Please Chance me im so lost

I have a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 3.8 Weighted. 34 ACT. What do I do? These two are not correlated as I had a bad first two years in high school, my junior year is currently now a 3.96 unweighted with 2 APs. DoIi have any chance at an ivy? Do I have any chance at a top 30 school? Im really lost.

Do you have guidance counselors at your school?

Ivies are crapshoots. Even students with perfect scores and EC’s don’t get in. There are just not enough seats.
Who gets in? Recruited athletes, famous celebrities, children of mega-donors, students with international contributions to science, technology and the arts.

Can you afford any of these top ranked schools? You can’t rely on any scholarships because those are very limited.

Thanks for the reply.
I can afford them. I really just dont know where to look. Im at the 75th percentile ACT for almost every school in the country but I know GPA carries a huge weight. I have a really helpful guidance counselor but my school never has anyone with similar stats. Anyone with the same GPA has a lower test score. @aunt bea

What are your instate schools? That’s where you start.
Your GPA isn’t strong enough for the competitive schools. Get your GPA up but apply to your instate schools.

Thanks again. Instate is the SUNY system. Two great schools there (SB and Bing) and definitely applying. Does having both parents as Cornell grads give me any chance there? I know its a far far far far reach but is it worth using as my ED @“aunt bea”

You have an upward trend. Do you have an explanation for sophomore year? That can help but you face an uphill battle.

The great news is there is life outside of Top 30. With a 34 and a chance to get your GPA over 3.5, you will qualify for merit at some state schools with good honors programs. When you say you can afford it, do your parents know that full pay is $65,000+ per year at most privates and many OOS publics, including the ever popular UCs?

@Sportsman88 Thanks. My explanation was i got mugged and recognized that the life i live was going to be a crappy one if i didnt try to apply myself in school. Not the prettiest explanation. And Yes they know. They have been preparing since i was born and I i owe them everything for that. I appreciate your optimism and hope i can get some merit at my state schools. Do you have any suggestions for what to look at?

National Merit? That opens more doors. There is a link for merit with a 32 that you can find.

Alabama, Univ of Arizona, and Arizona State. The way I read the website for Arizona, it looks like for OOS, there is a combination of a larger scholarship and a waiver of OOS tuition to reach full tuition and fees but you would have to call to verify.

Well, if you have done something phenomenal outside of academics (like founded non-profit, co-authored lots of research publications, started a corporation, played at Carnegie Hall, TASP), then you have a shot.

If not, if you are low-income or URM (Hispanic or Black) your chances are better. If you only did cookie cutter ecs like: participated in a few clubs like NHS and music club, take weekly music lessons, and play JV basketball, I’ve got bad news.

But why worry? There are so many great schools out there and depending on your future field, there are some schools with easier acceptances that will get you farther in life than ivies.

~OPEN YOUR MIND~… lul

Also, lots of top 30 schools would love you. Anything with more than 25% acceptance would probably be a match

@flaquito123 it’s difficult to chance you (which is enough of a crapshoot already), based on just GPA and an ACT score. Overall I would say you have a shot anywhere. As for Ivy’s that probably depends on ECs and whether you can knock them dead with an essay that makes them just have to admit you.

Overall though, if you have any idea what you want to study, look for schools with good released programs and just go for it! Don’t let one number (GPA) keep you from applying to a school you are genuinely interested in attending.

“Do I have any chance at an ivy? Do I have any chance at a top 30 school”

There are a LOT of very good universities in the US. You don’t have to do undergrad at a top 30 school to be successful. Also, you don’t have to do undergrad at a top 30 university in order to do graduate school at an Ivy or equivalent. I think that the main thing is to keep your grades up from now on. My impression is that you have figured this much out already.

I agree with @philliesfan08 that it is hard to predict in this case (and most cases). I would think that Ivy’s and equivalent are unlikely. Cornell might be your best shot with both parents being alumni, but definitely have a plan B and a plan C.

“Instate is the SUNY system. Two great schools there (SB and Bing) and definitely applying.”

I agree. Definitely good choices.

Do you have preferences in terms of large versus small, or in terms of location? Do you have a sense regarding what sorts of majors you might be considering?

@flaquito123 Unfortunately there’s no band-aid for low GPA/rank. If you’re a URM you can overcome it.

Your best chance to get into a top school is to shotgun them and apply to as many as possible, but you’re still not likely to get in.

You are DEFINITELY on track for a good chance at a top 30 school. Just round out your application with good essays and take a look at some of your public options.

One crazy thought: I have heard (on CC) that the various Universities of California don’t consider your grades from grade 9. The downside is that OOS is expensive there. I am pretty sure that some universities in Canada also don’t consider grade 9. Either way at least one of your bad years could be “forgotten”. Unless I am missing something the only “top 30” schools in either group would be Berkeley and UCLA, although Toronto and McGill are close.