<p>I would also very much further the previous warnings about using a program like the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State as a 'backup' or 'safety' school. I know for a fact that this program in particular, and likely other too, are often MORE selective than the traditional 'top tier' programs. They only have 300 openings a year and the published stats show them having higher average SAT scores higher than all but two of the Ivys (H and Y). There were people from our school that got into Ivys (including Harvard) but turned down by Schreyer so it's certainly not a 'safety.' </p>
<p>At the ultra-competitive top end everyone has great grades, SAT, activites ect. so if often just comes down to the opinons of a few people on how you'll 'fit' into the program or school... there are no shoe-ins.</p>