Hello! I am so foggy on this. chance me please?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm new to this site so forgive me if I'm ignorant about anything. My knowledge of these things is also very limited, which is why I'm here for some help.</p>

<p>I'm just wondering if my ideas about getting into an Ivy League school are completed diluted or if I actually do have a chance. Really, I'm just not sure what it takes.</p>

<p>I'm a high school junior right now.</p>

<p>My unweighted and weighted GPA are the same right now, 3.9, but I am taking 3 AP classes this year and most likely around 6 next year, all of which I plan to get A's in, and I'm pretty sure I can do that.</p>

<p>I got a 31 on my first ACT, (33 on the writing portion), and am planning to take it again in the spring, hopefully getting a better score.
I haven't taken the SAT, but I scored a 213 on the PSAT, which, in my state, qualifies as National Merit.</p>

<p>EC's before I moved:
- Secretary of Model UN
- Vice President of the Community Service Club
* Raised $950 for Angel Food by co-hosting a Pageant at my school
* volunteer at a local soup kitchen
* ran "Hearts for Haiti" right after the earthquake in Haiti, raising around $600
- BP Oil Spill Clean-up volunteer (I lived on the coast where it happened)</p>

<p>EC's here:
- Member of the Pink Ribbon Club
* Ran & donated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
* frequently helping to sell Pink Ribbon merchandise for the cause
- Member of the Environmental Club
- Member of TYEC (the Youth Environmentalists Club, outside of school)
- Secretary of Key Club (community service club)
* helped with children during a Children's Miracle Network telethon fundraiser
* volunteer at a retirement a retirement home, entertaining
- Member of the Spanish Club
- Member of the Spanish National Honor Society
* volunteer frequently with the Spanish NHS at an elementary school, where we usually do arts & crafts and talk about Spanish culture</p>

<p>I plan to run for a few more offices next year, I couldn't as much this time because I've just moved here for this school year. Because of this I also am not in NHS, but I will definitely be receiving an invitation this year and will be able to get enough service hours to graduate with recognition for it.</p>

<p>I am a weekly volunteer at a local animal shelter.
I play piano (I am nothing amazing at it, truly, not very fantastic haha so I don't see that it would help) and am in Martial Arts.</p>

<p>so far this year I've got these grades:
91 - AP Calculus
98 - AP Biology
99 - Pre-AP Spanish III
96 - Pre-AP English III
100 - German I
102 - AP U.S. History</p>

<p>Pre-AP classes are weighted the same as regular-level classes.
I recently convinced the Spanish teachers to allow me to switch into Spanish IV at the end of this semester, so I will be able to be in AP Spanish V senior year.</p>

<p>I'm hoping to attend a program for the arts this summer (for creative writing, my writing is rather strong) and whatever other opportunities that I find, including maybe interning at a science lab this and next summer as well.</p>

<p>I guess this is all a bit foggy because of being so early, but I'm looking for a rough idea now that, if I continue on this road, what are my chances?</p>

<p>Oh, also I am 16, and having been working at McDonald's for half a year and have been promoted, received Employee of the Month, and two raises for good performance, I am also Asian/white.</p>

<p>My family has an income of a little over $120,000, I'm so uninformed about this that I don't even know what questions to ask but, what does that mean as far as my chances getting in, and my options for financial aid (my parents will not be helping very much to pay for my tuition)?</p>

<p>This is really long, I'm sorry, but thank you so much to anyone who takes the time!</p>

2

<p>Also, I’m in the top 10% of my class but I am confident that I will be in the top 5 or 2% by the end of senior year.</p>

3

<p>Your ACT score needs a boost, but seeing as how you’re only a junior you have plenty of time to raise that. However, you should also take the SAT and SAT II Subject tests (check with the specific colleges to see what’s required). All of your ec’s look/sound great, but I would work on getting some type of leadership position in something that you are interested in and plan to pursue in college (career oriented). That, too, can factor into your chances. As can your recommendations and essays. Regardless, your stats are pretty impressive, so I’d say you have a pretty good chance.</p>

4

<p>Thank you so much for the input!</p>

<p>I will definitely be taking my SAT this spring, I actually… have not been told of the SAT II but I’ll do my research and get on that, too. I am retaking the ACT in Spring as well, I took it the first time with no preparation at all so I’m hoping that now that I know it and will take a few practice tests, I can bump that up.</p>

<p>I’m pretty aimless as of yet on what I’d like to do with myself, but I will try for a few leadership positions next year.</p>

<p>When should I start getting recommendations, and from whom? Will any teacher be a good recommendation? And should I just get as many as possible?</p>

5

<p>When you decide what colleges you want to apply to, they will specify how many and from whom they want the recommendations. </p>

<p>But here is a general rule of thumb.If, you want to enter the honors program then you should ask an English teacher(they can attest to your writing ability), or if you want to major in math, then ask a math teacher. You should ask mainly honors or AP teachers. However, say you have a teacher, who also happens to be an adviser for a organization that you have demonstrated leadership in, then it would be okay to ask them, in addition to the honors/AP teacher that you ask. </p>

<p>I would say ask the teacher in September. Despite all the websites that say that you should include a lot of things, such as a cover letter, resume, etc. Both of my recommenders only wanted the resume. So, include a resume and anything they ask for.</p>