Should I apply to any Ivies?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I was rejected from UPenn ED so I was wondering if it would be worth it to apply to other Ivies because I’m considering just doing NYU ED2.

ACT: 35 C
(35 E/35 M/35 R/36 S)
SAT: not sending
SAT Subject Tests:
800 Math II
800 U.S. History
740 Biology (should I bother sending?)
AP: APUSH 5
Class Rank: We do it in deciles, top 10%
UW GPA: 95.5

Courseload:
9th:
English 9H
Global History 9H
Geometry H
Biology H
French II
Random art classes

10th:
English 10H
Global History 10H
Algebra 2/Trig H
Chemistry H
French III
Latin I (wasn’t able to continue Latin in 11th because of scheduling issues…grrr)

11th:
APUSH
General Physics I and II through SUNY Albany
English 11H
Precalculus H
Business Law
French IV

12th:
AP English Lit
AP French
AP Biology
AP Calc BC
AP Stats
AP Government/Economics Honors
(Slowly dying…)

ECs:
Competitive figure skating (9-12): my main EC, I skate right after school so that’s why I don’t really do clubs, I’m on the Junior level for MIF (level 7/8) and the Novice level for FS (level 6/8). I’ve won medals at some large ish club competitions.
Learn to Skate Instructor (11-12)
School Discussion Group (10-12)
Volunteering Stuff (9-12)

Hobbies: probably don’t really count for anything but you know, I enjoy doing them and it would feel weird not mentioning them
Hiking (9-12)
Creative Writing (9-12): like NaNoWriMo and other stuff

Awards/Honors:
High Honor Roll (9-12)
National Merit Semifinalist
Placed Nationally for National French Contest Multiple Times
National Latin Exam Gold Medal
Skating stuff

Female
Asian

Hooks: None
Anti-Hooks: I’m Asian lol

USC
NYU (maybe ED2)
Columbia
Dartmouth
Cornell
Vanderbilt
WUSTL

2

Wow you didn’t get into UPENN with a 35ACT??? Were you a least deferred? Then I’m really concerned about Stanford EA. I only got a 34. I find out in 2 hours

3

@chunkylumbee nope flat out rejection. Currently rethinking my whole life. I might just apply to NYU ED2 and some more safeties. Idk anymore.

4

Just because one super competitive school did not accept you, it does not mean that others will not accept you. You seem like a very strong applicant with as good a chance as anyone else at top schools. If you prefer NYU, then by all means apply ED2,. But if it is not your #1, then apply to a host of schools RD and you will likely have several options

5

@wisteria100 NYU is not my #1 choice, but it’s up there. I was just really surprised I wasn’t at least deferred from Penn.

I think I have a pretty decent shot NYU ED2. I don’t know if I want to apply NYU and the other Ivies RD. Ivies are a crapshoot and NYU RD is slightly iffy for me. I just don’t know what to do :((

6

I have a three tier system. Bottom tier is safety schools. You can apply to this as well. University of Alabama game me full scholarship (over $100,000) no essays of LoR. 34 ACT and above. Pepperdine because I personally know the former chancellor. Next tier is decent shot at acceptance. USC(mom went there) UCLA(that is no given since you are Asian-sorry) UC-Santa Barbara(not as good but right by the beach just like Pepperdine). Next tier is my reaches-Stanford-EA UC-Berkely Vanderbilt Yale. Are you in California? Will help with UC costs? What are your safety schools?

7

I am surprised, too. I think you are well qualified. What other schools on your list would you prefer to NYU, and why?

8

@chunkylumbee Safety school is SUNY Binghamton. I live in NY.

@renaissancedad I love Columbia. I like Core and all, and I like urban schools. I love structure and I don’t mind the requirements. I also really like Dartmouth, even though it’s like the polar opposite of Columbia. I can’t describe why I like it–I guess I just liked the feeling when I visited. Didn’t like it as much as Columbia, though. I also really like USC, and not just because it’s in CA. I think the Law, History, and Culture major is really unique and I would probably major in that if I was lucky enough to get in.

9

Penn is dead. NEXT! Don’t rethink everything bc you didn’t win the lotto. Keep your perspective. It’s a long shot. If you are interested in another Ivy, go for it. If not, stick to your original plan…

10

If NYU is not your #1 I would definitely not do ED2. Remember, if you get in there, you’re locked in. A rejection from Penn ED by no means rules out your other schools so I wouldn’t change your RD list because of it.

11

@iwannabe_Brown I’m just terrified that I will be rejected RD because it just seems like I will have a better chance ED2 and the ivies are crapshoots anyway. Loving the username, by the way.

12

I still think you should do well. I wouldn’t get spooked by one rejection.

13

Definitely give Dartmouth a shot. Maybe you could tell them you want to go out for hockey … :)>-

14

@AboutTheSame I was a hockey player for about six weeks lmao. That’s how I first started skating :))

15

Go ahead and apply to other ivies. Not clear why you didn’t get into Penn.

16

I just got accepted into Stanford and you have better stats than me so just apply and I know one of the ivies would love to have you. Best of luck!!!

17

@chunkylumbee Congratulations on Stanford!

18

You seem very competitive for Ivies and comparable schools.

I’m surprised Penn didn’t defer you. Get a third opinion on your essays.

19

@emilyskates Sorry to hear about Penn ED - at least you gave yourself the best shot. It’s easy to justify in retrospect but there may have been concerns about course rigor (only 1 AP junior year) and the involvement in skating took away time to develop your role in other activities (limited leadership, etc). Yes, you probably can’t change things this late in the game but you may improve how you convey your activities.

High points to emphasize: 1. (obviously) the skating. You really need to provide context as to how impressive your accomplishment are because most adcoms probably don’t know what IMF level 7 means (at least I don’t). Make it clear enough that any lay person immediately knows how impressive that accomplishment is, and how much of an effort it involves (to excuse you from less involvement in other activities). 2) Language. You have gained recognition in two languages, which is a pattern. Maybe you can spin this into a secondary passion, since you have the accomplishments to back it up. The essays/supplements would be a good area to highlight this.

Your stats and accomplishments still put you in the running for cornell/vandy/WUSTL (Penn, even ED, is certainly more selective than these schools so that shouldn’t discourage you). Dartmouth and Columbia are going to be tougher, but worth a shot. Good luck.

20

Having only one AP in junior year is a negative when the senior year is full of them ?!?!?!? I am obviously out of touch. Sheesh. @dblazer makes a number of good points in the second paragraph.