AP Calc III (BC exam), Hon. Advanced Cisco (III & IV), Health/Military History (stupid graduation requirements :( )</p>

<p>The only AP exam I've taken so far is Computer Science, which I got a 4 on (long story). I took 4 this year, and expect 5's on each (although a 4 in English wouldn't surprise me). GT stands for Gifted and Talented (the highest available before AP). My grades weren't as good as they could have been my first two years, but this year I'm looking at straight A's, so I'll be fine with teacher recommendations.</p>

<p>Anyway, the only ECs I have are golf team (Varsity the past two years - we routinely win the county championship and compete in States) and Ski Club. In hindsight, I kind of regret not joining Key Club or Mock Trial - or just some stuff to put on an application. I spoke to my counselor about this, and he seemed to not be too concerned with it, saying colleges want to know how you spend your time (I work about 20 hours a week at a local golf club during school, 30-40 hours during the summer, and spend the majority of my free time in the winter driving an hour into PA to snowboard). I'm also interested in a computer engineering major, and have been building and maintaining my own PCs since I was 14 (I figure it can't hurt to include stuff like this, right?).</p>

<p>I want to go to school somewhere where I have easy access to great snowboarding, so I've been looking at Dartmouth or Cornell (not as good for riding but still better than my current situation) as a reach school and University of Vermont as a pretty sure bet.</p>

<p>Do I have a shot with the kind of EC situation I put myself in? (I live in MD, BTW, and the HS I attend is always ranked somewhere around 250 in the annual Newsweek rankings).</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for any replies.</p>

<p>EDIT: Oh, and I'm a white male (this can't help me, I'd assume).</p>

<p>And if anyone has any other suggestions on schools, I'd be very happy to hear them. I am very set on going somewhere I can snowboard, but I'd still like to go to an upper-tier school if possible.</p>

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<p>3.66? How many Bs did you get?</p>

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<p>at some schools an a- is a 3.66... he might have a string of a's + a-'s and maybe 1/2 b's a year... that's why the gpa is a ****ty comparison</p>

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<p>like 350.
that average is from Dante's sixth degree of hell.
just kidding.
its decent.</p>

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<p>I had a C in Spanish IV last year (I loved Spanish up until that class - it was a horrible year), which dragged me down. I guess I had maybe 3 B's as a freshman (I don't have my transcript with me right now), and then a C and 3 B's last year. My work ethic my first two years was nothing to write home about...but I was hoping straight A's this year with my toughest class schedule yet would help that?</p>

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<p>Well, I am REALLY impressed by your weighted gpa? How many AP classes did you take. the wieghted gpa is a great achievement. I say Cornell is a slight reach.</p>

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<p>Dartmouth is a huge reach: white male from mid atlantic with below average SATs and lack of ECs. Cornell a reach, too. However, there are a ton of schools that are great and near skiing. What do you want to do at college besides snowboard?</p>

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<p>According to this Princeton Review book (357 Best Colleges), Dartmouth's average SAT verbal was 706 and average SAT math is 711. That would put both of my scores around average, right (or am I missing something here)?</p>

<p>About my QPA: I'd assume its the same for all schools, but my school counts A's in AP or GT classes as 6 quality points, B's as 5, and so on. Honors, an A is worth 5 quality points and down the list. So, by junior year, GT's are done away with (with the exception of physics b/c AP is a double-period) and AP's replace them. I think my actual QPA (assuming I hold on and get straight A's this year) is 5.095.</p>

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<p>Zagat: I'd like to go to a school with a decent technology/engineering program. I have been really interested in computers for a few years now, but computer science kind of turns me off. I'm not really sure what else I want to do - snowboarding from November to April is my main thing, and I guess some decent golf courses in the area (I will hopefully try out for the golf team as a walk-on whereever I go).</p>

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<p>I think the average is close to 1460 this year. However, what you're missing is that the average includes special consideration admits: URMs, legacies, athletes, the rich and famous and those greatly accomplished in an area. Unfortunately a white student from the mid atlantic is unlikely to be admitted with average stats without being in one of those groups. When we add in a below average GPA and the EC situation, it begins to look like an unrealistic prospect.</p>

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<p>Live- check out Middlebury. Its the other school (besides Dartmouth) that owns a slope and has great access also...Dartmouth median scores this year was a 1470 and the mean was a 1437. You have "a shot", but don't hold your breath.</p>

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<p>It sounds like my chances at Cornell or Dartmouth are slim to none (and Slim appears to be standing in line for a one-way ticket out of Ivy). Do you guys still think it would be worth applying to one of them early decision (Dartmouth says 33% get in early decision and Cornell 41%, but I'd assume that's inflated by legacies and whatnot)?</p>

<p>What do you guys think of my chances at UVM? I thought I'd have a pretty easy time getting in there, but then again I thought I had a chance at an Ivy.</p>

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<p>You have a chance at Cornell ED. Just make sure you present all contents in detail.</p>

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<p>So I'd have a better chance going with Cornell ED than Dartmouth ED? I'd assume both of them are binding?</p>

<p>And what about UVM? You think I have a good chance of getting in there?</p>

<p>I guess its too late now, but I'm planning on doing some volunteer work this summer (hopefully maybe 10 hours a week). I have the 75 hours of volunteer stuff (mostly through school, but still) that are required to graduate, so if I got up to maybe 150 hours of volunteer work that would help. Next fall I'll join some clubs and stuff as well...better late than never.</p>

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<p>With 5.095 wieghted gpa, you are strong academically. Your SAT scores are fine. Also you should strngthen your passion. If you are interested, PM me so that we can discuss an amazing ec we both can do. I am serious. </p>

<p>I think with Cornell you are Ok, not Ok with Dartmouth.</p>

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<p>I'd say Cornell is a better bet ED for you. UVM is a safety, a girl in my class got in with a 980 SAT and a 3.3 and no ECs or hook.</p>

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<p>UVM is safe, and may be much more comfortable if you're planning to spend lots of time on the slopes.</p>

<p>And yes, the ED round is packed with athletes and legacies, making it look easier to get in then but many doubt that's the case.</p>

<p>Slipper's suggestion of Middlebury is a good one and that could be a match for you, but it'll be much more work than Vermont.</p>

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<p><em>Deleted</em> Oops, double post :(</p>

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<p>Zagat, </p>

<p>So Middlebury is probably easier for someone with my resume to get into than Dartmouth or Cornell?</p>

<p>Not to hijack my own thread, but how is their undergrad engineering/technology program?</p>

<p>EDIT: Oh, and I don't really have friends or a social life outside of school, so I am looking for a lot of work. Snowboarding is just something I'd like to spend what free time I have doing.</p>

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<p>If you check their statistics you will see that they take a lot of athletes. My son is looking at Dartmouth and has looked at Middlebury. (Middlebury does not turn him on for reasons that I do not understand.) I think the fellow is right who suggests that Cornell is your best shot in the Ivies. If riding is what you want, you may want to consider University of Colorado at Boulder. I have a (much younger) very bright cousin who is finishing up there. He loves the place. He is a climber who just returned from an ascent of Mt. McKinley. The skiing & boarding in Colorado is WAY better than Vermont. BTW, my son just got 800 verbal & 800 math on the SATs and is on track to be valedictorian next year and my wife is driving me crazy with the notion that he may not be a shoe-in at Dartmouth. He, btw, is an ace skier. You haven't mentioned what you want to study. If geology turns you on, CU Boulder has a great program.
Good luck to you in whatever..</p>