<p>I'm not really stuck on one college, more like fifteen. I am a girl just finishing my sophomore year in high school in the mid-atlantic region. I'm trying really hard to get into a Top-Tier/Ivy League. I'd like to stay in the northeast or go over to the UK. I would really appreciate it if someone would take the time and read this and whatever you do don't spare my feelings, I'd like you to be brutally honest.</p>
<p>Bio:
Year:Finishing sophomore in high school
Race:Caucasian
Gender:Female
Focusing on Math Chemistry and Biology
Religion: Pagan</p>
<p><strong>I recently heard that if you're parents did not go to college your chances of getting in are better. I'm not sure how valid or true this is if anyone has any input. Neither of my parents went to college, but my grandfather went to MIT. He did not graduate though, because he got drafted.</strong></p>
<p>Academics:
-Principal's Honor Roll Every Semester-your grades need to be a 98 or higher weighted (my school uses block scheduling, four classes a day 1h 20min classes half the year and then we switch to the four other classes. total 8 per year)
-PreCalculus as a sophomore with the second highest grade at the moment-98 average unweighted
-All honors classes, focusing in math and the sciences
-I am in the top ten percent of my class
-Unweighted GPA (with 92's considered A minuses)- 3.96
-Unweighted GPA (with 92's considered B's)-3.8
-Junior year I will be taking Honors Calculus, along with other Honors classes, AP Chemistry and AP English. Senior year will be all honors classes plus AP Calculus and AP Physics</p>
<p>Athletics:
-Varsity Letter as Freshman for Tennis
-Undefeated at Third Doubles (big tennis team) freshman year
-Undefeated at Second Singles sophomore year
-Player of the Year Award Sophomore Year
-Tennis Champion four years in a row at the Racquet Club
-Highly Ranked Nationally for Show Jumping (horseback riding)
-Applied for a professional license that will be implemented in this fall
-Won over 10,000 dollars in prize money, trained my own horse</p>
<p>EC's
-Manager of a 6,000 sq ft clothing store
-Over 160 hours helping autistic children learn to ride horses
-Law Club
-Math League
-Spanish Club
-Put together many local fashion shows where all the proceeds go to research foundations or other charitable organizations
-Raised over 3,000 dollars in one weekend to fund the Masonic Children's Learning Center for Dyslexic kids. They were going to close down due to insufficient funds
-Currently working to change New Jersey's law to recognize dyslexia as a learning difference so teachers can be taught the orton-gillingham method of learning</p>
<p>I don't think I forgot anything, but please tell me what you think! I go back and forth thinking I'll have a chance getting into a top school and not thinking they'll even consider me. Sometimes I think I think too highly of myself or I'm going way over my head..I am just very confused with the whole matter. Thank you!!</p>
<p>In all honesty, your clearest shot at an ivy will be to be a tennis recruit. An athlete has many multiples the chance of an unhooked top student. That, keeping up your grades and a 2100 SAT will be enough for HYPS.</p>
<p>Quick question about sports, if I say I am going to play a sport for college, does that mean I have to play every year? Like can I play for freshman year and then stop? Or is it a four year commitment?</p>
<p>This does happen once in awhile at non scholarship schools, but coaches look to recruit kids with a passion to play. it would be dishonest to let a coach/team make you one of the recruits if you don’t intend to play.</p>
<p>I’m at the same point as you, looking around at different top schools… have you taken the SAT/ACT? That would be helpful. Also, the fact that neither of your parents went to college can help you out, for sure. You’re disadvantaged in that respect, so they will put a little less weight on your test scores and a little more on your GPA and EC’s. By the way, great EC’s! Haha if you can get recruited for tennis, that would be a surefire way of being an admit.</p>
<p>If you’re focusing on math/science, MIT, Harvard, Cornell, and Chicago could be possible reaches. But also have at least one safety, probably the flagship state university in your state. And find some other good fits. It all depends on so many things… where in the US? student body size? big city or small? lots of other stuff to consider too.</p>
<p>I think you have a shot at the Ivies, but you can never be completely sure in those cases unless you have a legacy and money or something. You can definitely apply to other top tier non ivy schools and you should get into some of them at the very least. I would apply to some tier 2 schools for safeties.</p>
<p>Are you nationally ranked in tennis? If not it will probably be somewhat hard to attract coaches. You will most likely have to be top 100 in your age group nationally. I had a lot of friends who were nationally ranked, a few were in the top 10 and had their choice of schools. However those who were around 200-300 weren’t really considered at all.</p>
<p>Have you considered applying to some of the top LACs? The small class sizes and mentoring from faculty can offset the smaller choice of classes and majors, and, in some cases, more isolated locations.</p>
<p>If you take the most challenging curriculum, maintain a very high GPA, keep your class rank high, and score strongly on the SAT and/or ACT, you’ll improve your chances.</p>
<p>however, you are from the NE, so that will hurt you. too many NE kids applying to the same schools. :(</p>
<p>You also need to consider your family finances. Some of the best schools give good financial aid to those who qualify, but some families can’t pay their “expected family contribution.” So, talk to your family about how much they’ll pay each year for college.</p>
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