Should I even try?

<p>So, I have been trying to finalize my college list, and right now, I'm really not sure if I want to add another IVY.. considering that they are all extremely hard to get into. I have already applied to Upenn ED and will apply to Columbia RD. I feel like I SHOULD add another IVY just because (higher chance of getting in? haha), but I don't want to waste application money D: I'm one of the top 10 in my class of 150, I do the IB diploma program and have over 800 EC hours (service and what not). I scored a 33 on my ACT and 700/790 on M2 and Chinese. (i had to take a year of classes to learn to read and write). I am also an international applicant so my chances are even smaller?</p>

<p>would you really want to go to Princeton if you got in?</p>

<p>@binatang of course! as an international student, prestige is something my parents value a lot if they are going to drop 200k for my undergrad.</p>

<p>@nervousfreshie oh okay! maybe prepare to apply (like your essays and stuff), but wait until you receive your UPenn decision… then you won’t be wasting any money. If you don’t get into UPenn, well I don’t know your particular financial situation, but adding just one more ivy to Columbia wouldn’t be bad I think, especially since you Princeton would be a favorable choice for you </p>

<p>ok! thanks for the advice! I’m not ivy crazy like my other friends, but I don’t want to regret by not applying and then wonder “what if…?” my whole life D: 3 ivies for me!</p>

<p>Hoping with UPenn you will be ‘in’ @nervousfreshie!</p>

<p>I would not just apply because you want to get into an Ivy. Look for the schools you really want to get into. Your scores are not amazing.</p>

<p>Do you have other accomplishments? Anything that sets you apart from the other very good students who work hard and do well? No sure what 800 EC hours means. I fear it means nothing. Have you been a stand out? That’s what the IVY schools are looking for. If not, then you may be way over shooting. That isn’t really a problem for you if it is only your parents who are keen to have you accepted to an IVY league school. The Ivy you have the best shot at is Cornell because they accept a higher % of applicants and they accept more students- in terms of sheer numbers. They seem to weigh objectives -grades and scores-more than most of the other Ivy League schools. So absence of stellar achievements may not be as important.</p>

<p>I have done a lot of community work (the 800 service hours), and I volunteered at my church and local soup kitchen for 4 years out of the 5 years I have been in canada. I also achieved the gold and silver duke of ed awards, which are internationally recognized, and I am taking the hardest courses available to me. when placed in the context of others in my school who are applying to the ivies, I stand out, but now that I’m thinking about it, I may as well be one of the 20000 asian applicants princeton sees? </p>

<p>Again, I am only interested in Ivies that have what I want to study in, and are in an area I like. I chose Upenn for wharton, and Columbia for NYC. I love the place princeton is situated in (very typical college setting) and I am really interested in their Woodrow Wilson school of public and international affairs. Plus, like penn, princeton is needblind for canadians… which is a huge factor. </p>

<p>@lostaccount‌ I was initially going to apply to Cornell just because it is an “easier”(broadly speaking) ivy, but after much research, I am not really interested in that school at all, and I would rather focus my energy somewhere else. </p>

<p>@whuffy so my scores suck? lol ok D:</p>

<p>Look for school you really want to go, and please also consider the location to make sure it’s in a city you like. Princeton is a very nice college town, but some people prefer life in NYC or LA. For those, it’s better to go to NYU, Columbia, UCLA, etc</p>

<p>Look for school you really want to go, and please also consider the location to make sure it’s in a city you like. Princeton is a very nice college town, but some people prefer life in NYC or LA. For those, it’s better to go to NYU, Columbia, UCLA, etc</p>