Chances at Ivy League

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello everyone! I just finished my sophomore year in high school and was wondering if some people could evaluate my current standings and see if there is anything I can work on. By the way, I switched schools after freshman year from public to private.

GRADES

Freshman Year-
CCMath III Honors: A+
Earth Science Honors: A+
French II: A+
World History Honors: A+
Precalculus Honors: A
Biology Honors: A+
English 1 Honors: A.

Sophomore Year (Note: my new private school did not have honors class but it was ranking the best in the state and was much more difficult than the public school)
AP Calc AB and BC: A+
English 10: A
Intermediate High French: A
Chemistry: A+
History: A
Debate: A

As for the AP exam for BC calc, I feel very confident that I got a 5.

I know what I will be taking junior year as well if you could use this as reference
Calculus 3, AP Lit, AP Econ (Macro and Micro in one), AP French, AP Chem

I am generally I very good student and believe that I can score almost all 5’s on the rest of my AP exams

ACT SCORE:
I have only taken a few practice ACT but I am right around here
English- 34
Reading- 31
Math-36
Science-36
Composite-34
I should be able to get my reading score up because I know it is lagging. I think I have another year before I have to take it for real so I should be good.

Extracurriculars:
Science Olympiad: Since 7th grade, I have won over a dozen medals on state and local level. Looking for leadership position junior year.
Varsity Cross Country: I have been on my varsity XC team since 7th grade
Varsity Tennis: I have been on my varsity Tennis team since 7th grade not including 9th grade. Middle school was very small so I had the honor of being able to play varsity in middle school.
Beta Club: I have been in beta club since 7th grade. Racked a ton of hours at a bunch of events
Debate: I started debate this sophomore year. Its a good program. I placed a couple times at my tournaments.
ESL Tutoring: I tutor a lot of ESL kids at a public school nearby after school. Looking for leadership in that senior year.
Flying: I am learning how to fly planes and getting my license and I will to teach a one week class (discovery term) at my school about it junior year.
STEP: My friends convinced me to join a club called step junior year. Its about changing education paradigm. I was told I can be a leader in it too.
Math and Chess: I do random chess and math tournaments here and there, but I don’t take it extremely seriously.
I really find algorithmic trading interesting and want to start either an in school or out of school program for it.

Summer Programs:
Duke Tip: 3 week program at duke campus. I did it twice. first time I did anatomy and physiology rising 9th grade. second was global finance rising 10th grade
Summer Ventures: This summer I am doing a program hosted by NCSSM, a really selective public school to learn in the field of applied math in data and physics.

So, do you think I have a chance at the Ivy’s. I am interested in going into finance, so is Wharton undergrad a possibility?I understand these schools are selective but what chances do I have?

2

Based on looking at your academics and EC’s, they’re very good, but like a lot of profiles I’ve at, they’re essentially ubiquitous. Since Wharton is very difficult to get into, I suggest you do ED or EA. I’d say you have a fair chance (I could be wrong on this, so I’ll leave for other posters to decide), but there’s a problem: the only business thing I really see on your profile is just that global finance program at Duke. Do you have anything else that is business related? Since you’re a sophomore right now, spend your junior year looking for business-related EC’s and visit the schools that you’d like to apply to. Ask yourself: “is this where I want to be for the next 4 years?” If you see yourself at an Ivy League, find something that sets you apart (e.g. your flying) and point that out to the admissions offices. If you can do that, you’d most likely have a better chance at getting in.

Additionally, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Apply to a variety of other schools like your state school, you’re bound to get into them and qualify for some scholarship. It’s OK if you don’t get into these schools because you can definitely excel at your state school. Most of all, enjoy the rest of high school while you can: those last two years fly by.

Hope this helped and best of luck!

3

You need an actual test score to evaluate. Why not take it in the Fall? If you are in Calc, you’ve had all the math and are progressing away from the math on the test. Take it once in Fall, once in Spring, and then go from there if you need a third test. Taking multiple times in Spring of Junior year does not give you time to adjust if necessary.

4

The Ivies accept 10% or less of applicants. In the 90% or so who are rejected, the vast majority are equally well qualified.

Absolutely…apply. You might be in the 5-10% whomget accepted…or you might not be.

5

How about my chances at Cornell or Duke?

6

Duke ED is easy to get in, my friend with a 2200 SAT and 3.8 got in with no crazy ECs… So you might have a shot at ED there (Cornell ED is even easier)

7

So many kids want an Ivy, but all they can tell is grades, some ECs some club titles, and what they want to be, in life. That’s only half of what it takes. It’s up to you to learn what more they value. It’s more than a resume.