<p>OK so lately reading everybody stats' on here, I've become discouraged to apply to my top schools: Cornell, Brown, Dartmouth, Columbia, Georgetown and NYU (with schools like BC and Brandeis coming second). Should I even bother? Or would I be more likely to get in as a transfer for my sophomore year from a school like BU, Fordham, Trinity, American, etc. and doing really well there. I'm really worried because I lack stellar ECs like some people and I will be looking to improve my ACT:</p>
<p>-4.8 weighted gpa [4.0 uw]
-28/29 ACT [hopefully will get higher next time]
-ranked in the top 10 in my class out of 650ish
-All honors/AP so hardest course load possible[8 APs total when I graduate]
-weak outside ECs however since my parents worked weird shifts/lots of overtime so I had to take take care of my brother and the house, but what ECs I do have I hold leadership positions in but are pretty generic- Spanish club secretary, orchestra first chair of section, Link Crew Leader freshman mentor, office/teacher aide but I will hopefully be selected as a zoo volunteer this summer/find a job somewhere and will being volunteering/researching at my local historical society.
-I had to babysit from the time I got home until 1 a.m. which is when my mom would come home [dad at 6 a.m.] and I've been told on here that that is an EC in itself
-I think I'll have a good essay
-great recommendations
-will be a first generation college student and trilingual</p>
<p>So what do you think? I would like to apply to Cornell ED but I don't want to waste my one shot at applying ED to a school that I'll probably get rejected from or spend tons of money on all of those other applications.</p>
<p>Also, I quit orchestra after two years which I know will look poorly but I couldn't fit it in my schedule with all my classes, so should I include that in the other info section along with me explaining the whole babysitting thing? I barely have a half period for lunch because of my schedule so orchestra definitely would not have fit, but I have been playing since 5th grade.</p>
<p>Hmm, I guess I will give it a shot, but I'm not quite sure, mainly because of the ACT in combination with weak ECs. Thanks for the feedback so far!</p>
<p>Woah, seriously, you look like a great candidate. super grades and trilingual and everything--the only potential weak point would be ACT score, but even that's good! I would say go ahead and apply to the schools you want to--don't let the other super-intense people on CC freak you out. You're way above average, but so are most of the people on CC, but all of you are the in minority of applicants. So, go for it!</p>
<p>I really hate when people make thse kinds of thread titles. You seem like a machine, so at a glimpse, you will probably get rej from most, and maybe acc to 1 or 2.</p>
<p>While feel good, encouraging posts are nice and well meant, if we're to be honest and factual, few unhooked applicants with an under 30 ACT are getting into ivies. There are just too many applicants who have strong GPA, scores and ECs. 40% of every class at every ivy have hooks. The lower stats kids are those kids.</p>
<p>So, your challenge is to get the score up because everything else would put you in the running. Having to take care of things at home is a valid EC.</p>
<p>The first thing I would do is try the SAT. If that isn't better, choose the exam you think you can do best on and spend the summer focused on getting your score where it needs to be.</p>
<p>If you mention that you have to take care of your brother all day, colleges will take note. It's all about what you did given the opportunities you had.</p>
<p>" my parents worked weird shifts/lots of overtime so I had to take take care of my brother and the house"</p>
<p>Having those kind of household responsibilities is regarded by colleges similarly to a having a very strong EC. Document your household duties on your application. One way to do so would be to write your essay about those experiences. Another way would be to describe in the additional info section on the app your household duties.</p>
<p>Ok, thanks everyone! And yeah, I'm going to study a lot so I can get the ACT up to at least 30/31ish. But I have a question. I always figured I wouldn't take the SAT since the ACT can let you guess without penalty and I have taken it before so I am familiar with it so now I know what to expect and can improve, but now I'm having second thoughts. Should I just stick with the ACT or try the SAT in June too, I don't want to waste money. I also bought a prep book for the ACT.</p>
<p>The OP doesn't seem like a "machine" to me at all-- if by that you mean study grind. I'm really impressed by the babysitting until 1 in the morning, if you can work that into your essays (but in a non-whiny way) or even better, get it mentioned in your recs. Recs would be a wonderful way for your family situation to be conveyed. For you to contribute like that to your family is huge. I think in context of having so many family commitments, your ECs are not weak at all. </p>
<p>Your one weak point is the ACT, so like people already said, take the SAT to see if you can do better. :) This is def. not a "don't bother to apply" situation.</p>
<p>If you consider it a negative to tell someone with a 29 and no hook it's unlikely to get into an ivy, then I'm negative. But it's just fact Xsteven, so I see it as being a realist, and those who post telling kids they have a good chance with that need to do their homework.</p>
<p>While I did work in admissions about 30 years ago for 2 years today I'm just a mother who has gone through the application process 4 times in the last several years with kids aiming at top schools. After it didn't go as well as planned with the first, I made it my business to do my homework, learn the true stats and help my kid's see the real picture. All's well that ends well, each is now at their first choice school.</p>
<p>Unfortunately "motivation and passion" do little for you in college admissions if you don't first have the stats.</p>
<p>Keshira- Thanks. I'm going to include how I had to look after my brother and the house while they were at work and that's why I couldn't become deeply involved in anything in the "other info" section of my application. I will also write my essay (most likely) about how I was in a bad car accident (the car flipped twice) and I was miraculously 100% unscathed and how it was a very spiritual experience for me and has caused me to reevaluate my relationship with my brother since before we would do our own thing when home alone taking care of him but now we always spend time together and I will possibly throw in there how I want to make the most of my life by going into public service since I was spared compared to the thousands of others teens who die in car accidents. Sorry, that was a bit run-onish. Do you think that's a good idea? And also should I even add that part about public service or just leave it how the accident has change my relationship with my brother. Am I even in this ballpark as in is this even what admission officers want to see?</p>
<p>What admissions officers want to see is honest, well written, noncliched essays that provide insight into applicants' personality and values. What you're considering sounds fine.</p>
<p>You do have a hook - first generation, possibly low income - and you come across very well. I think Cornell would be interested, and their ED does give a boost in admissions. Are you prepared to commit to an ED school? It means you cannot compare financial aid offers.</p>
<p>While you are thinking this through, do take the SAT (which favors verbal people) and retake the either the SAT or ACT next fall. Don't worry about applying and transferring until you have given it your best shot.</p>