What're my chances @ these Ivy Leagues (Yale, Cornell, Dartmouth, Princeton, UPenn)?

<p>I believe that I have everything in the running for me for the Ivy Leagues, except my average SAT I score. I'll elaborate:</p>

<p>First-Generation American; Parents immigrated from former USSR</p>

<p>Rank: 36/706, Public High School</p>

<p>(W) GPA: 4.33</p>

<p>(UW) GPA: 3.94</p>

<p>SAT I: 1920-Composite, 660 R, 640 W, 620 M</p>

<p>SAT II: 690-US History, 690-Chemistry, 650-Math IIC</p>

<p>Awards: AP Scholar with Distinction, Torch of Excellence-Geography (9), Torch of
Excellence- Chemistry (10), Superintendent's Honor Roll (9-12)</p>

<p>Volunteer/Community Service: Working Wardrobes, Meritage Elves, Coto CAN</p>

<p>Leadership Roles: Working Wardrobes HS Club: Treasurer (11), President (12); National Honor Society- Junior Rep (11), Activities Coordinator (12); Pink Ribbon Club- Planning Committee </p>

<p>Extra Stuff: "Teen Beat" columnist for Coto Voice, work at Hanger Store for Working Wardrobes, and honored as one of three "Young Philanthropists" on Working Wardrobes show, "Working Wardrobes for a New Start" (Garden Grove Channel 3)</p>

<p>I also am confident in my personal statements, supplements, and recommendations from teachers and counselors who are well-acquainted with me. </p>

<p>Will an average SAT I score drag me down? Or will my other strengths surpass it if I prove to be interesting?</p>

<p>Yale, Princeton and UPenn are distant reaches for anyone. Apply, but don't get your hopes up. I would also recommend applying to a few safety schools below Cornell and Dartmouth. Better safe than sorry!</p>

<p>Which AP's did you take? What were the scores on those? What major?</p>

<p>I'm thinking distant reach...</p>

<p>Umm...Penn is not more selective than Dartmouth. </p>

<p>Anyway SAT is too low. Truthfully in at none of them. You need a 2200+ to be even close for these schools.</p>

<p>Our stats are fairly similar, my SAT's in general are higher than yours, and I'm not too positive for Cornell and Columbia. Don't expect too much from the other Ivies</p>

<p>Without top 5% and a sub-2000 SAT, I negate the resolution that you have "everything in the running" for the ivies. Try retaking your SATs and break top 20 for class rank. Then you'll be a contender.</p>

<p>Wow, I totally misread this.</p>

<p><2000 SAT is bad.
You're close to top 5%, but that may not be as competitive as they want (I read the 36 as an ACT score)</p>

<p>Only 4 AP's (isn't that what AP Scholar with Distinction is?) isn't that much. Does your school offer more? Seeing as how there are 35 people ranked above you, I'd guess there would be.</p>

<p>Your SAT scores are very low, so I'm going to say very low chance</p>

<p>ill say it: no chance. apply elsewhere</p>

<p>I will have taken 10 APs upon graduating. And my rank will improve.</p>

<p>Still won't help you that much</p>

<p>You have a <em>chance</em> anywhere... but keep in mind that these schools don't blink an eye when they reject 2300+ kids who have done amazing ECs, etc. If you show something extraordinary in an essay, then you will improve your chances.. but you might want to apply to some schools that admit more than 25% of its applicants.</p>

<p>Well, one never knows. If the Ivies overlook my SAT and find that my essays and ECs are far better (which they are), then I think I'll be fine. I've been told from Dartmouth and UPenn admissions representative that if one's SAT scores are "average" and there is some characteristic that heightens the applicant, then they're in good running. The SAT is not the only factor they look on. They have more criteria, as well. </p>

<p>Just out of curiosity, how do you think I'd fare at Georgetown, UChicago, Rice, UCLA, Berkeley, UCSD, and Pepperdine? I'm a CA resident, so that'll be good for the UCs.</p>

<p>i think you should apply to those ivies, but do not keep your hopes up. that way, if you do get in, you'll be ecstatic. but really, don't keep your hopes up.</p>

<p>as for georgetown, you'll have a decent chance. i doubt you'll have much of a chance at chicago, it's ranked above some of the ivies. rice...maybe. ucla and ucsd are basically guarantee. honestly, if you're a california resident and not in the top 4% of your class (eligibility in the local context), you do not have a chance at berkeley unless you have health circumstances or incredibly high sat's (I's over 2200, and all of your II's over 770). pepperdine you'll probably get in.</p>

<p>yeahh im sorry but the ivies are distant reach because of your SAT. many people across the nation already have ur GPA if not higher and are higher ranked and have better SAT scores.</p>

<p>you might have to improve ur ECs and essays to get in or somehwo birng up the SATS</p>

<p>A lot of people have said it before me, but I'll add some perspective.</p>

<p>People who have gotten around 2000 or even below have been known to get into the Ivies. However, they usually have some amazing talent or circumstances that get them in. These talents can range from internationally acclaimed math/science/music competitions, a top 10-20 ranking in the nation for a sport, or an exception resume of extremely dedicated activities/ professions at an early age. I don't think you have anything like that, and while essays and recommendations are important factors in the admissions, they simply can't make up for a very deficient SAT. I can understand if your SAT is 100 points below the average and you still got in without a problem due your unique essays, but 200-300 points below the average? That is bit of a stretch.</p>

<p>If your GPA only gave you a 36 Rank, then I dare say that your school isn't extremely competitive because of its grade inflation... though I could be completely wrong.</p>

<p>So overall, I think your chances are extremely low for an ivy because, across the board, you either show average or below average stats. I don't know about your essays or recommendations, but they only go so far in carrying an application across the line.</p>

<p>you don't have much of anything in the running for the Ivy League</p>

<p>To say everything is in place except SATs (I and II in this case) is like saying I walk normally but only have use of one leg.</p>

<p>hahaha! hmom said it perfectly. I'm just surprised by your impudence. You are in no position to declare that you have everything going for you because you certainly do not. I can say this with absolute confidence: You are not getting into the ivies with your current resume. The essays and recs will prove futile because the ivies won't even bother to read your resume after seeing your SAT score. Apply to other "lower" schools for your own sake!</p>