I am currently a senior at a ridiculously competitive public high school (Ranked top 20 in United States).
I thought I did well. I have a 4.0 unweighted high school GPA, 4.4 weighted (AP classes count as a 5), 35 ACT, 1550 SAT, a 5 on six AP tests, and a 4 on one. I know that I am at least in the top 7% of my class of 600 but my school doesn’t rank.
I am an accomplished jazz pianist with national awards and I am doing original research right now as part of the selective humanities conservatory program at my high school. I have several leadership roles in these ECs.
I thought I was competitive for Ivy schools out of high school but emailing with my counselor after getting deferred from Harvard, she says that there are too many students at my school with stronger stats that I really don’t stand a chance at any top 25 school.
I’m kinda panicked after hearing this news and honestly don’t know how so many kids from my school could be better. I have never received a “B” grade in my life but there are kids at my school that have 4.6 weighted GPAs. She says I should at least consider community college if I want to go to a top school.
If I maintain a 4.0 GPA in community college, how strong will my chances be for Cornell, Columbia, USC, Northwestern, and UCLA? I would apply to the other ivies but I understand that they don’t really accept transfers. I live in a California and I plan to transfer after one year. I know I will be against a slightly less competitive pool. By the way, I am a white upper middle class male with legacy at Brown University.
Also my counselor really pisses me off because she didn’t tell me this news before when she knew I was applying. She even encouraged me to apply to Yale!! By the way, several of my friends a year older than me are now at schools such as Harvard, Yale, or Columbia and weren’t much stronger then me. Apparently my year is much more competitive than most years.
I do NOT think a community college is a great backdoor entry way into the Ivies. You may be able to get into USC and UCLA if you knock out straight As, but going to a community college isn’t going to make you that much more competitive than if you were to attend any other school. With your stats, I would just go to the best school that is affordable for you. You can always apply “up” for grad school (if you choose to go that route).
@piranhavator Don’t listen to her, you will more than likely get into a top 25 school. Fortunately, most top 25 schools are not just looking at your SAT score and GPA (which are near the 75th percentile for both). I think it is honestly ridiculous that she made that statement towards you. I would just wait and see what happens.
@ab2002 thanks and I agree she’s a little ridiculous–or perhaps she was confused or something. I almost proved her wrong a few days ago when I got into Michigan but idk if that counts as a top 25.
@DadTwoGirls I don’t think I would transfer at this point, I already have several acceptances into decent universities. Michigan would be affordable but I would rather take something slightly cheaper if possible.
@piranhavator UMich is #28, but who cares, it’s a great school. Once again, I’d wait till you have all of your options in front of you, then you can see which choice would be the best for you. Counselors, to be honest, tend to be wrong. They aren’t admissions officers.