<p>If you do well with your writing with the competitions and short story publishing, you’ll be a solid applicant. And also if you did well in Intel and USAMO you’ll show a passion for science/math. As for your SAT, the worst thing that you can do is get nervous. When really smart kids get nervous for the standardized tests, they tend to score in the 1500s or, for ACT, low twenties. You have to get over your nerves. Maybe you’re more of an ACT person, too. But since you’re retaking, just don’t retake it too many times without big improvements.</p>
<p>One person being accepted to Yale may mean that you’re high school isn’t well known to the ivies. You can’t really control your high school, so just stay at the top of your class or close to the top and you won’t have too big of a disadvantage. It’s nothing that will ruin your chances.</p>