<p>This is kinda mad long but I've been thinking about this for awhile now and I had a lot of talks with my parents and they think that my chances at Ivy League are very slim and here's why:
- my UW GPA is an 88 and 92 weighted
- my transcript shows a mix of As and Bs and not too many above a 95 and didnt take any APs until this year (im a junior btw).
- my ECs are average with only clubs where im an officer and volunteer work at the hospital
- I got a 172 on my PSAT (although i really didnt study much for it but still)
- I got a 640 on the biology M exam in grade 9 ( i thought it was impressive at the time since i self-studied and took regular bio but i know now its not) and i recently got a 600 on the math 1 exam (gonna retake this month and studying like crazy for it) </p>
<p>But im starting to turn a new leaf since im starting to do better in my 4 AP classes (can probably at least have 95 and above in all classes at the end of the year and bump up my GPA a good 4-5 points)
and im studying crazy hard for the SAT and ACT so i can get the highest score i can possibly get (rents want a perfect score) and im taking 3 other SAT subject tests and self-studying 2 other AP exams to make up for my slack.</p>
<p>Outside of school im also starting to do scientific research for Siemens and Intel cuz i wanna show that i love science (which i do) and that im different from everyone else. </p>
<p>So basically if go through my plans and score really high on my exams and do well in school and take 6 AP classes next year, do i still stand a chance at Ivies or am i better off at CUNY/SUNY colleges because everyone from my family, friends, to my teachers and GC dont think that i should even bother.</p>
<p>Well I don’t really care for the advice your family friends etc has given you. Realistic is good, but to say its not even worth trying isn’t right. I would say you have a better than slight chance at Ivy League. This also depends on which Ivies you have in mind? </p>
<p>You still have time to get your GPA up. Study hard and follow through on your plans. Definitely pick up a couple more extra curricular as they never hurt. </p>
<p>Bottom line: Work your butt of the rest of your high school career and use time effectively. If you do that then you will have a shot at the “Ivies”</p>
<p>p.s. Don’t limit yourself to SUNY/CUNY there are so many great school out there, check them out!</p>
<p>You should do what you think is right for you! Good luck!</p>
<p>bump bump!! Any other opinions/comments/suggestions?</p>
<p>Do what you want to do. If you don’t try now, you’ll always wonder if you couldve gotten in. In my case, my parents didnt want me to apply to the ivies, but i did anyway… and i received a likely letter from dartmouth a week ago, and am waiting patiently for the other decisions.</p>
<p>My one goal in life is to look back one day and never say “What if…”. Go for it. Good luck!</p>
<p>Btw, if you get top awards at Intel/Siemens, its essentially an auto-admit to any school in the country.</p>
<p>Go for it! You have nothing to lose by applying to the Ivies, especially if you really fall in love with one of them. And if you apply early the admissions rate is not quite so ridiculous (although the early admissions pool is self-selecting). Plus it sounds like your “turning over a new leaf” could make for a good essay. </p>
<p>Chance meh?</p>
<p>You should apply if you want to, but do be warned that your chances are not especially high. Top colleges prefer you take the SAT math level 2, and all your SAT 2 scores should be above 750, or at least 700+. You didn’t list your SAT score, but it should be above 2250. I’m not saying these scores are an absolutely 100% requirement, but in absence of a hook (i.e. being URM, athletically recruited, etc.), they are a good guideline to follow. I’m not sure how your GPA translates to a 4.0 scale, but you generally want at least a 3.9 or even 3.8 to be competitive for the Ivies.</p>
<p>Try Intel and Siemens, and see if you win something. If you do, your chances will dramatically increase because that would count as an excellent extracurricular. I encourage you to apply because, as others said, you don’t want to have "what-if"s and regrets, but don’t get your hopes too high.</p>
<p>However, this doesn’t mean you have to only apply to SUNY schools. There are many, many high-caliber schools out there that you should be a great fit for. Look up some colleges where the average SAT score/GPA is close to yours to use as a benchmark, and then see which ones appeal to you. You are a very solid candidate for many good schools, and I’m sure you’ll get in somewhere great.</p>