Ivy chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey, I'm brand new here. I'm a HS senior and am just starting the application process. I'm planning to apply EA to Harvard, and RD to Stanford, Yale, Princeton, and Dartmouth</p>

<p>My info:
White, male
Ranked #1 in class of 300 in public HS
PSAT:236 (probable National Merit Semifinalist)
SAT:1550 (+ 720 writing)
ACT:35
SAT II's: 800 (US Hist), 800 (Math II), 700 (Physics)
Bausch & Lomb Hon. Science Award
4-year varsity letterman (soccer), team MVP, captain, all-district
4 years in band, officer, all-district
Eagle Scout
UIL Lit Crit team: State runner up, district & regional team champs
Boys State: elected to several offices
HOBY Leadership Conference
Three years of Duke TIP summer program
church youth group, mission trips, etc</p>

<p>Honestly, what do you guys think? Are there too many seniors like me out there applying to the Ivys?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your insight.</p>

2

<p>There are a ton of students with your stats applying to HYPS. All of them reject the majority of vals and the majority of 1600s. You have average ECs and spent 3 summers at a paid summer program. I'd say you have under a 20% chance at them. Much better chance at Dartmouth, maybe 70%.</p>

3

<p>Hmmm, I would give him more than average ECs. You've got great scores. The problem with scores is they can --qualify-- you, but generally won't boost you above your competition. Being an eagle scout is generally considered a hook, but the more I think about it, and cruise around these admissions sites, there are A LOT of kids with eagle scout status. Other than that, you are (honestly) not a stand out by any means, but you definitely will be competitive. I don't see a lot of uniqueness, but remember, it's a crap shoot. Apply to a few schools and cross your fingers. You've done the work, all you can do now is hope.</p>

4

<p>That's a very competitive list...</p>

<p>You have a very good shot at Dartmouth, but apply to those other schools as well. You have a decent chance.</p>

5

<p>Typical top-25-bound EC's with no leadership positions. Still, your SATs and rank are undeniably impressive--you will get into at least one or two.</p>

6

<p>are you looking to get recruited for soccer? Have you been in touch with coaches? More important, have coaches been in touch with you?</p>

7

<p>I certainly hope you plan on applying to a few match and safety schools and just chose not to mention them. You seem a very strong candidate to me, but things are very competitive now. I can see decisions coming down to looking beyond stats and lists of ECs (once they are high enough to qualify -- which you do) to more qualitative factors (the essay, the fit of the candidate to the particular school, interviews, recommendations, etc.) that we cannot assess.</p>

<p>Every year it seems like we read on CC of at least one extremely strong candidate who didn't apply to any matches or safeties, or someone who threw in a safety but doesn't like it (natch, this is the one school that says yes) -- or that rejects the candidate because it thinks s/he will obviously chose somewhere else and is just using them as a safety.</p>

8

<p>80% of vals applying to Princeton are rejected and more people apply to Dartmouth with an 800 in math or verbal than the total number accepted. So, you're in the running, but need to stand out through essays and luck. I would put Dartmouth chances more like 40%.</p>

9

<p>i think by applying early to dartmouth you greatly increase your chances b/c i think at best hope for a diff from Hvard</p>