I know my test scores are low, but i think my extravurriculars are pretty decent, so do i have any shot at all to get into the ive league? (My goal is cornell ed)
Act:31
Sat: 2160
Gpa: 3.9/4.0 or 4.7/5.0 weighted with 7APs
Senior course load: ap calc bc, ap chem, ap physics, ap lit, adv orchestra, principles of engineering
Took spanish for 5 years and stopped after ap spanish language
Activities:
Youth orchestra section leader
National honors society
Girls lacrosse for school and club teams
Science honors society
Key club
Project change
Young artists of america
Interplay (play music with disabled adults)
Maryland music festival 1st place
Tutoring for aristotle circle
Babysitting
Internship with UMD biomolecular research
Best Buddies
National society of arts and letters award
Music honors society
Community service camp for 3 summers
Active church member
300+ service hours
Contrary to popular CC belief, your test scores are not low. In fact, they are in the 99th percentile. Go for it. If you didn’t get in, it wouldn’t be because of your test scores. Don’t go window shopping however. Each Ivy League college is distinct. Imagine applying to all the schools in the SEC or ACC just because of the athletic conference, do research and find the right school for you (Cornell in your case). But don’t arbitrarily apply to schools just for the sake of prestige.
While you do have a chance, it is not a great one. You need to really drill down on the details on each school, and why it creates a fit to both you and your goals. Every year people with your scores get in, but they are certainly in the small minority.
While your SAT score is very good compared to EVERYONE, compared to those who get into the TOP Ivy League schools, it isn’t that great. Harvard, Princeton, and Yale all have their 25% range at 2120, so you are JUST above that. That is for sure in an area where you could be denied and actually have a good chance of being denied. Cornell is a bit easier to get into (1970 at the 25% level), but still, Ivy League schools are a reach for everyone, even Cornell. That said, you are still a reasonable candidate to apply to ANY of the Ivy League schools. I would think you would have a good chance to be admitted to Cornell, and that’s good since that’s your target.
Cornell is a reach, but only because they all are (Ivy League schools). She should apply. Her SAT score is actually in the top 50% (barely) of those who are admitted to Cornell, and her GPA is fine. @rebellax7 - if you could take the SAT again and up that score a bit, that would help of course. Every little bit helps, and even though it is a reach school for you, you do have a reasonable shot at being accepted there, so DO apply.
SAT middle 50% - (1970-2270). Those toward the lower end are typically athletes or have some other big hook or amazing thing, but once you venture past the 50% line (which you have as 50% is 2120), then you have a realistic shot.