<p>Ok…it’s good that you’ve recognized that you’re not going to get into an ivy. Even with a great test score, your rank will likely keep you out unless you have some other amazing hook, which it doesn’t sound likely.</p>
<p>Now…it’s time to happily move on to schools that may work and will work.</p>
<p>1) How much will your parents pay? (schools cost a lot more money these days, are your parents aware of that?)</p>
<p>2) Once you know how much they’ll pay, we can come up with some schools that may work and will work.</p>
<p>3) What is your likely major and career goal?</p>
<p>Pizzagirl had a good point about the fact of the more competitive nature of top school admissions currently. Tell your parents to get a copy of The Gatekeepers for an inside look. It’s a great read.
[The</a> Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College: Jacques Steinberg: 9780142003084: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Gatekeepers-Admissions-Process-Premier-College/dp/0142003085/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372909691&sr=1-1&keywords=The+gatekeepers]The”>http://www.amazon.com/Gatekeepers-Admissions-Process-Premier-College/dp/0142003085/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372909691&sr=1-1&keywords=The+gatekeepers)</p>
<p>I am in the same exact situation as you, grade wise, but my parents just want me to end up being successful in something that is practical and something that I am interested in. My brother went to a college that wasn’t spectacular but gave it his all there and now works in a company where people from top 25 schools work as well. Look, try your luck at schools that are good at what you want to do. Also, if you Google a university with the words college board in front of it, say UChicago, you will see that under applying they have statistics for the gpa’s, sat grades, etc. of students and also what they look for the most in an applicant. Apply to schools that take a more hollistic view, and show them the potential you have. If not, 1-2 years later you can always try again. Best of Luck! :)</p>