<p>Hey guys.
I was just wondering if you could tell me what my chances are for Columbia, Cornell, and Penn. I know that my friend, who applied ED, and had a 2320 on the SATs got deferred to the regular pool, so it's tight this year.</p>
<p>91 Average.
All honors courses, took the only AP offered in 11th grade, and I am taking 4 in senior year.
I have a 2180 on the SATs- 710 M, 670 CR, 800 writing.
SAT Subject Tests: 710 Math Ic, 600 US History (ouch)
My extracurriculars are tutoring (biggest commitment), newpaper, and yearbook.
I also have a 3.8 GPA from Cornell's summer college courses.
Anything I can do on the App that will help?
Thanks so much.</p>
<p>There are so many applicants applying to these top schools that the competition is intense. It is no longer enough to have high SAT scores and grades. Since most who apply generally have in the range of competitive scores these schools look at other factors. Most applicants who were very involved in their school and have leadership in many clubs and community service organized through their school begin to look ordinary even though they may in fact be extraordinary students because their extra curricular lists look the same. Those who get in with those type of extra curriculars tend to have something that tipped the scale in their favor and that difference could be subtle. I think that many also run the risk of putting down so many extra curriculars that their application loses its focus. In addition when applicants get involved with community service or try to do something unique like publish a book to try to beef up their application, it does not turn heads in the admission office. Admission officers can tell the difference between an applicant who publishes a book to impress versus one who has years of passion and commitment in writing and the book for example culminated in years of hard work. They can tell the difference between an applicant who volunteered in a soup kitchen to get hours for community service for the application versus one commitment to helping others for years.
While there are some who will get accepted to the top ivy league/elite schools with perfect SAT scores, the majority of applicants will have competitive SAT schools and grades for that school. To be accepted that usually means they need to stand out because of genuine passions, achievements, talents that demonstrate that they have something to bring to that university or college.
As for the activities you list, it all depends on how they are reflected in the application. Many do those same activities. SAT scores are but one piece in the application. The realtiy is that once one has SAT scores in the competitive range, all the other factors of the application come into play. One cannot look at it and say well this person had this SAT score and did not get in, if I have this score do I have a chance? It is not about the score.</p>
<p>thanks guys.
Question for you, Collegebound5- Tutoring really is my major activity, and my chem teacher said he really reflected on that in the rec. he wrote me, and so did my guidance counselor.
I wrote an essay about the tutoring i do, which of course really drives the point across. My english teacher said, though, that a different essay of mine reveals more of my good qualities.
any opinions on which one i should use?</p>
<p>Let more people read your essays. The college admissions will be people who don't know you very well so while your Chem teacher who knows how much tutoring has been a part of your life will be able to "fill in the blanks" in your essay, college admissions won't have that advantage. Ask columbia2002 if he/she/it/whatever would read your two essays.</p>
<p>Instead of going all over with ur EC, FOCUS on a special talent. You like tutoring. Tell them how that affected u as an individual.. how you've tried to use ur talent and gave back to the community.</p>
<p>That's the way you'll be able to stand out.</p>
<p>Ivies don't care about 2400's as much as they used to.</p>