<p>you should select more matches and safties.</p>
<p>dittogal--First of all, Princeton is just as difficult to get admitted to as Yale and Harvard. By no means is there a negligible distance between the three. Second, Princeton doesn't have EA; it has ED, so I don't think she should apply early there unless she's ABSOLUTELY positive. You can't just change your early school just because...it has to be your FAVORITE school. Third, how on earth do you think UNC is a safety?!?!</p>
<p>OP--Your GPA is low--especially for HYP, Brown, Georgetown, and Columbia. These schools averages are generally around 4.0's or higher. Also, you have to remember that top top top schools use ECs to differentiate between TOP STUDENTS; they don't make up for lower grades. Basically if there are two 3.98 GPA and 2250 SAT students, and one has your ECs and another has none, then they accept the good EC student. However, great ECs (and yours ARE GREAT, you should be proud) don't make up for schools stuff. No matter what anyone tells you, academic-related stuff is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing by far, no exceptions. Anyways, if you work REALLY hard this coming year, boost your GPA, and get amazing SATs you might have a decent chance, but based on what we I see right now this is the best I can imagine:
Harvard -- Reject
Yale -- Reject
Brown -- Reject
NYU -- Accept
Columbia -- Reject
Tufts -- Accept / Waitlist
Georgetown -- Waitlist / Reject
Princeton -- Reject
Cornell -- Waitlist / Reject
UVA (in state) -- Accept</p>
<p>This list is very much a reach in all. You should really focus your efforts on schools like Tufts, Georgetown, and Cornell and not worry so much about HYP etc. I'm not saying don't apply. You should definately apply, but I think your should focus most of your energy towards the schools I mentioned above. </p>
<p>Don't get offended by this post. I'm not trying to be "mean" or anything, just honest. This is hard for me too, because our stats are very similar, so I'm basically saying I'm going to get rejected everywhere. It's tough to accept. When I first started looking at colleges I was HYPS ALL THE WAY! Then I realized that those were HUGE reaches and decided that I would apply to those schools but focus on top tier schools that aren't quite as difficult. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Also, where are the safties?!?!?!? Safties are the most important schools on a student's list. Find a couple safties that you like and honestly wouldn't mind attending...and apply there. Who knows, you might get a nice scholarship. You could consider George Washington. Also, your PSAT scores would help alot, post those!</p>
<p>Given that you have an explanation for your previous two years (recently immigrated? family affairs?) and/or you improve for the next two years (as in take harder classes and get more As), I'd say you have a very good chance. Colleges like upward trends, and colleges LOVE that kind of political involvement, and your status as a URM who is deeply involved in the culture/politics of your native country is fascinating. If you can pull up those grades a bit in key classes (not PE), especially for next year, and score over 2000 or even 1900 on the SAT, I think you have a very good chance at NYU, Tufts, Cornell, UVA, or even a better chance at HYP b/c they tend to emphasize ECs more. Grades and SATs are definitely not everything and I think you all underestimate the role stellar ECs, fueled by real passion + interesting history, can play in college admissions. You can frame this VERY well in your essays. And if you can do that, I really think you have a good shot.</p>
<p>btw, PSAT scores are useless. Even as a predictor of SAT score, I'd say they only give you a very wide range of possible scores.</p>
<p>You've got a year before you apply anyplace. Just do well next year with your grades, keep doing well with the ECs and score well on the SAT and you'll have a good chance at all of these places--but at this point any forecast would be nothing but a total guess--and I don't like to advise people with total guesses.</p>
<p>Come back after you get next semester's grades and take the SAT and I (and most of the others) will be glad to rate you then.</p>
<p>While I didn't have the best luck with college admissions this fall, I would say that you actually have a chance. You definitely need to get your grades up there- but you have excellent extra curriculars that truly show interest and passion, which I believe colleges really do like.</p>
<p>Also- this is the poloitically incorrect part, if you will, you have the race card the you ought to play. I would say that your African American status definitely helps you out.</p>
<p>Do get some safeties- but you're only a sophmore! Enjoy high school and have some fun.. You look like you're working pretty hard. Good luck!</p>