Where should I apply?/Can I get in to Ivies?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I go to a top-notch public school in Massachusetts with about 1800 students. APs are only offered for juniors and seniors and students are not ranked.</p>

<p>I'm a first generation Lebanese-American, I have a dual American and Lebanese citizenship, I speak Arabic and French as well as English.</p>

<p>New SAT:
Math: 790
C.R.: 740
Writing: 690</p>

<p>SAT II:
Chem: 800
Bio: 770
Math-2: 760
US Hist: 750</p>

<p>Chem AP: 5
Bio AP: 5
US Hist AP: 4</p>

<p>Senior year taking 5 AP classes: French, Physics, English, BC Calc, Euro</p>

<p>Ranked top 2% in my grade out of 430 ppl
Unweighted GPA after Sophomore year: 3.952 (out of 4), should be higher after junior year is counted
Unweighted QPA after Sophomore year: 4.532 (our of 5), should be higher after junior year is counted</p>

<p>Great recs, I've only ever taken honors/AP classes and the hardest schedule possible. All As except for two B+s in Frosh english and Soph history</p>

<p>Extra currics:</p>

<p>Volleyball: JV Frosh year, Varsity for 3 years
Tennis: JV Frosh and soph years, Varsity 2 years</p>

<p>Tons of community service (3 President's Volunteer Service Awards)
- Two summers of volunteering at a Children's Science Discovery Museum
- One summer of volunteering at my Town Hall
- 3 years (about 200 hours) of Peer Tutoring at School
- Peer Counseling
- Involved in many, many one-time community service events
- Relay for Life (team member one year, then team captain)</p>

<p>Class Treasurer for 3 years
(elected, coordinate class trips and many community service outings - foodbanks, raking leaves for elderly...)</p>

<p>Piano - 9 years</p>

<p>Work experience: Manufacturing Ice Cream and Waitressing at a Cafe</p>

<p>Participated in:
Harvard Model Congress
MassStar Citizenship Conference
Girls Get SSET (Tech camp) at MIT</p>

<p>National French Exams
9th Grade: 8th nationally, 6th in MA
10th Grade: 1st Nationally
11th Grade: 12th Nationally</p>

<p>National French Honors Society (10/11/12)
NHS (11/12)</p>

<p>National Finalist for the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Competition
Junior Math Achievement Award
Wellesley College Book Award</p>

<p>President and Founder of the school's Middle Eastern Student Association</p>

<p>Thanks, I'd really appreciate your input!</p>

2

<p>Please tell me what you think, I really need outside advice!!</p>

3

<p>You certainly have a ticket for the HYP lottery. With no unusual ECs you probably have a 20% chance. The other ivies a much better chance.</p>

4

<p>SUZE.. what are some examples of unusual ecs?</p>

5

<p>Anything on a national scale, founding a non profit organization that made an impact, RSI or another free, highly selective summer program, olympic level sport, writing a bestseller, world record in something....</p>

6

<p>are one of those things necessary to get into these schools?</p>

7

<p>Sheepie, </p>

<p>You are inthe ballpark but what suze is pointing out is that there are too many kids out there in the ballpark-- you don't "have" to be nationally prominent in anything but it sure helps you stand out from the high achiever crowd.</p>

<p>OTOH, your stats put you very much in the running for many excellent schools, including Ivies. It helps to have a specific fit with a specific school and focus on that sort of school, so your application will really seem thoughtful rather than scattershot.</p>

<p>What kind of atmosphere/enviornment/feel are you looking for (intense, laid back, urban, rural, premed, artys, sporty, nerdy, etc)? What basic location? What else is important to you?</p>

<p>Finally, the Arabic & French and the dual citizen thing are a bit unusual; are any schools you know of looking for students with these qualities?</p>

8

<p>Yes, in no way is everyone an olympic athlete, but the point is, for HYPSM no one can tell you that you have a good chance if you just have strong stats. Most people applying do and that it becomes about having something to make yourself stand out. Half of the class is already taken up by athletes, URMs, legacies and the rich and famous. That doesn't leave a lot of space. Over half of the perfect SAT/GPA candidates get turned down. So for these schools, you want a hook.</p>

9

<p>SUZE...
what about being part of an organization that is internationally reknown or doing something that is not done by most applicants?</p>

10

<p>I think that's the point, doing something few others do. President of student council or national honor society ain't going to do it!</p>

11

<p>alright thanks</p>

12

<p>hey sheepie i live in mass too, which school do u go to?</p>

13

<p>where do you go?</p>

14

<p>I live in Mass. also. My guesses are Wellesley, Newton, Lexington, BLS, Andover??? I go to Central Catholic High School in Lawrence fyi</p>

15

<p>Are the college book awards something that you want on your resume? As in, are they something that the colleges give to everyone or hardly any people?</p>

16

<p>Over-represented state, average ECs. 20% at Harvard, no way. More like 5% unless you raise the SAT writing. Remember, Harvard acceptance this year was only 9.1%, and that includes all the hooks. You are definitely in the pool, but the odds are long for all unhooked, qualified candidates.</p>

17

<p>The college book awards are given to the high schools to give out to students. My school gave out 10 awards, and a committee of teachers/counselors/admin select the students then inform the colleges of their choices.</p>