Should I even bother applying to Ivy Leagues??

Hi everyone,

I have a 3.85 GPA. It was on the upward trend, if you get rid of my freshman year GPA, it is a 3.95. I have very high test scores. Should I even bother applying to the Ivies? I’m an Indian male, and everyone that seems to get in has over a 3.9 or close to a 4.0. This seems kind of pointless, and I don’t want to waste my time/set myself up for disappointment. I am applying to matches (UVA/UNC/UMich) and safeties (BU/UMass). I guess what I want to know is whether my 3.85 throws me out of the game immediately? There are so many kids with 3.9+ both within my school/the applicant pool, and 3.85 feels average. Am I academically qualified?

What is your score ? Indian as in Native American ? Also, what special accomplishments do you have ?

Not really enough information here to tell you not to apply. In any event, most selective admits are always very tough, and you will need subject tests and recommendations, so its a fair amount of effort compared to the other schools you mentioned.

It is always Ok to put in one or two reach school applications as long as you understand upfront that the schools are reaches. That way you never have to wonder “what if?”.

Your matches are reaches. Your safeties are matches.

Your GPA is not too low for any elite school if your scores are high.

@mitchklong @HRSMom Yes, my GPA is low, yet it’s on an UPWARD TREND as some schools have stressed. I have taken 12 APs. I have a 35 on the ACT, and 770/790 SAT IIs.

does this help me at all? how do ivies look at gpa? do they have a certain threshold where gpa doesn’t matter? do I meet this threshold?

also, it is worth noting, I am Indian (south asian)

All these are fine but you will need some sort of hook. You published something. You wont first place in xxx in a state/national/international competition. You founded a charity. You have been a ward of the state since you were 10.

You need something like that to get you noticed for a most selective.

Asians on average have a better admission rate that whites, but I wouldn’t call it a hook.

You are correct, Ivy’s discriminate against Asians. So what? Apply if you want to. Just don’t expect much. There isn’t much you can do at this point to improve your profile. People are obsessed with them. You can always go to one for grad school.

As an alternative look at schools that really like high stat students and are less ‘holistically’ focused like Vanderbilt, Rice, Caltech etc.

Sorry, I don’t mean to hijack this thread, but @TooOld4School , what are some other schools you know of that are less holistically focused?

@Ariz0na , I would start a new thread related to your particular circumstances.

UVA is a reach, especially with you being OOS. Your chances will be better if you have an interesting resume with significant leadership accomplishments.

Let’s assume your grades / test scores get your application reviewed.

What will stand out that someone will go to bat for you?

@TooOld4School That’s the point however. Am I really considered a “high stat student”? Would Duke be one of these less holistically focused schools,

@mitchklong I do have good ECs. I’m planning to major in music/south asian studies with a focus on pre med. Everything on my application falls under these fields: I’m a CTO of a wide spread cultural emagazine, I play 5 instruments at a reasonably high level (not conservatory good), founder of a finance club (i did this for fun tbh dsnt fit), also CEO of a non profit that puts my hobby for photography to a good cause. I’ll submit a supplement of our work. Would being an Indian music major be a hook? To be brutally honest, Indians seem to only do Biology, Comp Sci, or Engineering.

A 3.85 and 35 are great. Don’t worry about those.

UNC and UVA take very few OOS, so it is a reach from that perspective.

Duke takes so few, it’s an uber reach for anyone. And they are very holistic…whatever that means nowadays.

Big public schools tend to put less emphasis outside stats.

Honestly there are so many things that are more important in your application than your GPA, a 3.85 GPA is nowhere close to taking you out of consideration but there may be plenty of other things that do. Also, if you took the most difficult clases or not probably matters just as much if not more than what your UW GPA number does when applying to the top schools.

Yes, you are a high stat student. 3.85 & 35 qualifies you for every school in the country. Any of the top 50-100 colleges would meet your needs. All of the top 20-25 are reaches for everyone. It is only at schools where Asians apply a lot - Ivys, MIT, Stanford- that discriminate by race where you will have issues. Apply to a college with a high white and female applicant pool and you will have affirmative action. Same with schools in the south and (somewhat) midwest. States such as California and Michigan prohibit racial discrimination in their public universities. You should still apply to some of the Ivy’s with great music / S. Asian programs because they meet your needs well (e.g. Yale)

You are just going to cast your net a little wider than you anticipated. Vanderbilt, Michigan, Indiana, USC, and Rice for example all have outstanding music programs attached to a great university. I think the best blend for you (w S Asian studies) will be Michigan or Indiana. You can take organic chemistry and physics anywhere.

I like your ECs but remember everyone at these schools has some hobbies, talent, etc. Try to demonstrate why you should be picked instead of them. I would say your app is in the competitive realm but admission isnt likley to any schools < 15% acceptance. GL.

You definitely have the stats to apply. Worth the application fee. Good luck.