Chances at Ivy Leagues (Jack-of-all-trades types)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey guys and gals,
I'm planning on applying to top colleges (Princeton, Harvard, Yale, etc.), but I am a bit worried about test scores and classes. I've been "prepared for college" in the eyes of my school, but I've had to fight the whole way to actually get myself the advanced curriculum that I think I deserve. I'll go over my school info first, then test scores, then extra-curricular activities and additional info. Thanks for reading!</p>

<p>School:
Advanced school courses:
AP Government (U.S.)- 11th grade (5 on exam)
AP Psychology- 11th grade (5 on exam)
AP U.S. History- 12th grade
AP English Lit. & Comp.- 12th grade
AP Calculus AB- 12th grade
AP Biology (online)-12th grade</p>

<p>College courses I'm taking (at an actual college, not a community college):
Adolescent Psychology (400 level)- Getting a high A
Social Psychology (300 level)- Getting an A+
Communism (likely my PolSci choice; have yet to register; 300 level)</p>

<p>I am 1st in a class of ~230, with a GPA of 4.3 (Unweighted: 4.0-4.3 (all A's or A+'s))</p>

<p>If you've noticed, my school only offers AP classes for 11th grade and up. Also, there is no advanced tracking. These are all of the AP classes my school offers (as my teachers and councilors mention in their recommendations), and there are no offerings in science (which is why I'm taking AP Bio online). I've also been in four years of Band (two classes out of 5, one year), which I will elaborate on further.</p>

<p>Test Scores:
AP Gov: 5
AP Psych: 5
ACT: 33
Reading: 36, 35
English: 35, 34
Math: 28 (yikes), 30
Science: 32, 33
SAT 2 Math 2: 680
SAT 2 Chemistry: 700
SAT 2 Biology M: 670
SAT 2 Literature: 750</p>

<p>Extracurricular activities:
Vice-President: Gay-Straight Alliance
Treasurer: Interact (Community Service Club)
NHS (hopefully president; elections have been delayed because the program has changed advisors)
Quizbowl member
Volunteering at a local hospital (at least 100 hours of commitment)
4 years of Jazz Band (first chair alto saxophone)
2 years of Wind Ensemble (advanced classical group, second chair, then first)
2 years of Marching Band
3 Years playing Jazz semi-professionally (Jazz combo setting; will be submitting a recording)</p>

<p>In regards to my saxophone playing, people have mistaken me for a college student since my sophomore year, so I believe the admissions committee will be fairly impressed. I'm trying not to be cocky, however, as I don't think my admission could or should rely on that alone.
Lastly, I come from the Midwest and am the first person in my immediate family to go to college. Apparently, this helps.</p>

<p>Basically, I've gone above and beyond what my school allows or wants me to do, yet I'm worried that my efforts and interests won't be conveyed properly. I applied to Harvard with my interests primarily in Bio and Psychology, so I expect slim chances there. For other Ivy League schools, I plan to apply with my interests listed as Psychology, Political Science or Law, and Music. These things are not represented by test scores, and that worries me. So what are my chances?
Thanks for reading!</p>

2

<p>I’ve gotten a few looks but no replies, so I’m bumping it.
Don’t be shy! Any help is appreciated!</p>

3

<p>The entire thing is a reach; what are your safeties?</p>

4

<p>U of Mich is a big one. UChicago and Brown are also options; students from my school’s last senior class went there with lower grades, scores and EC’s than mine.
There’s not much to do in my community, so that’s part of my problem. I seem to have done so little, but neither my parents or counselors have helped with what little I’ve been able to find.
Maybe my saxophone will help more than I thought; I used to practice 4 hours a day, but I never saw that as too much. That’s how I spent my time.</p>

<p>I could add more under EC’s, but these are my current-years and most notables. I’ve got a bunch of stuff from prior years (my school cut back on clubs this year) and a summer medical conference (NYLF) that I forgot to include. Still, not much. :/</p>

<p>Anyway, I know it’s all a reach, but I figured that it’s better in the long run if I aim high.</p>

5

<p>

</p>

<p>I hope this is not your answer to the previous question “what are your safeties?” UChicago and Brown are nobody’s safeties and even U of Mich is far from a sure thing. Your Jazz playing could well turn out to be a real asset, but otherwise you have little that helps you stand apart from the other 10,000 top applicants for these elite schools. Your stats are in range, your community service is weak and your other ECs are cookie-cutter.</p>

<p>There is absolutely nothing wrong with your application, but I’ve seen plenty of students with better stats get rejected from every top-20 school they applied to. If you are not laddering your applications to include a couple of schools with acceptance rates in the 30-35% range plus a true safety or two, you may be frustrated later about the unfairness of it all. You are fine but you seriously underestimate how large and how strong the pool of top applicants is nationwide.</p>

<p>More ECs won’t help you a bit. Leadership in ECs where you can demonstrate actual results is what these schools are looking for.</p>

6

<p>Like catria said, all the Ivies are going to be ‘reaches’ but it seems as if you are very determined and your stats are very similar to other students in the past who have been accepted. You should definitely apply to some safeties just in case but I would say that you have a decent shot, just make sure that what-ever chance you are given you convey to the admission officers that you want to be at their college. Good luck!</p>