Would I be good enough for an Ivy League?

Applying to College
1

<p>My dream Ivys are (in order of preference): Brown, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, and Dartmouth.</p>

<p>Race: Biracial, Hispanic + Caucasian </p>

<p>Classes</p>

<p>Freshman year: GPA 3.4
Algebra I
Orchestra
Guitar and Keyboarding ( 1 sem.)
Exploring Computers (1 sem.)
Gym (1 sem.)
Study Hall
English
Civics
Physical and Environmental Science
Art (1 sem.) </p>

<p>Sophomore year: GPA: 3.9-4.0
Composition (1 sem.)
Introduction to Literature (1 sem.)
Geometry
US History (First semester) APUSH (Second semester, I was bumped up to AP because I succeed highly in the course and made the curve on tests drastic)
Biology (second semester)
Adventure Recreation (Gym)
French 1
Business Law (1 sem.)
Foods Biology (first semester)
Summer School: French 2A online</p>

<p>Junior year: GPA 4.0+
American Literature (1 sem.)
Advanced Composition I ( First Semester)
AP Language and Composition (Second Semester)
Accelerated Algebra Two with Trigonometry
Accelerated Chemistry
AP Biology
Physics
AP Government and Politics: US & Comparative
AP Psychology (1 sem.)
Dual enrollment at local technical college: Certified Nursing Assistant
French 2B and 3A online
Summer School:
Personal Finance (Graduation requirement)
French 3B online
French Immersion camp that translates to an entire credit of french</p>

<p>Senior Year: 4.0+
AP Literature and Composition (1 sem.)
AP Calculus
AP Statistics
AP European History
AP Physics
AP Chemistry
AP Macroeconomics (1 sem.)</p>

<p>Adventure Leadership (Gym, 1 sem.)
Pre-calculus (Second Semester, Precalc is built in at my school as Algebra review the first semester and introduction to Calculus the second)</p>

<p>Freshman year I dealt with some serious personal problems such as the potential separation of my parents and my clinical depression. Sophomore year I dealt with the disintegration of my parent’s marriage (16 years for anybody that cares) and found out about it a week before AP testing, part of me feels like they planned that out on purpose. </p>

<p>Current GPA: 3.636 W 3.6666 (Projected UW GPA of 3.8+ and W GPA of 3.9+ by the time of my graduation. I will have a rounded GPA of 3.8 when I apply) </p>

<p>Current Class Rank: Barely top quarter, my graduating class alone is close to 600 people. (Projected top 10% by the time of my graduation, however there is a chance are school may rescind using class rank. Due to the fact it has come under fire recently because there are 20 valedictorians and the class rank system REWARDS students for getting As in mediocre classes and taking less classes.) </p>

<p>Leadership Positions & Extra Curricular Activities/ Volunteer Work: President of one nonprofit organization. Cancer Awareness and Research Enrichment Club. Vice President of Adventure Club. President of Education committee in Student Peace and Environmental Action Coalition. Secretary of Pre-medicine club. President of CARE Club. Elected to Student Senate. Nominated for Wisconsin Youth Leadership Academy. President of Peer Court, a county wide program through the Boy’s and Girl’s Club. Nominated to represent the state of Wisconsin in the Conference on National Affairs through Youth in Government in the YMCA, an honor to be given to merely 25 students in our entire state, I was the fifth to be chosen. Appointed to represent delegation in Youth in Government to write an article for town newspaper. President of Global Awareness Club. Appointed to go to state Science Olympiad. President of Newtown Connecticut Shooting Relief Committee. Received highest honors at state solo and ensemble. Received highest honors in state forensics. County representative of Youth In Government Legislative Delegation. Appointed student leader in district Re-scheduling Committee and Graduation Requirements Committee. Extensive work with the Feminist Network as a Representative in my town. Special Olympics coach.(I am a rising Junior so this list will be larger)</p>

<p>Currently, approximately 300+ hours of community service. </p>

<p>Volunteer at my local hospital. Special Olympics. Special Olympics coach. Math tutor. Work with my nonprofit organizations.Work through church for confirmation hours. </p>

<p>Student Peace and Environmental Action Coalition. Global Awareness Club. Cancer Awareness and Research Enrichment Club. Track and Field. Multiple roles in school/ community plays and musicals. Science Club. Pre-Medicine Club. Student Senate. ACT/ SAT/PSAT/NMSQT/AP Preparation group. Key Club. Youth in Government. Wisconsin Youth Leadership Academy. Adventure Club. French Club. Gay-Straight Alliance. Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America. Forensics. Snowboard and Ski Team. Project Graduation. </p>

<p>Goal Score ACT: 33 (projected 28-31)</p>

<p>Goal Score SAT: 2200 </p>

<p>PSAT Score: Have yet to take it (goal 212)</p>

<p>Job history: Worked at a catering company for about two years and now working at my local Dairy Queen</p>

<p>High School: 21st in our state</p>

<p>Do you guys think I have a chance? I work extremely hard and plan to write about volunteering with special education kids or patrons of the hospital as an essay, or perhaps something different. I have some time to decide. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!</p>

2

<p>If you don’t get in your first try then it’s not the end of the world. I had similar issues with a nasty family divorce and bankruptcy too. I also transferred schools my junior year. My grades were either 3.0 to 3.7 and mostly APs or honors classes. One semester killed me with a 2.0 when things got nasty in the house. We’re not the only two that had family drama while in high school. I was focused on national athletics that were not connected with my high schools as well as christian volunteer organizations not connected with the schools either. I wanted to attend Pepperdine University in beautiful sunny Malibu, California but it didn’t work out that way.</p>

<p>Things happen</p>

<p>50% of America is divorce…haha.</p>

<p>what did I do?</p>

<p>Enlisted in the military…got out with my Gi Bill and Voc Rehab…attended some random colleges afterwards and now I’m applying for a transfer into NYU at 26. I was also considering a path to Columbia Univ. SGS…</p>

<p>Keep in mind that IVY does not mean they are the top school for the major you want. You may even change your major several times before graduating. I’m on my 4th.</p>

<p>Portland State University is #1 I believe in Midwifery. SUNY Albany is #2 for Criminology.</p>

<p>There are other outstanding schools that are not ranked Ivy for undergraduate but have some of the best professional schools in the nation. Fordham is known for their law program. I think it’s better than some Ivy schools even.</p>

<p>George Washington University is heavily known for politics and global affairs as well as military strategy</p>

<p>Cal Poly Tech might even be more intensive than MIT.</p>

<p>CUNY has Prof. Michio Kako…</p>

<p>Stern at NYU is not Ivy but it’s considered one of the toughest schools to get accepted into.</p>

<p>You can get into a lot of great schools. Ivy is great but there are others just as good if not better.</p>

3

<p>Come back when you have a real gpa and test scores. Not point to chance on made up ones. And next time post in the Chances forum.</p>

4

<p>^ I have no idea what this guy is talking about. Please read OP’s question.</p>

<p>To answer your question, yes you have a very good chance because your GPA and SATs are good enough for Ivys. That said, the only thing that can stop you from getting in is your essays(not your activities and clubs).</p>

5

<p>Your post does not make it clear if you’re a rising junior or senior. Since you have not yet taken the PSAT I assume that you’re a rising junior.</p>

<p>(1) Take a practice SAT from the Blue Book under test conditions. It needs to be one that you haven’t looked at before. Score it precisely. Assume an 8 or (optimistically) a 9 on the essay. Confirm that you’re within the 2200 range.</p>

<p>(2) If the practice SAT proves too difficult try a practice PSAT under test conditions. Score it precisely. Based on your goal for a 2200+ SAT you’ll want a score higher than your 212 goal. Perhaps 218-222.</p>

<p>(3) Your project course load for junior year and senior year seems unrealistically heavy to me. Is there a point for considering such a load? I doubt that a college, no matter how selective, would expect a student to execute such a course load combined with online extras etc. Assume some “Bs” in your junior year and 1st semester senior year, a lighter course schedule. What would your GPA become in that situation.</p>

<p>(4) Discuss your goals and proposed junior/senior year coursework with your college counselor. Ask for his opinion. If possible examine the Naviance Ivy League results for students from your school. </p>

<p>Based on item 1, 2, 3 above are you in range?</p>

6

<p>If your projections are accurate, then your chances are pretty decent.</p>

<p>Colleges do not really care what your grades were in freshman and sophomore year.</p>

7

<p>fogcity, all of my coursework has been approved by my principal and guidance counselor. They both believe I have the work ethic and drive to become successful in my course load. I am currently doing a ton of SAT and ACT prep right now but I feel like it would be better to focus everything on one test specifically (I am leaning more towards the ACT and using the SAT testing dates for my SAT IIs).</p>

8

<p>Nobody has “decent” chances at Ivy league schools. That is the statistical truth however unpleasant. The vast majority of their applicants are highly qualified.
But you can still apply to them and more importantly, by having good GPA/Test scores/ECs etc. you become a good candidate for schools that are a little less selective than Ivy League schools. You should have lots of excellent options.</p>

9

<p>

Here is OP’s question:

Thus, Brownparent’s comment:

</p>