<p>I mean, most of the kids I see looking for chances to those schools have a 2250+, 4.0 unweighted gpa, and ec's in the academic field up to wazu. And even, then, the chances of admission are low to slight matches(or thats what CC'ers say). Is there any chance of an above average but not unbelieveably smart kid to get into an Ivy?</p>
<p>Plus, are the chances given to CC'ers by other CC'ers inflated? As in, are these really the chances people have at those colleges?</p>
<p>I don't really think the chances are inflated... for instance, everyone applying to Yale RD understands that there's a 90% chance they'll be rejected. A Yale information session leader even said that if they tossed out everyone they accepted and picked a new class from the rejected group, they would never know the difference in student quality (and they could possibly throw out that group too, and pick another set).</p>
<p>Basically, a great deal of people of about the same caliber apply to the Ivys. A lot depends on luck, as Harvard rejected in a past year like.. I believe 40% of its perfect SAT score applicants (I think I read it in a BCC article). That's why few people really say it is a 'sure bet' that someone will be accepted to an Ivy on CC.</p>
<p>Above average smart kids can get into Ivys, but that means they will just have to have more going for them (whether it be an under represented minority status, a 'not so awesome' state residency, a really special blowout EC, a billionaire father XP, or other stuff).</p>
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Plus, are the chances given to CC'ers by other CC'ers inflated? As in, are these really the chances people have at those colleges?
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<p>Well, you've got to take them with a grain of salt. Many of us are high school students who are just as confused about the admissions process as you are. Only rarely will an actual admissions representative from a school evaluate your chances.</p>
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Is there any chance of an above average but not unbelieveably smart kid to get into an Ivy?
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<p>Yes. Work on your essays and win American Idol.</p>
<p>I don't consider myself a standout. I had a 3.8 GPA (UW) and a 2190 SAT score (710 M, 740 V, 740 W.) I had pretty average extracurriculars: a couple of sports, school newspaper, volunteer at a neighborhood hospital, president of my high school honor society and female issues club. The only extracurricular I stuck with for all my 4 years in high school was the violin. I'm from New York, which is very well-represented in colleges throughout the country. I'm also Asian, which didn't help me at all in college admissions. I still managed to get into Cornell (and I'm eternally grateful.) Colleges realize that they can't only accept geniuses, future presidents, and Olympic athletes. There is always hope for the "average" applicant to top-tier schools. It just involves a little luck.</p>
<p>Just look at the Ivy boards here and see who was accepted and rejected last fall EA, and who was accepted RD last spring. One certainly does need excellent grades, but far more than grades are required to get into places like Ivies. Indeed, most of the students who apply to places like HPY have top grades, still most of them will be rejected because of space reasons.</p>
<p>There are only so many spots available in the top universities, and most of the applicants have near-perfect academic records, so its highly competitive. But I guess if you were really outstanding in athletics or did something incredible like win the pulitzer prize, you could get in with ok grades :P
But as others have said, a lot of it is luck.</p>
<p>There is a huge element of luck involved in getting into a top school. They have the luxury to mold their classes and hand pick the top students in their respective fields to create a class that will go on to great things in every arena. I got into an Ivy and all my stats are average compared to all the qualified applicants I went up against. I just lucked out that they liked my essay and my profile and thought that I was a piece to their puzzle of the perfect class. You have to look at your ECs, grades, classes, and test scores and try to use the app and your essays so you present yourself as an important part to the college and a vital element in making the perfect class.</p>
<p>Some time ago on the parents thread a parent posted an analysis of the true Ivy admit rate, given multiple applications, rather than for a specific school. That is, what is the likelihood of being admitted to an Ivy if one is actually in the admit ballpark for the schools? The number provided was about a 50% admit rate. Many apply who do not have numbers to be in the mid 50th percent range for the Ivies, or have not taken courses similar to those of a typically admitted student.</p>