Chances for an Ivy??

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey guys, I'm an upcoming senior and I was wondering what my chances would be to get into an ivy league school or another prestigious college. I'm applying to the Big 3, Princeton, Harvard and Yale, as well as a couple of other Ivies. I'll apply to Yale early decision. Please chance me.</p>

<p>Black Male
Top 10% out of 350 students
SAT (CR/Math/Writing): 2110 (730/660/720)
ACT: 32
GPA: 4.04
Cum GPA: 4.026
Cum AVG: 93.49</p>

<p>Course Load:</p>

<p>8th Grade Year (took classes counting toward high school)
Algebra 1 Gifted: A Both semesters
French 1: A Both semesters</p>

<p>Freshman Year
Earth Science Gifted: A Both semesters
Biology Gifted: A Both semesters
Civics Advanced (highest level no gifted): A Both semesters
World Geography Advanced (highest level possible no gifted): A Both semesters
Health: A Both semesters
French 2: A Both semesters
Lit Gifted: A Both semesters
Geometry Gifted: A Both semesters
PE: A Both semesters</p>

<p>Sophomore Year
Business Law: A Both semesters
World Lit Gifted: A Both semesters
Algebra 2 Gifted: A Both semesters
PE: A Both semesters
Chemistry Gifted: A Both semesters
World History Advanced (highest level no gifted): A Both semesters
French 3: A Both semesters</p>

<p>Junior Year
Yearbook: A Both semesters
American Lit Gifted: A Both semesters
Analysis Gifted: A Both semesters
AP Chemistry: B Both semesters (83,86)
Physics Accelerated (highest level no gifted): A Both semesters
AP US History: A Both semesters
French 4: A Both semesters</p>

<p>Senior Year (forthcoming)
AP French
AP MicroEconomics
AP Calculus BC
AP Literature
AP Physics
Yearbook
Web Page Design</p>

<p>That's a total of 7 APs and only 2 Bs so far (both in AP Chemistry). I expect a 5 on both the AP Chem and APUSH Exams.</p>

<p>I've been in a good number of clubs but I am really passionate (and active in) about the following:
World Politics Club (President)
Outdoors Adventure Club (Vice President)
Eastern European Society (Secretary)
National Honor Society (Secretary)
Human Rights Club
Beta Club
Interact
French Club
French Honor Society
Academic Bowl
Model UN
Yearbook
3 year letter winner in Varsity Track; 2 year region participant</p>

<p>My teacher and counselor recommendations should be excellent. They have written recommendations for me before and I've had the chance to see them. They absolutely rave about me. My essay should be extremely strong as well. I've got a good subject lined up and all 3 AP Lit teachers will read them (and they are very tough on essays).</p>

<p>soooo...what are my chances for these colleges?</p>

<p>Duke
University of Georgia
Emory
Stanford
Yale
Princeton
Harvard
Dartmouth
Brown</p>

<p>I know my SATs and ACT weren't extremely strong but I'm an excellent writer and can write a great essay. Also I'm 95% sure I will have amazing teacher recommendations. I'm banking on those to boost me up in my attempt for an ivy (or stanford).
Thanks</p>

2

<p>Your ECs are kind of all over the place. What would help is if you wrote down a list of your ECs, categorized by subject. You also need to eliminate some on your list, since most apps only have space for 6 or 7 ECs.
Your weighted GPA is a bit low for HYPS, especially seeing that the applicant pool is expected to increase in both quality and quantity this year.
You need more matches and another safety school or two. You're applying to 5 Ivy League schools, and 2 highly competitive ones (Duke and Stanford) that are just as challenging to get into. UGA and Emory are the only schools that could possibly be either matches or safeties.
I prefer not to chance people for the Ivies or Stanford/Duke because only the adcoms really know what kind of people they need to complete their class. However, I'd say that there are way too many high reaches on your list, and not enough matches and safeties.
If asked, could you name reasons why you want to go to the schools on your list? (I'm not accusing you of applying for the name, but it could help you narrow down your list and then add some more matches and safeties).</p>

3

<p>HYP are a reach, but doable. The others are well within your reach. The fact that your verbal scores are higher than your math is a plus.</p>

4

<p>Well, my weighted GPA should rise after 1st semester senior year. I've only taken 2 APs so far and that is because our school for some reason did not allow us to take APs sophomore year or more than 3 this year. 2009 is the only class that must suffer this limitation. I hope the colleges consider this. The most anyone in my class has taken is 3. Why is it a plus that my verbal scores are higher?</p>

<p>Also, I doubt I will apply to all those schools. I just wanted to know my chances for them. I've looked at Stanford at little closer and have decided to strike it off the list. HYP will stay for now though. The prestige of those colleges is what interests me the most. Also, it's so unpredictable I'd hate not to at least try. Our valedictorian was rejected with a 4.91 and numerous ECs. He was president of every conceivable club. Another student got in with much worse academic and EC stats.
I've added Johns Hopkins as well. This is my favorite out of all the colleges.</p>

<p>So Far:
Brown
University of Georgia
Emory
Dartmouth
Duke
Johns Hopkins
Harvard
Yale
Princeton</p>

<p>Any more input on my chances for these schools? Is HYP really doable for me? And what about Brown, Dartmouth, JH, and Duke?</p>

5

<p>Brown: 70% Shot
University of Georgia: In w/ money
Emory: In possibly w/ money
Dartmouth: 70% Shot
Duke: 75% shot
Johns Hopkins: 80% Shot
Harvard: 50% shot
Yale: 50% Shot
Princeton: 50% shot</p>

<p>You're going to a top school. I would apply to all of them.</p>

6

<p>Affirmative action for the win buddy</p>

7

<p>as slipper said above</p>

<p>^^"You're going to a top school. I would apply to all of them"</p>

<p>Once i saw that you were black MALE... automatic in to all schools pretty much bro... not that im saying your not qualified without your race, but it gives a super huge advantage being african american.</p>

8

<p>slipper: you seriously stretched his chances at getting to one of those colleges ... 50% chance at getting into Harvard!!! 70% chance for Brown!!! Nobody really has that type of shot. Harvard is the most selective colleges out there and you tell him he has a 50% shot! He is strong but not that strong!</p>

9

<p>A URM from Georgia with a 32 on the ACT and in the top 10%. He's going to do well.</p>

10

<p>Well this is awesome. I expected everyone to shoot down my chances for Brown and Dartmouth. What exactly is an URM though?</p>

11

<p>In at all, really easily. I only say this because I'm also a black male, and you have better stats than I did when I went Ivy.</p>

12

<p>URM= under-represented minority</p>

13

<p>Is being a black male really going to make that big of a difference? I see other "Am I Ivy" threads and people with much better SATs and academics are being shot down. Does race really make that much of a difference?</p>

14

<p>i think it makes a bigger difference than it should...</p>

<p>(i am vehemently opposed to race-based affirmative action, and wish colleges would instead just practice socioeconomic affirmative action)</p>

15

<p>i would say that you will probably get into these schools. being black will CERTAINLY help you.</p>

16

<p>I agree - you will be in at at least 4~5 of those schools you have on that list.</p>

17

<p>i know hes going to do well i am just saying you stretched his chances</p>

18

<p>affirmative action ftw.</p>

19

<p>Does anyone have any suggestions on how to improve my resume? Any more comments on the ECs or GPA?</p>

20

<p>My ECs are varied but isn't that good? Isn't it better that I show a wide range of interests rather than focusing on one solitary subject?</p>