Do I have any chance at getting into Columbia, Brown or Princeton?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Yes, I realize that Columbia, Princeton and Brown are completely different schools. However, since I’m being forced to apply by my parents (my mom when to Princeton for undergrad and my dad went to Brown, my mom has got her law degrees from and teaches law at Columbia and my dad went to dental school at Columbia) under the threat that they will not pay for college if I don’t apply to all 3 and go to one of those 3 if admitted, I’m starting to wonder as to if I really have a chance at getting into these schools.

I go to one of those private high schools in New York City. This is one of those private high schools where I constantly find myself bamboozled by the number of people who get into ivy league colleges from the school every year. However, I only have a 3.7 GPA and I only have a 1470 SAT. I don’t have that great extracurriculars. The only things I’ve done are play piano (I’m not that good at it) and learned foreign languages (French, Italian, German and Spanish). I speak French and Italian fairly well (can have conversations and say most things), but my German and Spanish aren’t that good. I don’t know if this counts, but I’ve also worked at my dad’s dental practice during the summer. I’m also latina, I’m not sure if that helps. Do I have a chance at getting in to any of those schools? Does the fact that my mom is a law professor at Columbia help my chances there?

2

Because you are a legacy, URM and D of a professor, you will have a decent chance. SAT is a little low for Ivies but still a very good score. A 3.7 from ‘one of those private high schools in NYC’ will mean more than a higher gpa from a lesser type of school, though the higher gpa kids at your school may have a better chance.

3

@uaioaw Princeton will be very tough for you, legacy doesn’t mean too much anymore. Brown will be tough. Columbia may be in the bag if your mom is a tenured professor.

I’d try to reason with them, say that although you hope to be admitted to one of the above, that with college admissions being so capricious it only makes sense to apply 2-3 safety schools as a backup plan. With your stats and schooling you can get into some great schools!

4

You’re in at Columbia, waitlist at Brown and Princeton, I don’t like w/l as that’s kind of copping out but if you pressed me, I’d say in at Brown, not in at Princeton. Anyway, apply RD to all three and see what happens. Have you definitely eliminated those three?

Where else do you want to apply, and what would be your potential major?