Playing on my Strengths

<p>First, you can't be getting "mediocre grades" if you are in the top 10%. They may not be HYPS-worthy, but they are hardly mediocre.</p>

<p>Next, to follow jovenes132's post to its logical extension: Why would you <em>want</em> to go to an Ivy league school if your grades aren't competitive at the high school level? Have you thought about what it would be like to keep up with the nation's best students? Imagine sitting in a classroom with 50 students who are just like your high school's top five students. Or, better yet, imagine that your school's top five students are merely average in the context of a HYPS classroom. Is this the kind of learning environment you could thrive in? If it is, I hope that you made a convincing argument for it. </p>

<p>You can get an excellent education at many, many colleges across the United States. You should be challenged without being left in the dust. That's not to say that you shouldn't apply to reach schools -- you absolutely should -- but that you also need to be somewhat realistic. There's a huge difference between applying to a reach school and applying to a "super reach." Are the Ivies a super reach for you? I can't tell from the meager information you supply. </p>

<p>Your musical talent will help you in admissions only after the adcoms are convinced that you can do the work, as proven by your record and recommendations.</p>