<p>My dream schools are Stanford and Yale. Also thinking about Harvard, Dartmouth, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, WashU, Rice. </p>
<p>I am a white male from Northern California.</p>
<p>Attend a private prep school, approx. 130 in my class. I am number 1/2 (school does not rank).</p>
<p>Most rigorous curriculum at my school (though no science in 12th grade).
By the end of 12th grade, I will have taken 9 APs (all 4s and 5s)</p>
<p>GPA approx. 3.97 UW, 4.2 W
SATs -- 800 Math, 790 Writing, 720 Reading.
SATIIs -- 800 2C, 770 US Hist, 750 Span, 740 Bio(M), 710 Math 1C</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
Class President, 4 years of student government.
4 years of Varsity Volleyball, will be Team Captain during 12th grade (was selected to all-area team as a junior).
Member of Mock Trial Team -- have won regional tournaments and qualified for state.
Boy Scout (and an Eagle hopeful!)
Some community service -- tutoring, camp counselor
Various jobs during the summer</p>
<p>Chances?</p>
<p>Someone please post!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>I know TWO national merit scholar valedictorians with perfect SAT scores and AP scores and leadership in tennis (one nationally ranked) who did fair amounts of extra-curriculars who DID NOT get into Yale or Stanford; one went to Northwestern instead and the other is going to Wellesley. Then again, neither had much personality so they probably had weak recommendations and boring essays.</p>
<p>Sorry, these may be a reach for you unless you've won a NATIONAL competition of some sort, are a legacy, or are really interesting (born in neither American nor an East Asian country, volunteered in foreign orphanages, are an all-state fencer).</p>
<p>Harvard - Reach
Dartmouth - Reach (but less so than Harvard, Yale, or Stanford)
Columbia - Reach (moreso than Dartmouth)
Johns Hopkins - Match
Northwestern - Match
WashU - Match
Rice - Probably match</p>
<p>You're obviously really intelligent, but Ivy Leagues are very difficult to get into nonetheless; if you hit 1400 on SAT's and take all honors and AP courses, they consider you. But after the consideration, it takes something special that will set you apart (published author, non-White/non-East Asian minority, Juilliard student, etc.).</p>
<p>But I say go for it anyway because sometimes admissions are just a crapshoot. Apply EARLY too. But try not to do Early Decision because a friend of mine is an admissions officer at an Ivy and told me that it sometimes looks a little desperate. Ivy League admissions officers are tactful, but there are A LOT of people who have dreamed of going to Ivy Leagues since they were in junior high. So they look at the talent and hard-work and creativity more than just high scores on STANDARDized tests.</p>
<p>Thanks, clove. Any other opinions?</p>