Shoud I even apply to Yale/UPenn/Harvard?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey everyone, while I know no one will be able to tell me if I will be rejected, I’m just wondering if someone will be able to tell me if you know of anyone who has gotten in with similar stats. I just don’t want to spend money on the apps if it’s nearly impossible for me to get in.

General information before we start: I go to one of the hardest private schools in my state (huge state). While people get higher GPAs, they’re basically geniuses and/or got lucky with teachers. Sometimes, grades are a crapshoot. Because it’s such a challenging school, if you’re not placed into H based on a (often unfair) test, then you have to maintain a 95+ all year in regular and make As on every single test in order to be placed into H the next year. Because of admin and a test I took on the cusp of turning 14, I was not placed into H freshmen year, thus I was in 0 H classes freshman year. The most H/AP classes we can take is 4 (unless you beg, but absolutely no more than 5) My school does not rank. Anyways…

GPA (W): 4.08
Fresh: 3.8 (all regular and I got a B in math because I had not idea had to study)
Soph: 4.2 ish (1 H class, 1 H/AP class (only AP offered to sophomores)
Jr: 4.4 (3 H AP classes)
Sr: Most likely a 4.6 first semester (4 H/AP classes)

I finally learned how to study after fresh year, haha

ACT: 33 (E: 35, R: 35, M:30, S:30 )

I am the president and co-founder of a non profit. I travel for it every other weekend. I have over 500+ hours
I am the president/vice president of a few pretty active clubs
Speech/Debate Team
Mock trial team captain
In the process of getting my pilot’s license
Film Industry - 2 star roles in web series
I did a summer internship at an investment bank going into my senior year
AP Scholar (yikes but whatever)
High Honors
Some other volunteer stuff

I have other ECs, but these are the ones that I am most passionate about/contribute to my intended major. I spend A LOT of time on them and that really shows on my resume.

Recs: 10/10

Essays: 10/10: I’m actually thinking these will play a huge factor if I decide to apply.

P.S. I know my numbers are low for these schools, but I have a really strong upward trend, so I don’t need to be told they’re low.

Once again, I’m honestly just looking to see if you have a similar experience or know someone.

Thanks so much!!

Go class of 2018!

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What’s your class rank? How many kids does your HS send to these schools each years? How do those kids stats compare to yours?

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@tdy123 My school doesn’t rank. Only a few kids go to ivies per year. It varies. anywhere from around my GPA to 4.5 . Very few people have this GPA. My resume is much strong than the other kids applying to these schools, but I’m not sure how much weight this has.

I guess they could always rank us themselves by comparing current/past applicants.

When I think about it like that…yikes…haha

Honestly, I may just apply because my gpa will be a 4.1+ when they actually review my application for RD and people have gotten in with a 4.1

They’re also people who have gotten in with 3.4-3.6 (W) and 21 (I HONESTLY HAVE NO IDEA HOW)-26 ACTS - all athletes though, therefore, irrelevant.

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OH also, I’m signed with one of the best talent agencies in my state and I know Yale is big on drama, but…I guess that’s pretty insignificant.

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Your ACT is not stellar, but puts you above the 25th percentile, so while it won’t help, it won’t torpedo your chances. Sure, if the application fees aren’t a concern then it is definitely worth applying. Do you have a great chance of acceptance? Nope, but at schools with single digit acceptance rates, that is true for almost every applicant. Make sure you also apply to some additional less selective schools where your stats put you above the 50th and 75th percentiles for admitted students, where you’ll have much higher odds of acceptance.

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@tdy123 Thank you for your input! I’m auto-admit for state schools and applied to schools that I’m certain I’ll get into:) Just shooting for the stars.

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edit on earlier post…instead of They’re, I meant to say There’s

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Harvard/Yale accept a small percentage from top prep schools, and many of those have connections and so on. So if your grades are not top, you are probably not at that level. Need to see AP / SAT II scores to fully evaluate to top schools. You may be at the level for top 30-50 schools.