<p>Hi, I am a senior at a very small high school (there are less than 500 people in total for all four grade levels). I have dreamed of going to an Ivy League school for a long time. But without question, Brown is my dream school. I love Brown, not because its an Ivy League school, but because as soon as I read all of the information about it and took a tour of the Brown campus, I felt at home and I felt a light bulb had turned on inside of my head. I just knew without question this was the school I was meant to go to. Most people I talk to are in awe of me wanting to go to Brown and they are optimistic and call me a “go-getter” since no one in my school has ever been accepted into 7 of the 8 Ivy League universities (only a few students have been accepted into Cornell). However, I don’t even think I even have a shot. Here are some of my “credentials”</p>
<p>Academics:</p>
<ul>
<li>Top of my graduating class (valedictorian)</li>
<li>GPA: 99.575 (my school has a weird system but I assume I either have a 4.0 or very close to it like a 3.98 unweighted)</li>
<li>SAT score: 1810 (I recently retook it and will find out my score in about 2-3 weeks)</li>
<li>6 AP classes in total (completed AP US History and AP Statistics, currently taking AP Biology, AP European History, AP Calculus, and AP Literature)</li>
</ul>
<p>Achievements:</p>
<ul>
<li>Hugh O’ Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Alumnus</li>
<li>Selected as Character with Character twice at my high school </li>
<li>Rensselaer Medal Scholarship recipient </li>
</ul>
<p>Extracurricular Activities:</p>
<ul>
<li>National Honor Society </li>
<li>National Spanish Honor Society</li>
<li>Tri-M Music Honor Society</li>
<li>SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)</li>
<li>Chorus (including one year in an elite ensemble called “Chamber Singers”)</li>
<li>Drama Club </li>
</ul>
<p>Leadership Positions:</p>
<ul>
<li>President of the National Honor Society</li>
<li>(Co) Vice President of SADD</li>
</ul>
<p>Community Service</p>
<ul>
<li>Tutoring</li>
<li>Took part in the 2010 Relay for Life</li>
<li>Volunteered at the local library</li>
<li>Tutored a person for the ASVAB exam</li>
<li>Walked in the Walk for Autism (2008)</li>
<li>Assisted in my school’s main office</li>
</ul>
<p>I was just wondering if I had any chance of getting into Brown (especially with my low SAT score)? Also, if there is any advice that I could receive that could help me improve my chances of gaining admission please let me know</p>
<p>I can see your problem. (and your schools?)
As a Valedictorian, I would have predicted higher test scores. Maybe you should try taking the ACT, as sometimes students just do better on that who don’t on the SAT. With either, prep like crazy, mainly by doing sample tests, and then reading the answers to why you miss certain areas. It is a (unfortunate) fact that repetitive prep for these tests does reflect in improved scores.
Is your school a small public high school (that is essn a “disadvantaged” school)? Or are you at a small private school, that is just not as competitive, and if you were at the local public school you might be just a low A or B student? If the former is true, then you may have a case of “disadvantaged” student that will be considered, esp if you can really pull up the board scores.
Your ECs are weak. (list co-pres instead of co-vice if there are 2 pres and you are one, minor point). And the way you list them, the volunteering activities all look like not much time commitment. If that is not true, then I would urge you to expound on the activity that you do commit time and passion to outside of school (or in school?) (unless it is just “hanging out video-gaming” or something like that, lol) Maybe it’s even something you didn’t list: a job you have to help your family out, taking care of younger sibs as both parents work? If I was in admissions, I would want to see more “motivation” in your life, reflected in what I saw in your application.
lastly, do you have a “hook”? maybe that you have not mentioned?
Hope this is helpful, (and not too discouraging!)</p>
<p>First, I do find the advice a little discouraging but I appreciate you taking the time to be honest about what I need to succeed so thank you. To clear a few things up, my high school is a small public high school (not disadvantaged) and my grades are very good almost all very high A’s. For SADD, I wrote co-vice president since there are two vice presidents. For my volunteering, some of my activities I spent a lot of time doing while others were for only one day for charities or other good causes. I have had many opportunities to go to conferences or programs that would have looked great on my application. However, they were always impossible financially. By no means is my family in financial trouble, but these programs were never an option. HOBY was the only one I could attend because it was free (paid for by the Elks Lodge in my town). As for a “hook” I don’t know. There are certain clubs that I feel more passionate about. For instance, I conceptualized (had a new idea for) a fundraiser called Just Dance Night for the National Spanish Honor Society. All of the members helped to set up and we got permission from our principal, I donated my own copy of the game and my Wii console and I considered it a success and we donated the proceeds. I wrote all this in case there was some confusion or missing information. Is there any advice you can give me on how to find my “hook” or something that will help me stand out? Also, even though it is senior year, is there anything else I can do to enhance my application?</p>
<p>Short and sweet: IVY leagues base too much emphasis on the SAT. Unless you’re one of the select few scouted out for athletics, there is little chance. Even with a 2200+ on the SAT, you still have a low chance of getting in. There isn’t a hook you can place unless you have your SAT baseline.</p>
<p>So basically unless I have a high SAT score there is absolutely no way that I can get accepted? I knew a girl who was accepted by Cornell with only a 1700.</p>
<p>It’s not true that you will not be accepted. It seems that people are just trying to be realistic; most applicants who are accepted with “lower” SAT scores have a significant “hook,” such as being a sports recruit or having done something amazing. Just do your best on the application, and you’ll see what happens.</p>
<p>Well ok thank you. Is there any advice you could give to me about the application and how to make it “shine” so to speak?</p>
<p>Wait, did that girl who went to Cornell with the 1700 have a hook? What was her story?</p>
<p>Fyi: When people here say “hook”, they don’t mean “something interesting about you”/“something you’re passionate about.” In this context, hook means under-represented minority, first generation college student, legacy, sports recruit, etc.</p>
<p>I can’t believe that a 1700 SAT will get you into Cornell CAS as a legacy, URM, or first generation college student. Those hooks may help but they won’t revive the dead. This kid in question must have been a truly exceptional athletic recruit or a developmental admit. The selection criteria for the land grant parts of Cornell may be much less rigorous and might be an alternative explanation. </p>
<p>To the OP, did you do well on the two AP examinations you already completed? The 1810 SAT calls your high GPA valedictorian status into some question based on context. You should try the ACT +/- retake the SAT to give you a reasonable chance of admissions. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>Well I don’t know this girl very well she is my best friend’s sister. As for the hook being one of the things listed I am an underrepresented minority since I am Latino (my father and mother are Ecuadorian and Dominican, respectively). Maybe that’s why she got in as well since my best friend’s family is Peruvian. Also, I was told she was not particularly exceptional in any area whether academic or otherwise. As for my AP exams, I did not do so well on my AP Stats exam (I got a 2 which oddly enough was the high score of the class) but I did a lot better on my AP US History exam (I got a 4).</p>
<p>Thank you very much! Oh, looking at your profile (kudos on all the hard work by the way you seem like you will get accepted), I forgot to mention some things.</p>
<p>Stats of admitted students…Class of '09, sorry couldn’t find more recent data.
<a href=“Office of Institutional Research | Brown University”>Office of Institutional Research | Brown University;
<p>Best advice here is about taking the ACT. Or maybe you got a higher SAT score from the recent retake. </p>
<p>An 1810 SAT score is outside the 25%-75% middle 50% band for the freshman class of '09-'10. </p>
<p>My D was a recruited athlete at Brown and was expected to have a SAT/ACT score in the top 10% nationally. That’s about 1980 SAT.
<a href=“http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/SAT-Percentile_Ranks_2011.pdf[/url]”>http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/SAT-Percentile_Ranks_2011.pdf</a></p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>The lowest score that has ever been accepted to an IVY in my school was a 2040, and she had a hook, Hispanic. Also recruited for track at Brown. Sorry. It’s just not realistic. I’d definitely look at schools similar to Vanderbilt, which are less strict on SAT scores. Notably Rice if you live in Texas.</p>
<p>Because of your very low SAT coupled with valedictorian status, colleges will realize that you go to an easy school. Your EC’s are not great. If you are applying ED, that helps, but not enough to get you a reasonable chance, I think.</p>
<p>However, one thing that did stand out is the Rensselaer Medal. Usually, this is given to students talented in math and science and with an exceptional math/science/computer/engineering related EC. I did not see any such EC among the things you listed. Can you explain what you got the Medal for?</p>
<p>I was told by my school’s supervisor of the Science Dept. that I won this award because our high school has given this award to past students (I assume my school is affiliated with Rensselaer), I am ranked number one in my class, and I have excelled in the mathematics and science classes that I have taken. According to the description the supervisor gave me, when it comes to selecting a Rensselaer Medal Program winner, one has to be involved in EC’s but it does not say the person has to be part of a math or science related EC, he/she only needs to do well in advanced math and science courses.</p>
<p>If it would help, I forgot to mention my class schedule as well as a few other things about me and my high school career (given i come from a very small school there aren’t as many advanced classes as other high schools)</p>
<p>9th grade:</p>
<p>Biology Honors
English 1 Honors
Political Economic Geography (PEG) Honors
Geometry Honors
Spanish 1 Honors
Computer Applications
Tech Lab</p>
<p>10th grade:</p>
<p>Spanish 2 Honors
Chemistry Honors
US History 1 Honors
English 2 Honors
Algebra 2/10 Honors
Chorus
Tech Lab</p>
<p>11th grade:</p>
<p>AP Statistics
AP US History
English 3 Honors
Spanish 3 Honors
Pre-Calculus Honors
Physics 1 Honors
Vocal 3 Days (Chorus)</p>
<p>12th grade:</p>
<p>AP Literature
AP Calculus
AP Biology
AP European History
Spanish 4 Honors
Physics 2 Honors</p>
<p>*Each year I also had Gym/Driver’s Education but I don’t think that is relevant.</p>
<p>-Born and raised in New Jersey
-Hispanic (my parents are Ecuadorian and Dominican)
-If Honor Roll counts as an achievement, I have been on the Honor Roll every marking period (semester) thus far.
-I’ve been in the Drama Club all 4 years of high school, 2 years in the National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society, 3 years in the other EC’s
-I came up with the idea of a new fundraiser known as “Just Dance Night” for the National Spanish Honor Society which we were able to do for the first time last year.</p>
<p>I recently was recruited as an athlete for Brown. While they wanted me on the team, my first 1750 SAT score wasn’t going to cut it. Brown requires recruited athletes to get at least a 1900. So I decided to take the ACT plus writing instead and got a 30 (roughly equivalent to a 1980 on the SAT), which was high enough for me to make it on the team (I’m a Brown class of 2016!!!) Even as a recruited athlete, they expected high standardized testing scores, so I would definitely work on yours. It’s a large part if the admissions proccess. </p>
<p>Also, early decision does NOT increase your chance of getting in. Universities usually use this time to haul in all the recruited athletes… That’s why the acceptance rate is higher during this time since all the athletes get in (the only reason why they wouldn’t get in is if they bomb their essay). I was actually told this by a Brown admissions person. </p>
<p>If you decide not to apply ED, you’ll have way more chances of increasing your standardized testing scores AND you won’t have less of a chance than if you applied ED. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Your “hook” is that you are Hispanic. In fact – do your parents speak English? If you grew up in a Spanish-speaking household, that would partly explain your SAT score. Are you first-generation college (did your parents go to college?) If so, that’s another strong hook for you. Brown really really wants first-gen students. </p>
<p>Admissions takes all these factors into consideration. While it is rare for an 1800 SAT to get accepted into Brown, it does happen – and an Hispanic first-generation valedictorian is the type of exception that would get accepted.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about not being able to afford ECs – Brown understands how that works. Do you work? Do you have to take care of younger siblings? If so, make sure to include that info in your application.</p>
<p>Brown cares about the depth of your ECs, not the breadth. So make sure to emphasize your accomplishments when discussing your ECs (use active verbs!). And if your time commitment is limited because you’ve had to work, that information is important to include.</p>
<p>If Brown is your first choice, and you can afford the application fee, then you should apply. But please build a realistic list of schools, including a financial safety. Do your best, write great essays, and then leave it in the hands of the admissions committee. If you don’t apply, you’ll regret it. But if you don’t get in, make sure you have other great colleges to go to. Remember that the chance of acceptance for anyone applying to Brown is less than 10%, which is extraordinarily low.</p>