<p>What SAT score should I aim for?
Extracurriculars? How many?
Grades?</p>
<p>I know there is no minimum (for example, you can make up for bad grades by being good at soccer) but what I guess what I'm asking is the standard most students attending these colleges meet.</p>
<p>At these schools, you can’t really make up for bad grade. Aim for straight A’s, and join clubs/sports/whatever. Multiple ECs aimed at a specific category is good. Win regional/state awards. Show passion for your major. Only then do you have a shot.</p>
<p>In terms of aiming, no SAT score/GPA is enough. The average GPA for these schools UW is something like 3.7 or 3.8, and the average SAT score is something like 2200. That doesn’t mean you’re screwed if you’re a little lower than that (that’s why it’s the average) but that means they need to like you holistically as well. Things like legacy, URM, etc help with that, as well as interesting extracurriculars, volunteer hours, and a good essay. Too much lower than the numbers I listed, though, and they probably won’t give your app a full read. They have too many to read every single Joe Schmoe with a 3.0 app who applied to Harvard or Princeton or Yale or Penn just because they’re top universities.</p>
<p>I know you probably don’t want the stereotypical “don’t lead your life just for college,” so I won’t do that 
However, it’s hard to set basic standards for top schools. I’d recommend getting at LEAST a 3.8 GPA and 2200 SAT in order to be a competitive applicant, as well as participating in multiple clubs/activities that you’re really dedicated to and passion about. Make sure to have a solid amount of volunteer hours, too. If you have all that, you’ll be in a great place come application time. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>So far (I’m a softmore), my GPA is a 3.9-4.0. I can consistently score around 2250 but I can’t break 2300 yet. I plan to take advanced courses. I do x-country, track, chess club, piano, clarinet, possibly orchestra, and possibly math club but I haven’t earned any merits so far. I go to Hotchkiss School if that matters. Also, I’m asian; I heard about how this negatively affects my chances somehow. If I keep this up, can I go to I/M/S?</p>
<p>2250 is a good score. 2300+ would be better. You’re definitely on track, and you’re more qualified than most. The reason Asians have a disadvantage is because the applicant pool is completely oversaturated with high-achieving asians. It’s not a huge detriment, but it is harder for an average asian to go to a top school than it is for, say, your average white dude.</p>
<p>Thanks for the explanation. I didn’t think of how race influences college admissions that way but it’s still racist. I thought there were laws against quotas in colleges.</p>
<p>@ Ruprex. It seems you are too optimistic. The average GPA for these schools are ~3.9 or above. Even UMich’s admission average is 3.85. uwGPA of 3.7 to 3.8 would be average for some top 50 schools.</p>
<p>I read that Princeton’s was like 3.8, but I was lowballing anyway.</p>
<p>According to the CDS, Princeton’s avg GPA for admission was 3.84 for last year.</p>