The Ivies use the Academic Index for athletic recruits. An ACT of 27 corresponds approximately to an SAT of 1800. The OP did not list SAT I or II scores, but using scores of 600 for each as a rough approximation plus an unweighted GPA of 2.91 gives an AI of 189. This is above the Ivy threshold of 176, but not in the generally competitive range. The OP would have to be a phenomenal athletic recruit to get in to Yale or Columbia with those kind of numbers.
An ACT of 30 corresponds to an SAT I of about 1980, or 660 per section. Assuming 660 scores for SAT I and II subjects plus a raised GPA of 3.0 gives an AI of 199, which is still on the low side. The average AI for non-athletic schools at HYP is about 225, and an AI of 210 or above is generally considered “safe” for athletic recruits who aren’t superstars.
@boolaHI, if your daughter was a recruited athlete at Yale then you are much more knowledgable about this than I am, but I would think that the odds would still be low for someone with an AI in this range unless they had ridiculous athletic and other EC credentials. Not impossible, but low.
The Stanford tennis player referred to by @NotVerySmart had an AI of about 195, FWIW.
- Get the GPA up as high as you can
- Study for and take the ACT again - shoot for 30+
- Write great essays
- Take two SAT II tests (if you are applying to Ivies)
Your chance of admittance to Yale or Columbia is very, very low. But they are 0% if you don’t apply.
You likely will not be admitted. So what do you do?
Go to a college that fits your academic profile or a CC, study your tail off to achieve a high GPA, and attempt to transfer to an Ivy or other elite school… or to NJIT or Rutgers (or the state flagship of the state you are in). Continue working hard there and you will earn a desirable Bachelor’s degree.
Always remember, there is intrinsic value in learning. Education’s worth is not defined by the type of job or salary to which it leads. And you do not have to attend an Ivy League or other elite school to receive a great education.
@renaissancedad Yup, the person would have to be a primary recruit (e.g. world ranked, or being heavily recruited by D1 programs)…So, while some flex is shown, you still to be on the outer margin for regular admission for it to be a legitimate situation.
@boolaHI, thanks for the confirmation.
I do think @NotVerySmart raises a good point. Unless the OP is a primary recruit, applying ED/SCEA to Columbia or Yale doesn’t make a lot of sense. Applying RD on the outside chance is one thing, but give the low odds I’m not sure that ED/SCEA will have much of an impact. It might make more sense to use the early card somewhere else. Again, if the OP is a world ranked/heavily recruited athlete, that changes things, but I don’t get that sense.
@renaissancedad If you looked at his previous threads, his SAT score is 1250. Out of 2400.
Look. I’m going to have to be so brutally honest here. OP, do not apply to any Ivy League, or any schools within 50 places of their rankings. At that rate, you’ll be putting so much effort and money for several rejections. Do not apply SCEA or ED there either. You have not even taken subject tests yet, so your chances are 0%. As I stated earlier, Early programs are for high performing students, which is why the admit rate is “higher”. You won’t last the first round of regular, much less Early. If you want to put effort or money into anything (like Drexel, NJIT, Rutgers, whatever), make sure it is realistic or a sizeable attainable reach.
@NotVerySmart Did I not say that the recruited athlete was a “stellar” candidate? If there is money, why not apply to one super reach school? You’ll be wondering what would have happened if you just gave it a shot. Bottom line is that odds are immensely stacked against OP, but I doubt you are an adcom and I am not an adcom, so we just do not know. If OP has something in his application, just something, that may catch the eyes of an adcom, then who knows.
I never indicated OP to apply to Yale or Columbia on SCEA or ED.
There are students with GPAs below 3.0 and SATs below 1700 that somehow make it, don’t they? Regardless of what it is that got them in, they still got in with those scores right? Whose to say OP won’t be one of them if he presents himself in a very unique way?
And again, I told him to go in not expecting anything for these schools.
Sorry OP, but Columbia and Yale don’t to be a good fit for you
@michelle426, what the hell is your problem? You think just because you were raised in a strict household with a dull environment you can go around flaunting your negative attitude? I tried to be nice and even said I appreciate the advice you gave me, but you still hose me down. NJIT a reach school?! They take people with low scores and from what I heard, you just need a 2 gpa to get in. You don’t know what it takes to get into that school. You just like to put people down! I’m thinking of not posting any questions on this website because you keep stalking me and putting me down. I’d like it if you didn’t post on my questions. You claim that I’m not a good fit for college, but I deny. I’m not going to apply any ivies, but I will apply to Drexel and NJIT plus similar schools.
@michelle246 NJIT is not a reach school for me and next time stay out of my posts!
And here’s a message to all of you who have posted here. A lot of you people have been jerks and I’m astonished. Michelle246 is not the only jerk here. I tell you about my mom’s situation and you go on to put me down. I’m ashamed at all of you.
@DragonFire16, I’m sorry to hear about your mom. I hope she’s doing better.
The [average ACT composite](http://njit.intelliresponse.com/undergrad/index.jsp) for NJIT is 26, so if you have a 27 you should apply. Do you have a list of safeties (affordable schools you can get into, afford, and would be happy to attend if accepted)? Start with that. Then add a couple match schools. There’s no harm in adding a reach school or two if you can afford the apps, but make sure you have your safeties first.
Good luck. 
@DragonFire16, I think most people on this thread are sympathetic to your personal situation; unfortunately, sympathy will not help you get in anywhere. As for putting you down, I’m not sure what I said in posts 20 or 23 that you would interpret as being a jerk. I think most people are suggesting realism with respect to the schools which you mentioned in the thread title, not trying to be disrespectful, particularly with regard to your family situation.
@austinmshauri Thanks for your concern, she is better. I’m still brainstorming some safety schools at the moment. Maybe Drexel or NYIT?
@renaissancedad I’m not saying you’re a jerk. I think @michelle426 is the biggest jerk here.
Since you’re a NJ resident, I’d find a couple of NJ colleges to apply to as your safeties. Do you have any schools you could commute to that would be affordable? They can make great safeties.
How much can your parents pay/year? Do you qualify for Pell? Are there any state grants you can get? Add up your resources, then see what kind of schools you can afford. It doesn’t do you much good to apply to schools that are too expensive.
I dont qualify for any grants. I heard Drexel was expensive though, is it like 70k per year? I’ll try to look at Rutgers too.
@DragonFire16, Checking for clarification: currently, your stats are a 2.9 GPA, 17 ACT, and 1250 SAT (out of 2400), is that right?
If so, I think you need to do two things.
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Find out how much your parents will pay/year for school? Run a couple Net Price Calculators (each college website has its own) to get an estimate of what they’d cost. Then show the results to your parents. Find out how much they’ll pay. If you can’t get need based aid due to income and don’t qualify for merit aid based on your stats, then unless you find a school that you can pay for with a summer job and the $5500/year federal student loan, where you go depends totally on what your parents will pay. If the only money you have is the student loan and your work earnings, you’re likely looking at a community college or commuting to a 4-year state school.
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If your parents can help pay for school, go to the College Board website and input your stats into their search to find schools that you may be admitted to based on your current stats, not “projected” stats or test scores you hope to get. You can add reaches later that may be possible if you’re successful in raising your GPA and test scores, but get your safeties nailed down first.
Good luck. 
@austinmshauri, Those stats are correct. My main priorities are to raise my ACT scores and gpa to a 3.0. Then, I’ll see a fitting school.My parents can help pay for school, highest being $55,000 a year for room, board, tuition, etc. Anything above will be out of budget. Thanks for all your help, tips, and positiveness
If dealing with the issues surrounding your Mother’s scary health situation impact your scores and gpa, you may want to, in parallel, investigate taking a post-graduate (“PG”) year at a private boarding school. Those programs are not only for athletes, but can help someone in a situation where life events derailed their normal progression.
Just gonna come back and say NJIT would be a good match/fit for you! I know someone with similar stats (maybe a higher SAT score) who got in, so don’t lose hope on NJIT. NJIT and Drexel are good schools that should be on your list. If those options do not work out somehow, local CCs are your next best bet Good luck to you, let us know how everything turns out!