<p>Me (in no particular order): all-A's, active officer in Student Council, initiated a recycling program, play the piano, placed at nationals in the National History Day program, going to complete the IB Diploma Programme, recognized in regional art competitions, have skipped two grades, SAT scores in the 700s, ACT score of 34, swim/softball teams, Academic Decathlon/Quiz Bowl, National Merit Finalist, regular community service and volunteering</p>
<p>You sound well qualified no matter where you apply. Hmom5’s questions are kind of irrelevant. While being from North Dakota or some other underrepresented state and a super awesome high school may help you, there’s no getting past the straight A’s and high SAT scores. You sound like a really solid applicant. So…be confident!</p>
<p>PS: Skipped two grades? That’s cool. My sister skipped two grades too! Lol.</p>
<p>Well, I wasn’t sure. These colleges are so selective, you can’t be sure of anything. And umm…I’m from Houston & currently number one in my class of over 1,100.</p>
<p>I probably will be valedictorian, although things can change. And no, I don’t think so. I think about maybe 3 people from our high school go to Ivy League-ish schools per year, although I do think that our high school is competitive. It’s just that many attend UT and A&M. If you’re in the top 10% of your school, you are automatically admitted to UT.</p>
<p>Well, I’m totally impressed! I would definately say you are above average, but I’m just your average mom. You should be very proud. As Project Runway’s Tim Gunn would say “carry on”.</p>
<p>The way you have to look at the top schools is that they are reaches for most students. That doesn’t make you average; it just means that lots of young people with great records don’t get in because there are not enough spots. I always say that if they already have the toe-dancing bassoon player, you don’t get in–this year.</p>
<p>Students with wonderful grades and scores are in an unusual position. They have reaches (which are reaches for everyone because you do not know what they are looking for) and they have safety schools. Anyway, that’s my take on it.</p>
<p>Exactly. Very people can consider Stanford or likes as a target, to almost everyone they are reach. Are you competitive in the schools you have listed? Yes. Does that mean you are a shoo in? No. Are you in the average range for those schools? Yes, possibly at the higher end of the average for a few of them but not at the extreme end. As a Stanford recruiter mentioned, they have turned away 4.0 valedictorians with a 2400 SAT score. </p>
<p>You are not average compared to the total population. And that is the key. The best and the brightest apply to the HYPSM, so you may be in the top of the range at UT but in the lower half of the range for Harvard. Give it a shot and do your best. Good luck.</p>
<p>You are a great student. That’s obvious.
But yes, you are average for the schools you listed.<br>
Several of the schools on your list have acceptance rates of about 5% for unhooked applicants who don’t bring anything overly special to the table.
You have a good shot at Rice, and a good shot at Berkeley—and maybe an average shot at the Ivys on your list, which gives you about a 1-in-20 chance. But lighning does strike!</p>
<p>A class over with 1100 students? That must be insane…I mean how do you get through the hallways? Gosh i would hate to sit through that graduation. Haha.</p>
<p>Back to the topic… You have great stats, you should be proud.
BTW, What grades did you skip?</p>
<p>“Average” is kind of harsh but yeah, your stats will be very similar to the other well-qualified applicants for those schools. Don’t downplay yourself though, you’ve done extremely well and i’m sure you’ll get into at least some of the schools you want to go to.</p>
<p>The chance of an average qualified applicant is higher than 1 in 20–even Harvard only has an acceptance rate of 7%, and when you throw out the out-of-range apps it probably becomes closer to 15-20%.</p>