<p>bangbang, I think it is hilarious that you think I’m bitter my D didn’t get into Duke or Yale. Quite the contrary. They both personally invited her to infomation sessions, and I’m glad she applied, but I knew it would be a long shot. She ended up with a great package from Auburn, and we were thrilled by how nice they were when we visited. It seems like they really wanted her, while elite schools know they have thousand others just like her who apply. If she had gotten into Duke or Yale, she still might have selected Auburn. The final cost does have to come into play. As it was she picked it over Northwestern and UNC, mostly because of cost. Everyone is in a different finacial situation of course. With her outside schollys, My D will end up with very close to a full ride. I would apply to top schools if I were the OP. Otherwise she will just never know if she could have gotten in. I just want her to know just how hard it is to get into these schools. I don’t want to say 4.0’s and 33 ACT’s are a dime a dozen, but there are thousands and thousands in the US. Yale had an admit rate this year of around 8%, and almost every one had stats better or similar to OP. OP, I would definitely apply ED. It does increase your chances. I would also tell your teachers where you are applying. To have a chance at Yale, you need to have EVERY part of your app outstanding. If your teachers can make your rec personable to the elite schools it helps. Most teachers from small schools have no idea how to write recs for the elite schools. This is because they either never or seldom write recs to these schools. (I am a teacher myself at a small school and can speak from experience) The old “Jane is a great student” just won’t cut it. I went to a very small school myself and admire farmers and ranchers, so congrats and good luck to you! Everything will turn out great in the end for you!</p>
<p>I definitely agree with you that the final cost must come into play, which is why i suggested applying to a variety of schools for financial aid, including the ivy’s. And i apologize for the adhom, however, the OP asked for her chances at certain schools, and i still disagree with your assessment. </p>
<p>“I don’t want to say 4.0’s and 33 ACT’s are a dime a dozen, but there are thousands and thousands in the US. Yale had an admit rate this year of around 8%, and almost every one had stats better or similar to OP.”</p>
<p>I agree there are probably thousands in the US, but how many of those thousands were raised on a ranch in Nebraska? The answer is not many. While this might not exactly be a hook, it is still something that admission officers dont see very often, and is the reason the OP has good chances at aforementioned schools. This is a gaping hole in your thought process that you are not recognizing, and which is why, to put it bluntly, you are wrong in concluding that the OP has “VERY little chance at Ivy,” not to mention your 1% at harvard and yale statement…</p>
<p>Mustang: “OP, I would definitely apply ED.”</p>
<p>This is bad advice. ED is binding and for someone who is looking for financial aid or merit money, it could be disastrous. Apply to some reach schools (and those in the top fifteen or twenty are reaches for everyone because you don’t know what they are looking for). Also, apply to a couple of schools that have rolling admission or early action (not the one-choice version) so that you will have a couple of acceptances before Christmas. </p>
<p>Top schools are reaches, but they do accept some kids. Why not you?</p>
<p>I think you might as well try because you never know
clearly it you might get in and you might not
good luck
:)</p>
<p>I think your school has grade inflation.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>False. You are evaluated in the context of your environment, regardless of what it is. (And, for the record, kids at a school with a graduating class of two in my area did pretty well–Williams and Middlebury.)</p>
<p>Still, while bright kids have an easier time standing out in underrepresented states, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be one of the few kids they pick. IMO, you should emphasize
since the rest of your ECs aren’t particularly notable.</p>
<p>Basically, being from Nebraska offers geographic diversity, but it’s still a tough admissions pool. I have a cousin from Nebraska who was at the top of his class and football captain, but without remarkable ECs was denied from H and S.</p>
<p>Perhaps I’m not doing the calculation properly, but I believe that, if superscored, your ACT is 34. This may not directly benefit your Ivy quests, but a growing number of LACs and other schools seem to be superscoring the ACT. Good luck with your applications.</p>
<p>Hmm. Your situation is hard to come by so I can’t say anything for sure. One thing that I’m really worried about is your math curriculum. Most of the applicants to top-tier schools have at least Calc AB under their belts. I have no idea about what math courses are available to you so I can’t comment on the rigor of your classes. However, if you do get into colleges like UChic, Stanford and Yale, I’d be very worried about whether or not you could get the good grades you’ve gotten in HS. Even AP classes are nothing like college classes, and for you the jump from high school to college will be even greater.</p>
<p>I also second the advice that you be careful about putting physics as your intended major, because I don’t see any science-related ECs.</p>
<p>I think your ACT score and EC seem very good!</p>
<p>(Thank you for your advice on my thread :D)</p>
<p>In your essay, emphasize your rural upbringing and that you took the most high school rigorous path presented to you and succeeded. But do so in a confident way, not in a whining, self-pity way.</p>
<p>You definitely have a chance, and crafting an application for the top schools will be well worth your time.</p>
<p>Thank you for all of the advice! It has really helped. I won’t apply ED, though, because I will really be dependent on financial aid/scholarships. Just for the record, I might not even apply to any Ivy League schools… It was just on there for fun. 
Rice University is my dream school, though, so any chances I might have there are especially welcome.</p>
<p>I can’t really say how qualified you are to get in. But I would be cautious about these prestigious schools if I were you, because the curriculum is going to be enormously higher than what you are used to.</p>
<p>^^But a bright student will adjust. The first semester or so may require more work, but just because someone hasn’t been in a rigorous curriculum (and we really don’t know how difficult the OP’s school is) doesn’t mean that student shouldn’t have high aspirations.</p>
<p>Agreed MD mom. The OP shows enormous potential and I’m sure that when she applies, she will have great essay’s etc. . . Ivies are a reach for anyone really.</p>