Should I bother shelling out app fees for Ivies/Stanford or do I stand no chance?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a junior and I go to a smaller school (~600 kids) in England (dad's in the military). I've lived in 4 countries, and attended 12 schools. My mom went to Yale, so that will get me a couple of brownie points there. Here's the rest of my resume:</p>

<p>1st SAT: 770M+730CR+740W=2240 (will probably retake for a 2300+ if I'm lucky)
Unweighted GPA: 4.0 so far (I'm taking 3 APs with another 3-4 next year, this is the most of anyone at my school)
Weighted GPA: 4.2ish (no APs offered frosh/soph, minimal APs offered Jr/Sr, no IB program)
Class rank: 1/120ish</p>

<p>ECs:
Varsity soccer (2007-2010)
Varsity cross-country (2008)
Varsity track (2008)
Varsity golf (2009-2010)
Model United Nations (been to two conferences, was awarded best delegate and chair)
Model United States Senate (been to one conference, got a senator slot)
Boy Scouts (almost to Eagle Scout)
National Honor Society (2009-2010)
Student Leader at my local youth group (6-8 hours/wk)</p>

<p>Volunteer stuff:
Poland service project (weeklong event, 70+ hours, 2009-2010)
Youth group leader
Assorted hours for Boy Scouts/NHS
...yeah</p>

<p>Work Experience:
Grocery Bagger (2008-2010)</p>

<p>Rec letters should be good, I'm not too bad at writing so app essays will be adequate. I'll probably emphasize my international experience (lived in 4 US states, Turkey, Germany, now England) as my main hook, but it probably won't count for much. Should I bother shelling out application fees for all the Ivies/Stanford?</p>

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<p>I think it’s entirely reasonable for you to include highly selective schools like Ivies and Stanford on your list, although you want to have some matches and safeties as well. If your mom graduated from Yale College, that makes you a legacy, which helps (how much, not clear), so you may want to consider Yale SCEA.</p>

3

<p>forgive my ignorance, but what is SCEA?</p>

<p>thanks for your other comments! I def agree about the safety school thing. I have a HUGE legacy at Notre Dame (Dad, uncle, aunt, cousins, countless family friends) so I’ll apply there and somewhere else as safeties.</p>

4

<p>bumppppppp</p>

5

<p>SCEA is Yale’s Single Choice Early Action program. You can apply early to Yale, but if you do so, you can’t apply early anywhere else (with some exceptions). But unlike Early Decision, you don’t have to attend if you are accepted. Stanford has the same system.</p>

6

<p>yeah, you definitely have a very good chance at those top schools, especially Columbia, Yale (legacy), and UChicago (if you want to apply there)</p>