I am an incoming senior with about a 3.95-4.0 GPA unweighted at a private school, but I mostly received B+'s in science and math courses (Pre-Calc, Calc AB/BC, Chemistry, AP Physics 1), but made up for it with A+'s in my strong-suit classes of social studies (AP Comp Gov, APUSH, APUSG, AP World, AP Human Geo) to cancel those out. I got 4s on all my APs that were not AP Physics 1 and AP Calc, both of which I failed (and won’t be sending to colleges). My SATs aren’t very spectacular either, with about a 1350-1370 in range. However, I was elected Student Body President, and am a registered member of a Native American tribe along with being a 4 year lacrosse player. Do you think I should bother applying to the Ivies and such for college, or should I stick to the colleges at the mid-range level to apply to?
Why dont you apply to schools where you can be successful? SATs of 1350 are tremendously out of range for Ivies.
Yes, as a registered tribal member, you should go for it!
Have 1 - 2 reach schools but focus on finding good match and safeties. Even as a URM, your chances at an Ivy are low (like everyone else).
I understand URM being a hook, and rightfully so. However, you’re not a competitive candidate for the ivies; the students who are accepted at top schools have much higher stats across the board. If you were to gain admission to an ivy, my concern is that it would be due to your status as a tribal member rather than being a qualified and competitive applicant. Regardless of the hook, whether it’s URM, 1st generation, recruited athlete, or legacy, the applicant should at least be in the range of acceptable statistics for the given school. I have family who are registered tribal members and they have not used their status to gain admission to colleges out of their range; the younger members are all thriving at colleges that are appropriate for their aptitude and achievements.
There are many colleges that would be a good fit for you. I recommend you look for schools that fit your needs and where you can be successful. In particular, there are a number of smaller colleges that offer more personalized attention and a warm sense of community. CC is a great place to view threads and read profiles of colleges you’re considering. In addition, Navient offers college recommendations specific to your needs and academic profile. Best of luck!
I would definitely apply to some top schools. If they accept you, they obviously think you can handle the courseload. With that said, also apply to many matches and a few safety schools.
I believe I will be successful at top-tier schools, as long as I do not have to take high-end math courses and focus more on the humanities. Thanks for your input, though. I understand where you’re coming from.
Several NESCACs would be particularly good matches for your indicated academic interests. A few would be entirely suitable for your basic scores as well.
Judging by your ECs and test scores, I do not believe that you would make a competitive applicant for top schools. Even though you are a URM, there are many other URMs that have better test scores and ECs. If I were you, I would just stick to colleges that would suit you academically, but at the same time challenge you. Try applying to your local university or college.