Hi 
I would like to know what my chances are of getting in to an Ivy league university. Perhaps Harvard?
I am from Denmark (an underrepresented country). I have been in the IB program and have gotten a score of 42.
I have gotten a 110 on the TOEFL test. I also have some great “life experiences/choices” to write about in an essay.
What are my chances of getting in to Harvard or Yale? Do I need to take the SAT?
Thank you for your response in advance
42 IB is a pretty good score, but…
Why Harvard or Yale, may I ask? What are you interests? There are lots of schools in the US that are as satisfying as Harvard can be.
They are not my only ideas. I just want to know what my chances are…
My interests seem compatible with what they offer at Harvard/Yale.
“Do I need to take the SAT?”
Visit each university’s website, and look for the requirements for applicants.
Yes, you will have to take SATs, and SATII if you want to be a competitive candidate. Those schools also look for extracurricular accomplishments, leadership qualities and the kind of impact you may have on the campus and its students.
To answer your question: your chances of getting into Harvard or Yale are NOT good. Why? Because thousands of excellent, accomplished students are turned down every year. Everyone’s chances for Harvard and Yale are not good. Unless you’ve cured cancer or your father is the head of state or your mother is a billionaire who might give the school a lot of money, the odds are against you.
How is it that your interests only align with Harvard and Yale? Tell me your interests and I bet that we could come up with at least a dozen other schools that fit your interests.
42 is a great IB score- more than Oxford looks for even. My guess is that you figure that if you are going to pay to go to university it might as well be the very best- would that be fair?
Yes, you do need the SAT (or ACT with writing) + 2 SAT subject tests, and you need top marks on them as well.
“Underrepresented” country won’t help you, but good essays will help you.
But- what is your “and”? Harvard, Yale, etc. assume top drawer numbers “AND” something else. The “AND” is something about you- what you bring to the community. What do you do beyond the classroom that shows your interests, your commitment, your leadership, your whatever- your “AND”
I’m not sure how Denmark is an underrepresented country…?
Would I still be a competetive applicant if I did not take the SAT?
What score would be competetive for an international applicant?
Thanks for your responses.
@klem12 you can’t apply to these top Ivy League schools unless you have a SAT/ACT test score and two SAT subject test scores. It’s not about whether you’re competitive or not, it’s about whether your application is even complete. If it’s not complete, how can they accept you when you haven’t satisfied the minimum requirements? It’s harder to get in as an international student (you’re from Denmark, not Ivory Coast/Cambodia/Afghanistan etc.) so for the SAT I’d say 2200+ minimum (there’s no “minimum score” but just to be competitive) and the ACT 34+. For subject tests, 750+ would be ideal.
@klem12, check out these threads - where accepted and rejected Harvard and Yale candidates compare their grades/scores/accomplishments. It will give you an idea of the types of students who get in (and don’t!)