Chances at some of the Ivies?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello,
I am currently checking out my chances at some of the ivies, particullary Harvard, Yale, Cornell, and Columbia. (Not Princeton because I only have 3 years of Spanish.)
I am currently a Junior at my high school and am about to take the SAT/ACT, so I do not currently have those statistics, but I am studying quite hard for them, have my English teacher grading my test essays, anything that could benefit me, I am doing. </p>

<p>I do have a 4.2 GPA, weighted of course (I think a 3.7 unweighted, had a bad sophomore year that dropped it, but it has been good ever since), am in AP Calculus as a Junior, am in all AP classes this year with the exception of an Honors Chemistry course (required) and Student Government.</p>

<p>Next year I should be the Student Body President/Vice President (It depends upon if I win for State President or not. If I were to win, the highest position I could hold would be V.P.) for my High School and may also possibly be one of 3 state Presidents for Arizona (Of Student Governement) . (That is if I decide to run and if I win)</p>

<p>I also currently have a job at Baskin Robbins. (Funny, I know)
I plan on getting involved in helping politicians in my area (Republicans) seeing as that is what I want to get into when I am older.</p>

<p>Also, if it helps, I was starting Lacrosse Goalie for my high school my Freshman and Sophomore year (and led the team to our first semi-finals) and Captain of Varsity for my Sophomore year as well. I decided against playing this year and the next, but it was not like our team was recognizable anyways.</p>

<p>What else can I do to help set myself apart from the other people trying to apply. I do know my GPA is not up to par, but I am really determined to go to one of those ivy schools. I love Politics, and everything about Politics, so what more can I pursue to show that that is one of my interests which I am fully devoted to? </p>

<p>Thanks for your opinions and be critical, please! Leave suggestions if you can on what else I can do. I don't want to be boosting my resume and do something I don't enjoy, but if you have suggestions on anything that I may be interested in that I should pursue or want to critique my resume, go for it! I know there is no set criteria for the ivy leagues, but if you were an admission officer, how would you rate my overall performance thus far?</p>

<p>EDIT: Do colleges also take percentages into consideration at all? If so, that would be amazing! Basically every B that I received, was an 89/88 Percent, so not far off an A. It was not like it was a 80 percent.</p>

2

<p>Finally, I am involved in SSBTR (Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research). I hope to get an office on my senior year for SSBTR. SSBTR holds a walk every year at my high school, where the program is run by students and we send the profits made from this great cause for research to find a cure for brain tumors. This year, we are opening up one more walk in Arizona directed primarily toward the college students. Each year, the program raises about $250,000, and this year, we expect more due to the second walk. By the end of my senior year we should have raised more than $1 Million for research of brain tumors.</p>

3

<p>Getting into any Ivy league college is a crap shoot. Keep your mind open for other schools. Think about what kind of school you might like (small, large, greek, secluded, urban). Visit some to see what appeals to you.</p>

4

<p>Your SAT scores will be somewhat important. Find something about which you are passionate and pursue it. Don't manufacture an interest in something. The Baskin Robbins experience will make you a shoo-in at Cornell where they are always looking for experienced employees to make and serve home-made ice cream in the Cornell Dairy.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for your opinions thus far. I knew that the process was sort of random, but I was hoping to get an idea at where I stand. </p>

<p>Collegehelp, like I said, I plan on studying very hard for the SAT's and taking it as many times as I need to get the score I want. I understand I should not manufactor my resume, which is what I meant by boosting my resume. I love Politics and plan on pursuing that, but if anyone has any suggestions on something I may enjoy due to my hobbies, that would help me stand out, that would be great! </p>

<p>Finally, are you serious about the Cornell ice cream dairy? That is funny if it is true!</p>

6

<p>It is true about the Cornell Dairy.</p>

<p>See if you can intern for one of your Arizona US Senators or Congressmen/women.</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
Getting into any Ivy league college is a crap shoot. Keep your mind open for other schools. Think about what kind of school you might like (small, large, greek, secluded, urban). Visit some to see what appeals to you.

[/quote]

you win the award for truest quote . ever</p>

8

<p>Thanks for your help, collegehelp! That is what I was planning on doing soon. Send out some letters and meet some people that are very involved in Politics, particularly, one of the two Senators. (The other, John McCain is running for President.) This would give me some amazing experience and insight into my (possible) future. Something that I would also, fully enjoy!</p>

9

<p>Sorry for bumping this, but I have been researching Georgetown University and have become quite fond of it. What would my chances be there?</p>

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<p>You sound like a good applicant, and if you get a high score on the ACT and SAT you will have a good shot at places like Cornell, Brown, and Dartmouth. I hate to say it, but your dreams of going to Harvard or Yale are over. Your gpa is too low to get admitted into there. Also how competitive is your high school? Do lots of kids go to prestigious colleges?</p>

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<p>How do you think you did in the PSAT?</p>

12

<p>I think it totally depends on you.</p>

<p>true its a crapshoot, but it depends on which country you come from.</p>

<p>I know an Australian that FAILED their SAT's (did well below the average american) and got into HARVARD. </p>

<p>It just proves these schools have absoloutly no formula for admission.</p>

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<p>Was he/she a swimmer or water polo player by any chance?</p>

14

<p>There's no such thing as that GPA not being good enough for Yale, but acceptable for Dartmouth. Admissions hardly works like that. </p>

<p>If you're good enough to start at goalie as a freshman for a high school going to the state semi-finals, would say your best bet at any of these schools would be getting recruited for lacrosse, which would put you in a much better position.</p>

15

<p>I thought that my chances are slim to none at most of the ivies, that is why I started to look at other colleges, like Georgetown, hoping to see how I might chance at that school. I am from America, so I doubt there would be any advantage there. </p>

<p>Thanks for all of your opinions, and it is nice to see some people saying I have a chance at some of the ivies. (not necessairly Yale, etc.) Does anyone have an opinion on Georgetown for me?</p>

<p>Also, do colleges consider percentages at all? My only B's were pretty much at the lowest, an 88. It annoys me that that is true because I was so close to having an amazing GPA, yet the past is the past and there is nothing I can do about it. If they do look at GPA's, I was at max, 2 percent off an A every time I received a B.</p>

16

<p>Bumping this up for more consideration.</p>

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<p>Does your school transcript show the percentages?
If it doesn't then there's no way the colleges will know how far off from an A your B was.
And I don't think they will care too much even if they know, B is B, A is A.</p>

18

<p>Your chances are slim at the ivies. BUT. i think if you get a high enough score on your sats, you're a low reach for Gtown. If you love politics, go there. I also visited the campus, and it is immaculate. Highly recommend it. I think you would love it. Just make sure your essays are also kick a$$ </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>Chance me back?
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/589428-chances-h-mit.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/589428-chances-h-mit.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

19

<p>Thanks for your replies!
By low reach, does that mean that you believe my chances of getting in are just a bit of a reach or my chances of getting in are a huge reach? </p>

<p>Any other opinions?</p>

<p>I also forgot to add this in my front post.
I do an incredible amount of community service, usually through a variety of things, but will post up around 300 hours of community service a year. Like I said, I plan on interning all summer for a local politician.</p>

<p>I am also very active in SSBTR (Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research.) My Student Government adviser created this walk that is held at our school annually to raise money to find a cure for brain tumors. This year, we are expanding the walk to two walks a year, the second being primarily directed toward college students. </p>

<p>In my two years of being involved in the program, we have raised about $500,000 for brain tumors. After my senior year, I estimate well over $1 Million going to research for brain tumors. I plan on being very involved in SSBTR next year and possibly gaining a position on the board. </p>

<p>The only other things I can think of, although I know I am missing numerous activities/awards, I am sure, is that I am in National Honors Society as well as Calculus Club.</p>

20

<p>Bumping this up.</p>