<p>So i was just wondering whether I would be able to get into any ivies or whether I should just set my sights lower.</p>
<p>Academics:
3.75 GPA Unweighted, 4.5 GPA Weighted
IB Program
4 Higher Levels (Bio, Math, Eng and History)
2 Standard Levels (Spanish and Enviro(6))
9 APs by graduation
so far I have mostly 5s on my tests (i.e. BC Calc, European History, Environmental Science, etc.)
There are no class rankings at my school
800+ Volunteer/Community Service Hours</p>
<p>ECs:
Intern at NIH (150+ hours)
Dental Aide/Intern for Dentist (150+ hours)
Intern at an IT corporation (50+ hours)
Student Government Since 3rd Grade
State High School Democrats Treasurer (2 years)
National Student Government-Delegate (1 year)
State Student Government-Staff and more (6 years)
County Student Government-President, Officer, Staff and more (7 years)
High School Student Government- Officer, Staff and Class Officer (3 years)
Youth Campaign Director for a Local Politician's Campaign last year
Field Organizer for Governor and County Council Member during last year's Campaign Season
National Director for Youth based Nonprofit Organization (2 years)
City's Youth Commision (2 years)
City and State Certified Leader
Middle School Student Government Officer (3 years)
Ballboy for a Professional Tennis Tournament (3 years)
Local Library Children's Reading Program Volunteer and Counselor (3 years)
Youth (1st Graders) Soccer Coach (2 years)
Youth Soccer Referee (1 year)
Travel Soccer Team (4 years)
Volunteer at Professional Golf Tournament (60 hours)
Scorekeeper at Professional Polo Tournament (3 years)
National Club Swim Team (6 years)
School Soccer Team (1 year)
School Swim Team (3 years)
National Honor Society (1 year so far)
National Math Honor Society(1 year so far)
National Spanish Honor Society(1 year so far)
Key Club-Officer(1 year so far)
Multicultural Club-Creator (1 year so far)
A Capella-Singer (2 years)
Relay for Life Participant (3 years)
about 7 other various Clubs For roughly 2 years each</p>
<p>Tests:
SAT: 2320 (from June non superscore)
SAT 2s: 780 Math Level 2, others in october</p>
<p>I’d say you’re pretty competitive, but you should probably aim for an 800 with the Math Level 2. You should definitely aim for the Ivies, but make sure you have some matches and safety colleges as well.</p>
<p>There is absolutely no reason to retake a 780. I, too, was in that boat of concern. I laugh that I was actually worried about that. In fact, there is a blog post by an MIT adcom lambasting a student retaking a Math SAT II to improve a 760. In short, don’t retake.</p>
<p>You have the grades and test scores but your laundry list of ECs works against you. It looks like resume padding and suggests a lack of commitment. Those activities that do represent an accomplishment get lost in the fluff. Rather than doing 20 things just to say you do it, why not choose the three things you really care about and put some real effort into doing them to a level that differentiates you from everyone else? It’s not wrong to experiment with different activities to help you figure out what you care about, but surely by now you can hone in on the few that matter to you?</p>
<p>I interview for an HYPMS and the students who stand out in the interviews (and I assume in the applications) are those who have a few interests that they have taken in a unique direction and to a level that reflects unusual creativity and commitment. They often have some vision (or two) of where these interests may take them next in their academic and personal journeys. What it reflects is a sense of self-confidence: They know who they are, what matters to them, and believe that those things are important enough that you (the interviewer and admissions officer) will see it too. 10 club memberships and 20 volunteer activities do not say ‘I know who I am and what matters to me.’ Quite the opposite.</p>
<p>To focus, you could lose the middle school items. Also group by theme. For example, there are a number involved in governace/politics. If this is an area of passion for you, find an opportunity in an appropriate essay, etc, to join these as an overall activity.</p>
<p>But the list, M’s Mom, does show a level of commitment to sports and government/politics. So even though it is a long list, it could easily be trimmed to demonstrate what you say you look for.</p>
<p>haha ok thank you and in regards to my activities, my counselor warned me about a similar thing in how colleges would just see my mulitple varied activities to be bad, but as I explained to her and as I will explain to the colleges I apply to is; my unique direction is experimentation. Throughout my entire life I’ve been like this where I could not stick with a single sport because I loved them all. The same applies to my activities. I thought that especially in a time where such diversity in life is so practiced and almost encouraged that it would be suitable for me to showcase it to the colleges I apply to. (But I assure you, I’ll change the wording of it when it comes to my college applications)</p>
<p>oh and some additional information:
My school is highly competitive in that it sends dozens of kids to top ten schools every year
I go to a public high school
I’m thinking about a degree in public health as to combine my interests in politics and sciences
My family income is <60,000 to say the least
I have a sibling enrolled at another Ivy League University
I work at a Golf Course for extra Cash
I have a 15 handicap in golf (just me bragging ignore it haha)
My essay I feel confident about because some great ideas
Im getting 4 recommendations:
-1 from my Calculus Teacher who is my favorite teacher and it should be very good
-1 from my Government Teacher/SGA Advisor which will detail my work ethic and passion for Student Government
-1 from my Counselor who I’ve gotten to know very well over the past 3 years
-1 from my Principal who I’ve worked with many times throughout the past and likes me a lot</p>
<p>and I was intending to retake Math level 2 anyway since I know I can do better. I got an 800 math on the SAT, a 5 on my BC Calc test (5 on AB subscore too), and I’ve gotten straight A’s in all levels of Math that I’ve been enrolled in (Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, Calculus BC).</p>
<p>But in the end I guess what would matter most to me is how much time I can devote to studying for it haha</p>
<p>Disagree with M’s Mom and agree with Stork and MD Mom. You need to see if there is a logical way to group by activity. One way “judgment” comes through is this ability to organize. Put more important activities to the top. Make sure your impact shows, not only titles. I think this fall’s CA only has 10 lines for ECs. I review for an Ivy. You look like a typical high-energy, high-performing kid. That’s good, but you must make the essays great and ensure you have a good relationship with your LoR writers.</p>
<p>ps. some cross-posting. You don’t need the pricipal’s note, but you do need to ensure no arrogance comes through. If your hs routinely sends many applications to any one Ivy, those kids will be among your competition- this depends on which hs it is. Many Ivies seek to limit the number from any one hs. And, from any one particular town or area.</p>
<p>I’m not saying the OP has no ‘themes’ - but OP also has a lot of filler which causes the themes to get lost in the forest of irrelevant activities and raises credibility questions. I don’t see how OP can possibly have the time to pursue even his or her key activities at a sufficiently high level of excellence if OP is also attending all these clubs (so many OP can’t even list the last seven). It says dilettante to me.</p>
Which is why organizing ECs, as suggested earlier, would be beneficial. And I’m sure OP could very easily explain how he has time to pursue his key activities. Years of work in lots of ECs doesn’t look bad at all, especially if there is a concentration.</p>