<p>I'm interested in HYPS, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Wash U, and just in general for Ivies/top 25 schools.</p>
<p>SAT: 2280
SAT II's: Spanish- 720, Math IIC- 710, US History- 790
AP's: Calc BC- 1, USH- 5
GPA: 4.0
Rank: 15/700
White, public school, Nevada</p>
<p>EC's:
4 years Varsity Cross country (captain junior and senior year)
35th in state junior year, hope to be top 20 this year
Several awards for placing in local invitationals/meets
4 years Varsity Track and Field (long distance)
Several local meet awards/medals
Probably not recruitable at the big schools, but still a big EC for me</p>
<p>Member:
National Honor Society
Spanish Honor Society
Key Club
Student Council
Many hours of community service including church group work</p>
<p>Great recs and essays</p>
<p>Please give me an A+, A, A-, etc. all the way down to F for my chances (hope its not an F tho). Please also be frank and let me know of some match/safety schools if these aren't. Thanks</p>
<p>That you got a 1 on the BC Cal is... interesting, given your Math IIC at 710. If it weren't for that, I'd probably give you a B+, but would say that the colleges you're applying to are very much reach schools. Definitely don't put the BC score in the application.</p>
<p>Yea I know that AP is pretty bad. My counselor said it was ok since colleges don't usually use AP's in admissions, but I don't know if she is right. Unfortunately, even a Math IIC 710 is near the 60th percentile- not all that great...</p>
<p>Almost all colleges take the AP's into account (sorry dude, not to try to bum you out- the rest isn't either, just trying to be frank). Just take that into consideration- if it had been a 3, it would have been okay to send, but a 1 represents the lowest you can achieve on an AP, and sending that to a college with an A in the class basically is saying (1 studied very hard and forget everything 2) the class itself is extremely easy and does not adequately prepare you or 3) you were deathly ill on the test day. But Math IIC is a difficult test- I haven't taken it yet, but I'm not expecting over a 780 (and I got a 5 on the BC). I think 710 is respectable. The US History is definitely good.</p>
<p>What are you trying to major in? If it's not math related, you could just take the IC instead of the IIC and get a much higher score. While the IIC is generally more respected, the IC is fine for people who aren't intensly math focused. You'll probably score 50 to 60 points higher- try it.</p>
<p>I think what your counselor meant by the AP's is that you can send just the scores you want to- you could just send in the APUSH score.</p>
<p>Unless you can get recruited, HYPS are pretty unlikely. There is nothing that stands out and stats are just OK. Your EC's are weak. You have a shot at the others if you can package yourself better (maybe emphesize church group activities over the mundand honor societies?) and get great recs.</p>
<p>Ditto Suze. Maybe WUSTL or Dartmouth if you apply as a early, but still the resume is weak when compared to what schools are getting. Give some thought to the following, but again they'll be reaches: BC, Claremont/McKenna, Colgate, Davidson, Emory, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Rice, Tufts and maybe Williams (definite reach). Also more viable (again that AP 1 hurts): Bucknell, Lafayette, Lehigh, Whitman, Holy Cross, Wake Forest and Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Whoa- I guess I didn't realize that AP would have such a big impact. I was under the impression from my school/parents that my success in running and good SAT I/GPA would really help me out. I am quite surprised that schools like Colgate, Emory, and CMC are still reaches...I guess it's better finding out now than later. Thanks for the honesty.</p>
<p>Well, all of our parents still seem to think it's 1970's admission standards. You do have a good SAT score( I hoping you don't have an 800 writing!) and you're from Navada which I think must be a tilt. Just really focus on great recs and a great application, and you should get some good admits below HYPS.</p>
<p>I would say you have a "B" chance any any of the HYPS. I will list a few and tell you what I think. </p>
<p>Harvard- Waitlisted/Rejected (Location, lack of anything that stands out)
NYU- Accepted (with merit money/full ride)
Georgetown- Deferred and then accepted (Really borderline)
U of Penn- Accepted</p>
<p>
[quote]
EC's:
4 years Varsity Cross country (captain junior and senior year)
35th in state junior year, hope to be top 20 this year
Several awards for placing in local invitationals/meets
4 years Varsity Track and Field (long distance)
Several local meet awards/medals
Probably not recruitable at the big schools, but still a big EC for me
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I checked the Nevada State XC meet results from last November, and an 18:10 5K isn't going to impress any DI schools (you would've been my high school's 9th guy :-/). You still have this season, though, and if you can find a way to drop a minute and a half or two, that'll really open up your chances to the Ivies. 16:30ish is probably the magic number for the Ivies.
What I would do is write an essay about XC and how much it means to you and everything, that'll show your dedication and if you get in you can try to walk-on.</p>
<p>The 1 on the AP test really won't hurt you if you don't send it. It's not a big deal. Just don't send it. Schools really dont' care that much about your score on the AP exam, as long as they see your good grades in the class itself.</p>
<p>And, even though a 710 may be 60th percentile on the IIc, consider that the IIc is only taken by students who consider themselves math people anyway. Students who don't will either take the Ic or not take a math SAT II at all.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, nothing about you seems to really stand out. A great, personal, well-written essay would help a lot. AND, even if your actual sports scores/times aren't enough to get you recruited, try to get a recommendation from the coach. Maybe he can point out how you, as captain, were a real morale booster to the team, how much time you put into it to make it better, etc.</p>
<p>Being from Nevada doesn't help as much as being from South Dakota, but it doesn't hurt.</p>
<p>You probably don't have great chances at HYPS. Look at slightly lower-tier schools that are still great. Tufts, Williams, Bowdoin, Middlebury, etc. Look through a college guidebook and pick out some ones that seem to fit what you want :)</p>