<p>Alright thanks a lot. Just a question for above comment: what exactly do you mean by toss-up? I don’t mean to be a nuisance, but I am just a tad confused by the general consensus. </p>
<p>Again, do I need an SAT if i have an ACT? I was under the impression that they are entirely interchangeable. I will add that I got a 10 on the writing, which I think is adequate from what I know. </p>
<p>Distinguishing characteristics seem to be the hardest to come by. I hope mine come from research (we will see how I do), and focus on business. Other than that this seems to be as good as I can get for now. </p>
<p>And finally, I completely understand that these schools are reaches for almost everyone. I know there are the select few who are just so impressive (or legacy) that have a fantastic chance, and I know that isn’t me. However, there are also many that won’t have a chance at these reach schools at all, which I considered me for awhile. I am just trying to gauge if I should even be considering these schools. </p>
<p>Thanks for everyone’s input; it really is helpful and I will chance back anyone that desires so. </p>
<p>@dmully They are. The people who are telling you otherwise don’t know much, and I wouldn’t trust much that they say. Your ACT score is great! The research is cool, but I think your EC’s, overall, aren’t super strong. Nonetheless, your GPA and ACT give you a chance.</p>
<p>I didn’t say win Intel/Siemens. I said to win SOMETHING at it, like regional finalist or something. Even a research abstract is still really good, and I think that is manageable considering OP did research for four years. Also, I said national merit would cover it up, I did not say OP absolutely needed it. </p>
<p>Yea, I understood what you meant. I am doing some competitions now and will do some next year as stated, so hopefully I do well. </p>
<p>As far as the PSAT goes I took it once in the beginning of my sophomore year with some score around a 200 (nothing merit worthy not that it would matter as a sophomore). At the beginning of my junior year I was completely focused on the ACT and avoided both the PSAT and SAT after I received my ACT results. It might have been a mistake but I decided to better use my time than to continue focusing on standardized tests. </p>
<p>From what ive heard, it’s really not required to the take the SAT if you’ve taken the ACT and have an adequate score for the schools you’re going for. </p>
<p>I’m not part of the admissions committee of course, so my opinion is rather invaluable, but here it is.
Your ACT score is great and so is your GPA. You’re still a junior, so definitely focus on your ECs and keeping your grades up for now since you have the stats. ECs are also pretty good and focus on academics. Ivies like well-rounded students, but they also like students that focus on a particular talent of pursuit they love.
I think you’re definitely in the pool for competitive candidates for the Ivy Leagues. I think you will have a pretty high chance, compared to other students that is, for the lower Ivies like Brown, Cornell, UPenn, and Dartmouth I believe. HYPS will always be hard for anyone to get into, so with a lot of luck, great essays, and stats like yours, I can see an acceptance. It’s a shot in the dark, so you’ll never know unless you apply! Don’t let others deter you from applying because you might just get accepted!</p>
<p>Thanks a lot! Interestingly though, my school has a much better record at Harvard than at Brown. Many of our students that get into Harvard don’t get into Brown. I think we had something like 6 students in the last 2 years get into Harvard, while we are 0 for 40 at Brown in the same timespan.</p>
<p>I still tell people that Brown is easier, purely based on its acceptance rate, but I have always wondered why our school does better at Harvard.</p>
<p>Also, we never have people that get into Stanford. Many of our applicants are very qualified, but they never accept (or even defer) anyone. </p>