Should I bother applying to Ivy Leagues?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m currently a junior.

SAT: 1920 (690 Math, 630 CR, 60 Writing)
Though this was before any practice, hopefully I’ll be able to get it up to 2100.

-GPA: 94.84/100 (Unsure of what that is in a 4.0 scale)
-Class Rank: 9/110 (Top 9%)
-AP: AP Biology, AP Language and Composition. These are two of the hardest APs my school offers, and the school only allows a maximum of 2 APs during junior year and 3 during senior year. I’ll be taking AP Calculus, AP European History, and possibly AP Physics if it’s offered.
-EC’s: National Honor Society, National Hispanic Recognition Scholar, Chess Club (President, have won official tournaments), Comic book club, Member of the Bronx Scifest Research Program at Lehman, Vice President of Student council.
Volunteer activities: Tutoring in algebra, chemistry, and trigonometry; Science lab assisstant; Parent-teacher translator; Park ranger assisstant. In total 110 hours
Notable events: Finalist at MiT iNSPiRe and will be presenting my research paper to a panel of judges at MiT.

State: New York
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: Male
School type: Public School
Hooks: Didn’t know parents when they took me to a different country; Taught myself operational calculus without knowing it; Known as a motivational speaker in my school ; Curious about things that nobody thinks about too hard (i.e. baskets)
lncome: 48,000 - 75,000 (Household of 3)

Regents: ELA REG 79 (I’ll be retaking this)
GLOB HIST REG 98
ALGEBRA REG 100
GEOMETRY 96
LIV ENVIR 86
CHEMISTRY 94

I may end up being salutatorian/valedictorian of my school, but that isn’t certain. I’m looking to apply to Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Massachussetts Institute of Technology, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Duke, and the University of Chicago. Everyone at my school thinks I’m going to be the first one in my school’s history to get accepted into one of those schools, but I doubt myself a lot. I’m not looking for sugarcoated denials, I just want objective answers on my chances. Thank you.

2

As things stand now, it’s obvious that standardized test scores, especially the SAT score, are holding you back. I suspect you may have a compelling story to tell, though. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility that one of these schools might give you a very serious look, if you have a compelling life story to tell. But you’d have a much better shot if you could bring your SAT up a couple of hundred points.

Even then, every single school you mention is a reach. Make sure you add a couple of safeties, and maybe a school or two that is more of a match. But especially if you can raise your SAT, and can communicate effectively in your essays, you’d have a shot at these reach schools…

3

Think of it this way: the only way to make it 100% sure you wont go to an ivy is if you don’t apply to one.

I would for sure raise those SATs before applying though, if you decide to. Also like the poster above me said, add some safeties.

Good luck!

4

I recently got into an SAT program and got some books to practice with so I’ll be sure to raise my ever-pestering SAT score by next month, and even more by August. I also forgot to mention that I’m a first generation college student, but I’m sure that doesn’t change the situation very much.
I assumed that the Ivies were ‘reach’ schools, but people just as uninformed as I have given me completely different notions. Thanks guys, I really needed someone’s informed opinion, so I appreciate the input.