I have a 4.0 unweighted and a 4.8 weighted GPA. I have taken seven AP classes and I got a 30 on my ACT. If I super score, I have a 31. The college I am looking at does super score. I have a 33 on the reading, 33 on the English, 27 on the science, and 29 on the math. I got a 4 on three of my AP exams and a 3 on the AP Chem exam (eeks, I know…not so proud of that one). I am taking three more APs this year. I am also the President of two clubs and I am involved in Track and several other extracurricular activities (all science related). I also take care of kids and dogs and I volunteer at my library. My teachers love me and I believe wrote strong letters of recommendation and my English teacher reviewed my personal essay and told me it was the best college essay she had ever read. I know that most of my credentials look good on paper, but I am a little worried because the acceptance rates are very low and my AP and ACT scores are on the lower end of the spectrum (especially in the science section on the ACT, and I want to major in science). How much do Ivy Leagues take test scores into account?
The Ivies take everything into account… your chances are like everyone else’s who isn’t the child of a multimillionaire: slim. These schools are a reach for everyone. But if you don’t apply you certainly won’t get in. So go for it, keep your fingers crossed – and apply to other, less selective schools where your impressive stats are sure to get you in! Congrats and good luck.
Please look at other schools that are within your reach. Ivy’s routinely reject kids with perfect stats, and a 30 or 31 will not cut it without extraordinary ECs. Consider test optional colleges that will instead focus on your high grades.
You won’t be out of the running based on one test score (honestly. It really is more of a threshold thing. Pass their minimum and it doesn’t help you out much). Definitely make sure you apply to schools that put your testing profile in the upper quartile (as I’m sure you already know to do)! And kickass essays will get you everywhere.
For high GPA and pretty strong test scores, UNC-Chapel Hill is fabulous. You’d be high in their testing range and out of the ballpark with that GPA.
Which colleges are you looking a right now?
I’ve applied and been accepted to UNR, Oregon State, Washington State, and Utah State. I’ve also applied to Purdue, Cornell, UC Davis, UMass Amherst, UVermont, and Penn State.
Update: I’ve been accepted to Davis, Purdue, UMass, UVermont, and Penn State! Still waiting to hear back from Cornell though.
You’ve been accepted at great schools. Congrats!! Whatever happens, you have an amazing future ahead.
Thank you!!
Congratulations on the schools that you got into. Your GPA is great, but your ACT score and extra-circulars are light for Cornell, so that will likely result in a rejection, but I’d be happy to be wrong. Good luck!
To be honest, unless you have a very interesting background or specific perspective or cool talent you’ve spent you’re life working on or a national award, having such grades makes your application mediocre.
They’ll be confused about the 4.8 GPA in AP classes compared to the 3’s and 4’s on the actual tests, but maybe you’re just a bad test taker?