<p>Hi.
I'm a high school junior, and I'm trying to decide which college to apply to. I was thinking of applying to some Ivy League schools (Brown or Princeton), but I'm having doubts. </p>
<p>Info</p>
<p>SAT scores: 2270/2400. 800 for Writing and Critical Reading, 670 for Math. (I'm retaking it in June)
GPA: 4.0 (95)
Rank: 5%
Classes (I'm a junior): AP History, AP English, Honors Math and Physics, the rest are regular. I will take Economics/Participation in Government, English, Biology, Calculus, and Spanish (all AP) next year. I take Latin.
Extra-Curriculars: Latin Club, New Global Citizens, Amnesty International, and Youth Court. I don't hold any positions and I don't play any sports.
Possible pluses: National Honor Society. I'm two years younger than most of my classmates. </p>
<p>My main talent is in language. I pick up languages pretty quickly and I do well in literature classes. </p>
<p>Probably my biggest problem is lack of involvement. I'm not really a "leader" and I'm not big on community service. I'm also technically an international student, which might affect my chances of admission. </p>
<p>So...Do you think I could be accepted into an Ivy League?
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>You could be accepted, sure. Your academics are fine. The fact that you’re strong verbally is a plus. Your ECs are nothing special. Your age probably won’t be a plus (but may slightly excuse lack of sports participation and/or leadership positions).</p>
<p>If an Ivy League school is really important to you, then I would consider doing the following if I were you:</p>
<p>*Do something meaningful and a bit different this summer. Perhaps try camp counseling or something similar. That’s a great leadership opportunity.</p>
<p>*Consider getting a job. Ivy League adcoms look favorably on jobs.</p>
<p>*Try to find a way to ensure that your teacher recommendations refer to your love of learning for learning’s sake.</p>
<p>*Take an independent study course in a field of interest if that option is available to you.</p>
<p>*Try to find ways to show that you’ve pursued your academic interests outside of school.</p>
<p>Your record reflects a passion in academics, so you really ought to play that for all it’s worth. If your essay, teacher recs, and ECs reflect a true love of learning, then that combined with your academic numbers could be enough to get you in on nearly academics alone.</p>
<p>SAT:I (second attempt): 2290. CR - 800. W - 800. M - 690.
SAT IIs: US History - 770. Literature - 760.
Will take SATs for Math and Latin in October.
The recs should be pretty awesome.
My essay is going to be spectacular. Or else.
ECs still weak. :(</p>
<p>Extra:
I’m planning to translate a book by myself over the summer (Spanish to English, might take a crack at Latin).
I can speak Korean pretty fluently (not qualified to take the SAT test, though).
I live in NY, which might potentially be a disadvantage since I’m applying mostly to Northeastern schools. </p>
<p>List of schools I’m applying to:
Williams
Swarthmore
Amherst
Bowdoin
Middlebury
Princeton
Brown
(applying for financial aid)</p>
<p>Your stats are great, and you have a good shot at all of your schools. Make sure your essays are strong.</p>
<p>My one concern is that all the schools on your list are very selective, and there is a chance, however slight, that you won’t get into any of them simply because they’re so selective. You should have schools on your list that are similar to the ones you have that you have a better chance of getting into (I can offer suggestions if you’d like them).</p>
<p>Do you want to stay in the Northeast? Also, have you checked the financial aid policies regarding internationals at all of your schools? Of your list, Williams, Amherst, and Princeton are the ones that are need-blind for internationals. Unfortunately, they, along with the other 4 colleges that are need-blind for internationals, are among the most selective.</p>
<p>Suggestions for safer schools…for the most part, your list is small, rather rural New England/Mid-Atlantic schools. Other ones to consider, then, would be Bates, Colby, Connecticut College, Trinity (in CT), Clark, Smith and/or Mount Holyoke if you’re female and interested in all-women’s colleges, Colgate, Hamilton, Hobart and William Smith, Ithaca, Skidmore, Allegheny, Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, and Muhlenberg.</p>
<p>teenage_cliche:
A small, rural school in the Northeast with a good reputation is basically what I’m looking for.
Right now Williams is my first choice. I’m aware of its policies regarding internationals, which is partly why I like it so much.
Thanks for the suggestions, though. I’ll definitely look into one of the safer schools (Bates, maybe), just in case Williams, Amherst, etc. all decide to reject me. :(</p>
<p>Got my ACT scores today:
English - 36
Math - 31
Reading - 35
Science - 25
Composite - 32</p>
<p>your level of rigor surprises me- you will be in the “above average” rigor box. When your counselor fills that in on the common app, your done for princeton and brown. If its not “most rigorous” that is bubbled in, top 10 schools will be Auto Denies, especially with your weak EC. Your description of courses do not include freshmen and sophomore classes, leading me to believe that you were in a lot of regular courses, bane to college in the top 20.</p>
<p>Uh… yeah… I forgot to mention them…
Freshman year - APP English, APP World History, Honors Biology, the rest (Math, Spanish, Art, Gym) were regular. Wasn’t sure how difficult high school was going to be, so I didn’t take any electives.<br>
Sophomore year - APP English, AP World History, Honors Chemistry and Math. The rest regular (Spanish, Latin, Advertising and Design I and II, Gym).
Junior year - as described above, plus Spanish, Latin and two electives (Computer Science I and War and Conflict).
My senior year schedule is totally full, and I’m not going to change it. </p>
<p>But what is this with the Auto Denies?
The Ivies seriously would automatically reject students based on rigor?
How seriously do the adcoms consider the EC’s, without official positions?</p>