Hi all, I am currently a junior, and I have been looking at Ivies. I know nothing is guaranteed, and I’m certainly not guaranteed to get into any college, but I just want to know what are my chances of getting into Ivies, especially Columbia? Also, do I need to take the ACT too? I am going to become a business major. I know there are lots and lots of people with way better résumé than I do, but I just want to see how much chance I have, even if it’s meager. Thank you very much.
SAT score: 2230
ACT: None, I have never taken it before.
SAT Subjects:
SAT Chemistry: 780
SAT Math Level 2: 800
GPA:
Weighted: 99
Unweighted: 97
Rank: 12/820
Academic achievements:
Science scholar -10th
Math scholar -11th
Extracurricular activities:
Founder of Math Club
President of Math Club
President of Math Honors Society
Member of school newspaper
Member of National Honors Society
Sports/music achievements:
Varsity Track and Field state finalist
Dance level 7
Piano ABRSM grade 8
Gymnastics
I forgot to add, I volunteer through a local volunteering program and I have more than 50 hours of volunteering that includes memory care, raising funds and counseling.
@torideschamps Ethnicity? Any hooks? Statistically you’re good. How involved in math club and MHS are you?
Statistically you’re okay. Need more info, but right now without a good hook you have a limited chance.
Right now, you pretty much have little to no chance at most of the Ivies (and might be able to get into Cornell) Academics are strong enough for pretty much all the Ivies. Your extracurricular activities are okay but nothing special. Try gaining leadership positions in two or three of your ECs. Although it’s already been stated – your missing a hook, which will SEVERELY harm your chances of admission (especially to Harvard, Princeton, and Yale). You are going to be compared to applicants who have started their own businesses, created successful mobile apps, met the president of the United States, or have even cured diseases! It’s probably a little late to do a lot of these “Outstanding” ECs, but you could still get in. Does your school not have a business or entrepreneurship club? Create one! Try interning or volunteering at a local business. Try to win awards, create large school fundraisers, or something like that. The last major thing that will determine whether you get in or not is your essays. You are going to need PHENOMENAL essays to compete with some of these applicants.
You have a few good months before applications are due. Take that time to do something amazing! Good luck!
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question! I’m actually in the process of creating a mobile app, and I think it will approximately take me another 2 months to finish the app. You’re right, I don’t have a lot of legacies in business industry, because I have always wanted to major in computer science, but in the past year, I realized that I want to be a business major. Can you please tell me some ways that I can get more involved in business besides working and getting an internship? I’m British, so I cannot work in America, which I know hurts my chances.
You are in the right track. Your CV is very similiar to mine and Im also looking for ivies. However I think you should raise your SAT to 2300.
@AmbitiousWalrus Thank you for taking the time to answer my question! I’m actually in the process of creating a mobile app, and I think it will approximately take me another 2 months to finish the app. You’re right, I don’t have a lot of legacies in business industry, because I have always wanted to major in computer science, but in the past year, I realized that I want to be a business major. Can you please tell me some ways that I can get more involved in business besides working and getting an internship? I’m British, so I cannot work in America, which I know hurts my chances.
Don’t waste time on retaking the SATs. All that work to get maybe 3-4 more questions right? Doesn’t make sense. Focus on other aspects of your application. You’re competitive, but the fact that you just want to get into an Ivy will hurt. You need to have an actual reason. Aside from sharing an athletic conference, each Ivy League college is distinct. Do your research.
I disagree with @CaliCash about retaking the SAT. The first time I took it, I got a 2220. I retook it a few months later with about 2 weeks of additional prep and got a 2380. I think there’s a big difference between your first and second time because you’re much less nervous (at least I was).
I guess it depends on how much time/effort you think you’ll need to put in to raise it a lot.
@curlypie99 I don’t know if I want to take the SAT again, because I feel like @CaliCash does make a point. Have you taken the ACT? How do you think about the ACT?
After I looked at everyone’s comments, I realized that I have a much lower chance of getting into Ivies than I thought. Thank you so much for your time, I’ll work harder.