<p>Okay so I go to the top school in the state of GA and the school gives the most difficult courses. I started out bad my freshman year because I did not want to be at the school, at the end of my freshman year I had a 3.0 GPA, it was a 3.1 overall at the end of my sophomore year and at the end of my junior year it became a 3.4 overall (I had a spectacular junior year and even took an AP class, all of the other classes at my school are honors level). My school only offers honors level courses and it has a reputation for being an academically tough school. My GPA is unweighted.</p>
<p>I took the SAT in March and made an 1840 on it. I want to get that 1840 to least the 2000 range when I take it in October. </p>
<p>As for my ECs: I was recommended to do governor's honors for social studies and as a result I took the test (did good on it but did not advance to state level), "I AM FIT" ambassador (basically a leadership position), Academic DeCathlon (11th grade year and I won a lot of medals, I plan on doing it again this year), Observership for one month at a Doctor's office and I am a member of HOSA. I also plan on playing soccer this year since I am a senior and I have enough time for it.</p>
<p>As for Volunteer work: I will be doing clinical services (it is really a part of my school curriculum for this class but I am told that I can put it down as volunteer hours) at a local hospital and we will spend a lot of time cleaning up a local lake.</p>
<p>Here are the colleges I am looking at (the ones I consider reaches):</p>
<p>Boston University
Boston College
NYU
and University of Vermont</p>
<p>I want someone to prefer me an Ivy League school I have a chance at because my parents want me to apply to least 1 Ivy (I know I won't get in but hey its my parents) AND one more college that has a good reputation and will be a reach for me.</p>
<p>you might get into UVM but the other ones are VERY unlikely and honestly don’t waste your money applying to an ivy league school, not to be mean but there is a 0% chance of you getting in. /best of luck</p>
<p>Boston University- I think you have a shot here… your stats are a little below those of the average admitted applicant, but not by a huge margin. However, if you can bump your SAT up to a 2000 or above, I’d almost be surprised if you were not admitted…
Boston College- With your current stats, it is unlikely that you will get into BC (but it’s not impossible!)… IF you can bump your SAT up to above a 2000, you’ll have a decent shot though–not great, but decent.
NYU- You have a very similar shot at NYU as you do at BC…
University of Vermont- This is NOT a reach school for you. I wouldn’t say UVM is a safety for you, but it is probably a low match. You have a really great shot of getting in here. I’d be more surprised if you didn’t get in than if you did. It’s a great school, too. Burlington is an awesome college town. It’s a pretty diverse campus as well in terms of different types of minded people…</p>
<p>I agree with the ivy comment… I don’t mean to offend you, but even if you boosted your SAT to a 2300, with your GPA, it’s virtually impossible that you’ll be admitted–unless you have some sort of huge hook or you are an URM. Since if you do apply you will just be doing it for your parents and it is extremely unlikely that you will be admitted, I don’t see a point in recommending an ivy. You seem to like Boston and NY though, so maybe Harvard or Columbia… but really… just find the one with the easiest application to fill out and the cheapest application fee. Spend your time on your other applications. It is ridiculous to apply to a school that you don’t love and that your stats don’t even near match.</p>
<p>Good luck with everything! I’m sure you will wind up somewhere wonderful. I don’t think any of your “reaches” are too out of reach–especially if you get that SAT up even a hundred points.</p>
<p>Thanks guys, the issue is I would love to go to an Ivy but my GPA is not up there. Last year a kid with a 3.2 overall GPA and a 1900 SAT score got into Dartmouth and my teachers say that I give great interviews and my essays are probably one of the best they have ever seen. I plan on getting a 2200 on the SAT now that I have prep but I will probably end up getting a 2000 if I really do put myself to it.</p>
<p>My teachers told me that it is not heavily about GPA since our schools gives the most difficult courses. I have been told to apply to Cornell or Brown but lets see how that goes.</p>
<p>Thank you EVERYONE for your assistance. I am happy that there are indeed people on this site who can help.</p>
<p>There are a lot of naysayers on here who are very by the book and cut and dry when it comes to admissions, but personal experience can trump that - I know someone personally who had a 2.9 GPA, a 1900 on the SATs, and hadn’t taken very rigorous classes. He had no alumni affilliation, and he got into PRINCETON. How is that possible? If his thread was posted on here he would be laughed out of the park. He was special and very bright, but none of that seems to matter to many of the people on this forum. His essay and a number of extracurriculars distinguished him, but all in all he was unique and incredibly intelligent. My point is that GPA, transcript, and SAT are not the make all break all that many on here seem to staunchly believe. Apply to everywhere you want to go, a 60 dollar admission charge is nothing. Think positively, not negatively. It doesn’t matter if you’re being ‘realistic or unrealistic’, apply anyways if you want to. If they accept you they accept you, if they don’t, they don’t, and you only wasted 60 dollars.</p>
<p>Now for being constructive: If you feel like you are doomed to a “bad” college because of your less-than-Ivy-level profile, take a deep breath and check out [Colleges</a> That Change Lives](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/]Colleges”>http://www.ctcl.org/). </p>
<p>CTCL is a nonprofit organization dedicated to exposing underappreciated gems in academia. Since underappreciated gems get fewer applicants, they are willing to accept motivated students with average statistics. Yet as the phrase “underappreciated gems” suggests, these are great schools. </p>
<p>Look at the website. Read the book. Talk to your parents. Know that your choices are not limited.</p>