What kind of schools can I get into? Ivy Leagues?

Applying to College
1

<p>I want to study Finance and Math.</p>

<p>Sex: Male
Ethnicity: South Asian
Location: TN
School: Highly Competitive Public High School
Unweighted GPA: 3.5
Weighted GPA: 4.6
Class Rank: ~55 out of 500</p>

<p>SAT I Math Score: 750
SAT I CriticalReading Score: 800
SAT I Writing Score: 680
2230 in total
SAT II – World History – 800, Bio M – 800, Math II – 660 (I think I misbubbled, I’m retaking it)</p>

<p>Activities
Knowledge Bowl (Captain) (Our school has won the two years I have been on the team so far)
Science Olympiad Team
Conducting research throughout the year in Pharmaceutical Sciences (since 9th grade)
Model UN (all 4 years)
Couple of other clubs
Awards:
I’ve had awards in all of the above that I mentioned.
I also got a perfect score for the National Latin Exam.</p>

<p>Internships/Volunteering
I volunteer in the local library every now and then.
I volunteered in a local hospital over my 9th grade summer.
Local old age homes.
~300 hours volunteering and interning in my local Congressional campaign. Worked another 100 hours in other local campaigns.
Volunteer in my school, tutoring math.</p>

<p>AP classes: should mostly be 5s with a couple of 4s. (by the time I’m done with senior year)
World History (5)
English Comp
Physics B
Chemistry
U.S. History
Biology
English Lit
Calc BC
Psychology
I also plan on taking Stat, Econ (2), and Gov. (2) APs on my own.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot!</p>

2

<p>as impressive as your resume is, as an Asian candidate, even if it isn't fair, your numbers appear a bit low for the ivies.</p>

3

<p>Um, hate to break it to you, but you're far too weak academically for the Ivies. One perfect NLE score? I've seen four consecutively. 2230? LOL. Just LOL. 3.5 GPA? You better be drinking some serious Kool Aid if you think you can get into an Ivy with that. 300 hours volunteering? Try 3000 as a bare minimum. Don't even bother applying.</p>

<p>Kidding ;). Your stats are excellent, as are your ECs. I don't think you have anything to worry about. Try for Cornell, Brown, and Dartmouth.</p>

4

<p>Thanks. Is it just my GPA and rank, or are any other numbers low? I took the SAT again and I expect 2350+. So, what chances would I have with that and my GPA around 3.6?</p>

5

<p>The fact that your SAT scores are high while your GPA is low suggests that you slack off in school... Ivies want hardworking ppl, not slackers</p>

6

<p>The only thing that seems weak here is your class rank and your GPA...but even that is weak for JUST Ivies. I think you could definately apply and quite possibly get accepted to some of the 'lower Ivies' though...Penn, Cornell, Dartmouth?</p>

<p>Make sure to write a killer essay.</p>

7

<p>Low GPA and low rank may weigh against you. Does your school send 10 – 12 % students to Ivies? If yes, then you do have a good chance, otherwise work to bring up your GPA/rank.</p>

8

<p>Cornell (Ivy) in. Amherst, Caltech out</p>

9

<p>Great scores with average grades aren't usually seen as favorable, but still, you're better off than someone with average scores and average grades.
Cornell is the only possible Ivy for you, but I'd also suggest Duke (engineering), since they're VERY score based.</p>

10

<p>Do you think I stand a chance for the Preferred Admit for Ross BBA at U Michigan? Another thing is, I didn't slack off at school, I was always way ahead of the curriculum in all my classes, I just didn't have time to spend on some of the busy work (which for some reason, I had a lot of) that several of my classes required because the other people in my class were failing. So, on exams and other major assignments, I always had a 95+ grade. Plus, my ECs kept me busy throughout the year, and I worked really hard on them.</p>

11

<p>Although your GPA and rank are somewhat weak (though still very good), the rest of the app is really great, especially the research. You'd have a shot at the Ivies.</p>

12

<p>your subject tests show you aren't a slacker</p>

13

<p>I don't think your numbers are low (except the Math L2). 2230 is fine. Your UW GPA is a bit low, but understandable because you obviously have lots of other things going on and difficult classes (4.6 W)..or there's grade inflation there. But, I think you should go for it.</p>

14

<p>
[quote]
your subject tests show you aren't a slacker

[/quote]

those are just one time one hour tests... grades are often due to the accumulation of tests/projects/homework/participation that show more effort</p>

15

<p>You have a shot pretty much anywhere. Most of the "upper-ivies" would be definite reaches though, while the easier ones would still be reaches, but definitely attainable.</p>

16

<p>HYPS, Columbia, MIT, Dartmouth, Brown and Penn are probably the only schools that WILL NOT accept a 3.3 unless you're developmental/super-hook.</p>

<p>So you have a chance at Cornell and some top non-Ivies, but the 9 that I listed just aren't going to accept someone with a 3.3.</p>

<p>The only super-elite school that might accept someone with a 3.3 is Caltech, since they don't care about your non Math/Science grades.</p>

17

<p>I have a 3.56, where does that put me?</p>

18

<p>It depends on how your school reports your grade, the school may not report your grade as unweight GPA, some schoosl report grade as weighted GPA, in which case it could be to your advantage, however slight it might be.</p>

19

<p>My school gives out a complete transcript, with both GPAs and my grades for all my classes. Also, would it make a difference if I told them that I came to the US only 5 years ago?</p>

20

<p>^It might. Did you speak english before you came?</p>

<p>I know someone who got into MIT with extremely low qualifications this year because he's a URM/didn't speak english as of 6 years ago, and they apparently really liked that.</p>