I am a currently a Junior
Demographics: Male, Hispanic, Upper-Class, Southern California, Public School
UW GPA: 3.84 (all 9 Bs in my sophomore year because I had undiagnosed Cycloplegia added on top of my learning disability and father not having a job; I was diagnosed and treated for cycloplegia the summer after sophomore year and have gotten all As from that point on; explained by counselor in LOR)
W GPA: 4.698
SAT: 1550
Rank: NA; school doesn’t do rank
Awards: AP capstone diploma, AP scholar with distinction
Course Rigor: AP capstone program, 12 AP’s and all honors except for normal English freshman year; 2 community college classes (precalc and criminal justice); 2 years of online Spanish taken to make room for other classes in school; 3 AP classes taken online (Calc BC, microeconomics, and macroeconomics)
Hook?: 504 plan (concentration learning disability) and undiagnosed eye condition.
ECs:
Founder of non-profit environmental recycling company: collecting from 30 companies including the largest medical device manufacturer in the world, an aerospace engineering company, my school district, etc. Collecting from over 150,000 people. Spoke at my school district’s environmental committee meetings.
Track and Field- Shotput; varsity 3 years, team leader. JV football freshman year (left because of injury). Sports all 4 years.
Volunteer for one of the largest independently funded political talk show on youtube; organized an online community of around 20,000 members to discuss politics and the show. Huge time commitment year-round.
In the process of publishing a research paper regarding criminal justice; advised by and researched with well-known criminal justice professor
Wrote stories for a local newspaper about politics and the environment
Paid job at a collections firm
Free tutor volunteering at a local library
1-month internship at an environmental nonprofit
Volunteered for a presidential campaign
LORs:
AP environmental science teacher: she knows about my environmental business; writes good LORs / had for 2 years
AP Capstone/English teacher: had for 6 semesters and she liked me so I assume it will be good
My school district’s environmental committee organizer
Major: economics/undergrad business; on route to law school
Chance me for: UCLA, UC Berkeley, UPenn (Wharton), Northwestern, Brown, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Dartmouth, Yale, Harvard, Cornell, Columbia, Princeton, UCSB, UCSD, USC, UCD
(I know that this list is pretty optimistic but I am just wondering if it is feasible)
You’re applying to every Ivy. Do you know what makes each different enough to write a good " why us" essay, or are you applying to them for the clout? They’ll know.
Your ECs are good enough for the UCs, I believe. A stretch for Berkeley and UCLA. Know which EC to play up for which college. Ex: Berkeley likes volunteering → stretch the nonprofit and talk show stuff.
These are not hooks, but as an Hispanic you are a URM, which is a hook.
I agree with the above poster that you should carefully consider whether all 8 ivy league schools appeal to you, or if you might be too focused on prestige. Dig in to what these schools are looking for in their students, and see which ones you feel might represent a good fit for you. Your ‘why us’ essays will be more compelling if you do this thinking.
But, ultimately it is the schools that decide which applicants best fit their goals as they build their classes…so make sure you position yourself accordingly on your apps.
Make sure to take time to identify a handful of match/target schools, and at least one affordable safety. What can/will your family pay each year for college?
Lastly, I recommend you take several SAT subject tests to demonstrate subject mastery. Take a look at the specific recommendations on each school’s website.
Academics matter. 9 B grades is very risky. Tippy tops need to see academic competitiveness, be assured you learned at top levels, despite challenges. I.e., that you triumphed over the circumstances. That shows in the transcript. Not just in the energy that went into ECs.
The subsequent A grades are good, but we don’t know what the courses were where grades dropped, how critical those courses were and how that impacts your prep… or even if the rise in grades is due to any drop in rigor or adding easier APs. You haven’t shared that.or AP scores.
You need to learn how and what matters to tippy tops, what match means, and more. Eg, it’s not weighted gpa or the count of AP, what a hook is, what’s relevant to them, including ECs and their balance, etc, so you can make a solid presentation in the whole app. Think about that.
Everyone has an opinion on how to get into an ivy league school, but it’s all just fluff. For these schools, chances are lousy for anyone who applies there. That’s the simple reality. It’s fine to apply, but know that EVERYONE else is applying there too, from 50,000 other high schools.
Focus on some good target and safety schools, and I would apply for scholarships too.