<p>Just a hypothetical question.</p>
<p>If you have a 2400 and your GPA is an 85 by the end of junior year. Can you get into an ivy with great financial aid or scholarshp?
My GPA was put down from my freshman year grades (75ish). And sophomore and junior year is 95ish.</p>
<p>And if I also take the ACT and receive a great score. Could that improve my chances in being accepted to an ivy with financial aid?</p>
<p>Financial aid at Ivies is based on need and family income, not merit. Your scores will be a factor in admitting you, but they will not affect how much money you receive.</p>
<p>Oh, I forgot to add that.
Single parent with appx. $10K annual income.
So, my scores would be able admit me into an ivy? I wasn’t sure because my GPA isn’t that great.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Well obviously the 2400 won’t be a concern : )</p>
<p>I’m not so sure about the 85 though. However this also depends on which kind of school you attend. At a competitive private school, this might be more excusable. At a public school, probably not so much. Also this depends on the difficulty of your schedule (if you have a ton of APs or similar, an 85 is more acceptable). But remember that admission most schools doesn’t only depend on grades. If you have done something significant with extracurriculars (leadership positions, etc) they will be more likely to take you. With top 20 schools… almost everyone that applies has top grades and test scores, so you have to differentiate yourself with extracurrics. With an 85, for you, it’s hard to say, but extra stuff, if you have it, should be able to help you. In my very unprofessional opinion, I would say your chances are 50/50.</p>
<p>Also remember that, in these times, colleges are more likely to admit students who will not need financial aid. It’s sad that it has to work that way… but it looks like things are going that way.</p>
<p>You don’t really have to worry too much about your grades if your 75 is from your freshman year. Colleges generally take more into consideration your sophomore and junior year grades, as well as the first half of your senior year.</p>
<p>I’m in a competitive school. You have to take SHSAT (specialized test to get into). I think it’s the 3rd best high school in NY.
And, you’re probably right about the financial aid. But, the main reason I have an 85 overall is because I messed up freshman year. My sophomore and junior are all about 95ish.</p>
<p>But, I don’t have any leadership positions. However, I’m in 4 clubs and have 200+ community service hours. </p>
<p>And should I take the ACT to further improve my chances in getting it? Or will the colleges only look at one standardized test score.</p>
<p>What is your class rank? And lol if you really have a 2400 why would take another test? They look at whatever score is higher.</p>
<p>Oh, I thought they looked at both grades. (Guess I dont have to take the ACT 
)
I don’t exactly know what my class rank is yet. My the overall graduating class is 1900 students.</p>
<p>I’d say go for it, take the ACT, since it is quite unlikely that you will achieve a 2400 (not to be too discouraging). You might do much better in it, and then you wouldn’t have to get that 2400. But if by some chance you happen to score big and get a perfect score, there is no point in taking the ACT</p>
<p>If you are in the top 10% of students in your class, your grades won’t rule you out anywhere. Also, some colleges, such as Princeton, totally throw out freshman grades. So if your class rank is respectable (or if there is no class rank), you won’t be hurt by your early performance.</p>
<p>If the 2400 is hypothetical, then yes take the ACT, since you might get a higher score.</p>
<p>I’ve never heard about colleges not counting freshman year.
But, It’s great to hear Princeton doesn’t count freshman year grades. So, do they just look at your transcript and calculate sophomore and junior only? :)</p>
<p>And yeah it was a hypothetical question. But, for practice tests. I’m getting 800s for math, and critical reading. I’m also going to prep over the summer so, I’m pretty confident about a 2350+ score for the october SAT.</p>
<p>I’ll try and take a few ACT practice tests to see how I do compared to the SAT too.</p>
<p>And, Is it wise to take SAT II tests as well? I haven’t taken any yet but I don’t want to mess up a subject test and make it show on my college application. Do colleges require you to take them?
Thanks.</p>
<p>YES! You have to take SAT II’s for many colleges. Some require two, others three.</p>
<p>most good schools require 2 subject tests, yes</p>
<p>Okay, Thanks.
I’ll try and take 3. Does it have to be by the end of junior year? And does each test have to be different subjects. (Like can all 3 be science)</p>
<p>And, What other universities don’t look/count at freshman scores.</p>
<p>[Ivy</a> League - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_League]Ivy”>Ivy League - Wikipedia) </p>
<p>You need to do more research about the admissions and financial aid requirements at each of the eight colleges.</p>
<p>This combination will work everywhere afiak:
A humanities test
A science test
Math II</p>
<p>Take the ACT! A high score couldn’t hurt!</p>
<p>I think if you have high test scores and a lowish GPA what you have to demonstrate is that you are not "smart but lazy, " especially if you are applying for financial aid. Why would an Ivy want to give you all that money if it did not think you were going to apply yourself? —Certainly taking challenging classes and having consistently better grades in your later high school years helps you make the case that your freshman year was the aberration.</p>
<p>Okay thanks. So, probably SAT 2 Chemistry, SAT 2 US History and Math II. :)</p>
<p>If you take more than 3 SAT 2 tests. Can you request them to look at specific tests and not other tests that you did bad on?</p>
<p>But the colleges only look at one score. The higher score you have, right?
You can’t request them to look at both SAT and ACT to improve your chances in getting in?</p>
<p>And I think Stanford doesn’t look at freshman year grades too. :)</p>
<p>@ PatN
yeah, that’s true. I’m currently taking 4 AP classes so, that’s a good thing.</p>
<p>So, stanford and princeton both don’t look at freshman year?
I think I have a good chance in achieving a 3.7 GPA if freshman year wasn’t counted. :)</p>