this timeless question has been in the back of my mind for quite some time now. im a junior at an academically strong catholic high school. without getting into specifics im very involved and a very qualified student. im really not that set on going to an ivy given the extreme acceptance rates and intense competition but im just curious to know, from alums or current students, what it takes to gain acceptance. if there are any ivy-leaguers out there . . . how did you get in? any tips for standing out in general with competitve school both ivy league and non?
The great ivy league question (this was in all caps but apparently all caps are rude! haha)?
The first person put the general information. I shall put up my application information to let you see what it takes to get in.
Schools where I was accepted: Columbia, Yale, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, MIT, Emory, Princeton, NYU, Cornell, Williams, and a few others
Schools that rejected me: Caltech
School I attend: UCLA
GPA: unweighted - 3.99; weighted - 4.25
Test scores: SAT I - 2040; SAT II: US History - 720, Math Level 2 - 650, Literature - 700.
AP classes and test results:
Statistics - 3
Calculus BC - 5
Government - 5
World History - 3
Chemistry - 2
Physics - 3 (For physics and chem, I had horrible teachers, and I didnt have a lot of time for independent study, and this is the best I could pull off)
English Language - 5
English Literature - 5
Micro Econ - 4
Macro Econ - 3
Sports - 3 years varsity baseball. 2 years varsity baseball
Clubs/EC's - Founding President Interact Club, Founding President CSF, Secretary Knights and Ladies, Secretary JSA, Captain of Academic Decathlon, school DJ.
Outside activities - Job for 2 years, community service (550 hours)
General Info: First in family to attend college, Hispanic, male, attended High School at a public school in Los Angeles, Hip-Hop fiend.
I was a pretty well-rounded student, and the fact that I'm a minority REALLY helped me out. My SAT I score was pretty low for some of the schools that I attended, but my leadership positions and work experience really placed me as a top candidate.
If you have any specific questions concerning your chances or just generl questions about me or some colleges, feel free to email me.
Reply:*Is Catholic*
Some tips
1. Apply Early.
2. Get in contact and make a visit with someone in the department of your major. Dont leave the decision to the people in admissions but get some help from actual professors. If you can make a good impression, they can move your application along.
3. Be yourself. Faking anything and puffing yourself up is obvious.
4. Be interested in your field of study. Know what you are about and what you want to do.
5. Just to reunderline -- make personal appearances and don't leave the decision to what you wrote on a page.
6. Get good letters of references. Make sure to get references from people that teach in the field of your major.
The higher your grades and test scores, the easier it is to get in without doing personal appearances (or call on the phone if you are too far).
For example, you could very easily go on line, look up the main undergraduate advisior for the major at your school of choice call them up introduce yourself, and say that you are thinking of going to the school and was wondering if they could tell you a bit about their department. After that you can ask if they would be willing to ask questions. After that see if they might be able to help you with the application. The more you can do that in person the better.
Reply:It usually takes that something extra special to get in - whether an essay that blows the admissions staff away or a special talent (like being an amazing athlete or musician or training mice). Ivy leagues definitely look for stellar grades and high SAT scores, but most people who apply to those schools have both of those (as well as heaps of activities) so those who work at the admissions office usually must make a decision based on a uniqueness factor - meaning what sets one applicant apart from the rest of the applicants.
Taxes
Friday, November 18, 2011
Ivy Leagues?
Hi!
I'm a high school sophomore at a public school who regularly dreams of going to an Ivy League school. However, I'm really afraid I don't have what it takes to get to the top. Care to give me some input?
These are my grades for this semester:
0- AP Calc- B
1-PE- A
2-English II Honors-A
3-Chem Honors- A
4-AP Euro- A
5-Journalism 1-A
6- Spanish II Honors- A
current gpa: 4.1
I KNOW that math is an important subject but it's just so hard!
In addition,
I am on Mock Trial, MUN, and Poetry Club.
I don't play any sports and my community service is
pathetically low.
Despite this, do you think I have some teeny tiny, laughable chance of making it to an Ivy?
If it helps, I want to study either law or journalism.
Thanks! :)
Ivy Leagues?
You have a wonderful list of achievements there. You're also a top caliber student. Most sophomores I know don't take AP Calculus. Your grades are excellent. Your low level of community services wouldn't hold you back too much as long as your grades and level of school involvement remain high. keep up the good work and study hard for the SAT or ACT. You'll need a score of 2200/2400 and 32/36 respectively to be competitive. Otherwise, you're doing great! Keep it up and good luck
Reply:You might make pre law, especiall if you score over 2000 on the SAT.
USC only expects a 4.07, but they do expect 1900-2100 on the SAT
Harvard rejected 1200 students with perfect (2400) SAT scores last year.
Reply:I know this isn't the answer you want, and I actually have no idea of your chances, but I think it's worth thinking about schools other than the Ivies. Most high-level colleges/universities have programs equal to those at the Ivy Leagues, and Ivy league schools are very competitive, socially--grades-wise and such.
Also, in the case that you *aren't* at the same level as the kind of crazy overachievers who go to Ivy leagues, it's much better to go to a school that's matched with you academically and socially, than to finally get into your top-level "reach" school after being waitlisted, only to suffer academically. NOT that that would happen, just bringing it up.
You can check out the schools' profiles on collegeboard.com and see the average gpa, sat scores, etc. of students who attend, which might give you some idea of your chances, though it might be kind of early to tell.
Anyway, personally I decided to apply to schools with a focus on learning, a community atmosphere, personal attention and professors who care. I want to go to college to learn, grow, enhance my life, but everyone has a different idea of what college should be, so go ahead and do what you want.
You're on the right track to get into many many good schools, though, I'd guess.
Reply:Everyone who applies to the ivy league has great grades and decent SAT's. What it really comes down to is you extracurriculars. Get really involved in a few clubs, become an officer and dedicate some serious time to them. Also, community service is a very easy thing to get involved in that they like to see.
Reply:I honestly think you have it made. If you're a sophmore and you're taking Calc and Chem Honors, IM SO JEALOUS OF YOU! but what's really important is the MONEY. Ivy Leagues are really expensive. Good luck. SAT scores really count too.
Reply:Your grades look fine to me this semester, and your GPA looks OK too, but what is the curve or GPA distribution like at your school? Are you in the top 10%? Top 25%? etc.. Because high schools' grading scales vary a lot, colleges look at class rank.
Colleges don't care about your PE grade generally.
But you're taking a lot of honors and AP classes, which is great. And you're taking APs as a sophomore, which is fantastic!
Colleges like to see you challenge yourself by taking hard courses; one of the downsides of taking hard courses is that you may get a B sometimes. But as long as you're not getting tons of Bs, and you're not getting Cs, it's still good to take the hardest classes you can handle (and get mostly As in).
I think it's fine to get a B once in a while. I got a few B's in high school. I hated math, too! And got several B's in it. But I worked hard and did the best I could. I got A's in English and history and most of the other subjects. And I still got into almost all of the Ivies that I applied to for college.
Does your school have A+ grades? Or is A the top grade? Because your grades this semester look great to me. What were your grades in previous years like?
If you have good recommendations, a good essay, and an SAT score in the top 10%-20%, I would say that you have a good shot at the less selective Ivies (Penn, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth) and a chance, though less of a chance, at the more selective Ivies (Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia).
As a side note, remember that in the U.S., we don't actually study law in college. Instead, you have to first get a bachelor's degree, and then go to law school.
So you should first decide what you want to major in in college, for your bachelor's degree. The most popular majors for students planning to go to law school are political science, economics, and history. But you can major in whatever you want, even mathematics, or chemistry, or music! Unlike medical school, law schools don't really care what you majored in. (But I don't recommend majoring in "pre-law" or "criminal justice" if you go to a school that has these programs, as they are usually gimmicks and are not well respected by law schools. The Ivies, and other top colleges, do not have these majors.)
NOTE 1: The guy below who says "the B is going to keep you out" is talking out of his ***. He claims to be "the only Ivy League guy answering this question," but he is not. He is just trying to diss the other respondents.
NOTE 2: I'm afraid I also disagree a little with the Penn student below. Extracurriculars and leadership are important--definitely. But I don't think they are more important than grades and SATs. Not everyone who applies to Ivies has high grades AND SATs (e.g. some have just one or the other), and even among the high grades/scores, there is still a range of "how high," which colleges do care about.
Reply:That B is going to keep you out. I am sorry to burst your bubble. There is always a good community college to attend
You know..I am probably the ONLY IVY LEAGUE guy answering this dumb question and people hate my answer!!!!! This kid has great grades and is worried? I'm not sure he could handle the pressure of an IVY!!!!
I'm a high school sophomore at a public school who regularly dreams of going to an Ivy League school. However, I'm really afraid I don't have what it takes to get to the top. Care to give me some input?
These are my grades for this semester:
0- AP Calc- B
1-PE- A
2-English II Honors-A
3-Chem Honors- A
4-AP Euro- A
5-Journalism 1-A
6- Spanish II Honors- A
current gpa: 4.1
I KNOW that math is an important subject but it's just so hard!
In addition,
I am on Mock Trial, MUN, and Poetry Club.
I don't play any sports and my community service is
pathetically low.
Despite this, do you think I have some teeny tiny, laughable chance of making it to an Ivy?
If it helps, I want to study either law or journalism.
Thanks! :)
Ivy Leagues?
You have a wonderful list of achievements there. You're also a top caliber student. Most sophomores I know don't take AP Calculus. Your grades are excellent. Your low level of community services wouldn't hold you back too much as long as your grades and level of school involvement remain high. keep up the good work and study hard for the SAT or ACT. You'll need a score of 2200/2400 and 32/36 respectively to be competitive. Otherwise, you're doing great! Keep it up and good luck
Reply:You might make pre law, especiall if you score over 2000 on the SAT.
USC only expects a 4.07, but they do expect 1900-2100 on the SAT
Harvard rejected 1200 students with perfect (2400) SAT scores last year.
Reply:I know this isn't the answer you want, and I actually have no idea of your chances, but I think it's worth thinking about schools other than the Ivies. Most high-level colleges/universities have programs equal to those at the Ivy Leagues, and Ivy league schools are very competitive, socially--grades-wise and such.
Also, in the case that you *aren't* at the same level as the kind of crazy overachievers who go to Ivy leagues, it's much better to go to a school that's matched with you academically and socially, than to finally get into your top-level "reach" school after being waitlisted, only to suffer academically. NOT that that would happen, just bringing it up.
You can check out the schools' profiles on collegeboard.com and see the average gpa, sat scores, etc. of students who attend, which might give you some idea of your chances, though it might be kind of early to tell.
Anyway, personally I decided to apply to schools with a focus on learning, a community atmosphere, personal attention and professors who care. I want to go to college to learn, grow, enhance my life, but everyone has a different idea of what college should be, so go ahead and do what you want.
You're on the right track to get into many many good schools, though, I'd guess.
Reply:Everyone who applies to the ivy league has great grades and decent SAT's. What it really comes down to is you extracurriculars. Get really involved in a few clubs, become an officer and dedicate some serious time to them. Also, community service is a very easy thing to get involved in that they like to see.
Reply:I honestly think you have it made. If you're a sophmore and you're taking Calc and Chem Honors, IM SO JEALOUS OF YOU! but what's really important is the MONEY. Ivy Leagues are really expensive. Good luck. SAT scores really count too.
Reply:Your grades look fine to me this semester, and your GPA looks OK too, but what is the curve or GPA distribution like at your school? Are you in the top 10%? Top 25%? etc.. Because high schools' grading scales vary a lot, colleges look at class rank.
Colleges don't care about your PE grade generally.
But you're taking a lot of honors and AP classes, which is great. And you're taking APs as a sophomore, which is fantastic!
Colleges like to see you challenge yourself by taking hard courses; one of the downsides of taking hard courses is that you may get a B sometimes. But as long as you're not getting tons of Bs, and you're not getting Cs, it's still good to take the hardest classes you can handle (and get mostly As in).
I think it's fine to get a B once in a while. I got a few B's in high school. I hated math, too! And got several B's in it. But I worked hard and did the best I could. I got A's in English and history and most of the other subjects. And I still got into almost all of the Ivies that I applied to for college.
Does your school have A+ grades? Or is A the top grade? Because your grades this semester look great to me. What were your grades in previous years like?
If you have good recommendations, a good essay, and an SAT score in the top 10%-20%, I would say that you have a good shot at the less selective Ivies (Penn, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth) and a chance, though less of a chance, at the more selective Ivies (Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia).
As a side note, remember that in the U.S., we don't actually study law in college. Instead, you have to first get a bachelor's degree, and then go to law school.
So you should first decide what you want to major in in college, for your bachelor's degree. The most popular majors for students planning to go to law school are political science, economics, and history. But you can major in whatever you want, even mathematics, or chemistry, or music! Unlike medical school, law schools don't really care what you majored in. (But I don't recommend majoring in "pre-law" or "criminal justice" if you go to a school that has these programs, as they are usually gimmicks and are not well respected by law schools. The Ivies, and other top colleges, do not have these majors.)
NOTE 1: The guy below who says "the B is going to keep you out" is talking out of his ***. He claims to be "the only Ivy League guy answering this question," but he is not. He is just trying to diss the other respondents.
NOTE 2: I'm afraid I also disagree a little with the Penn student below. Extracurriculars and leadership are important--definitely. But I don't think they are more important than grades and SATs. Not everyone who applies to Ivies has high grades AND SATs (e.g. some have just one or the other), and even among the high grades/scores, there is still a range of "how high," which colleges do care about.
Reply:That B is going to keep you out. I am sorry to burst your bubble. There is always a good community college to attend
You know..I am probably the ONLY IVY LEAGUE guy answering this dumb question and people hate my answer!!!!! This kid has great grades and is worried? I'm not sure he could handle the pressure of an IVY!!!!
Ivy League?
Im a junior in high school and i want to go to an Ivy league school. I am in the IB program and I took AP US History last year. My weighted GPA is 4.00 (soon to drop) and my SAT score is 1600/2400. I am in Mock Trial, World Affairs Challenge, Track for 1 year, and Orchestra. And I dont have any leadership activities to go by. Would I be able to get into an Ivy League School? and if not, What is the best school I can get into?
Ivy League?
75% of the students in Ivy League schools have an SAT score of 2100 or better. 75%!!!!!!!!!!!
You need to make sure that your GPA doesn't drop any more and you need to bring up your SATs.
You will be able to get into a good university -- but I think it will be a stretch to get into one of the Ivy League schools.
Reply:No offense, but that's a pretty horrid SAT. Try taking it again.
Your extra currics aren't anything special. With that bad of a SAT score, you're looking at a so-so state school/private school.
Did you write that correctly? 1600 out of 2400? That's barely over 500 on each section.
Reply:you know ivy league schools arent all that they are cracked up to be. theres been plenty of sucessfull people (ceos, executives, ect...) who have gone to state schools (asu, ucal, utexas, ect.) and they are doing very well.
Reply:I agree with thedtbmister on this one - the Ivies aren't all they're cracked up to be. There are tons of other great schools out there. I was admitted to an Ivy League school for my undergraduate degree and actually chose a large, state university instead. The experience was priceless. I was active in extracurriculars, got good grades, and was accepted into a top master's program in my field, and have recently been accepted into two of the top three Ph.D. programs in my area.
When it comes down to it, blaze your own trail...Be the one from So-and-So University to do something great...not an automaton from Harvard or Princeton where no one would care about the great things you do because it will pale in comparison to another automaton...
Ivy League?
75% of the students in Ivy League schools have an SAT score of 2100 or better. 75%!!!!!!!!!!!
You need to make sure that your GPA doesn't drop any more and you need to bring up your SATs.
You will be able to get into a good university -- but I think it will be a stretch to get into one of the Ivy League schools.
Reply:No offense, but that's a pretty horrid SAT. Try taking it again.
Your extra currics aren't anything special. With that bad of a SAT score, you're looking at a so-so state school/private school.
Did you write that correctly? 1600 out of 2400? That's barely over 500 on each section.
Reply:you know ivy league schools arent all that they are cracked up to be. theres been plenty of sucessfull people (ceos, executives, ect...) who have gone to state schools (asu, ucal, utexas, ect.) and they are doing very well.
Reply:I agree with thedtbmister on this one - the Ivies aren't all they're cracked up to be. There are tons of other great schools out there. I was admitted to an Ivy League school for my undergraduate degree and actually chose a large, state university instead. The experience was priceless. I was active in extracurriculars, got good grades, and was accepted into a top master's program in my field, and have recently been accepted into two of the top three Ph.D. programs in my area.
When it comes down to it, blaze your own trail...Be the one from So-and-So University to do something great...not an automaton from Harvard or Princeton where no one would care about the great things you do because it will pale in comparison to another automaton...
Ivy league school based on race/ethnicity?
here are my questions:
1.) does it matter to universities if you are a different race (asian)? would they be more interested in accepting?
2.) does it matter to them if you were born into a family that speaks a different language all the time? after high school i will be fluent in 3 languages.
3.) if #1 was a yes, what exactly are ivy league universities looking for? if i say that i would like to major in medical rather than hotel management, would my application stick out above the rest? because i am of a different ethnic background? also, if yes, and if you are an alumnus of an ivy or if you happen to know a lot about this, what should i do?
thank you so so much!
Ivy league school based on race/ethnicity?
Normally, being a minority is a good thing. Unfortunately for you, you're Asian. That's an overrepresented minority. It's the worst of both worlds. You actually face tougher admission standards because there are "too many" asians applying and the schools are trying to boost the numbers from the other minority groups.
Reply:One important difference with the Ivy League system is that, with the exception of Penn State, they are all private universities. The reason this is important is that they have a greater deal of freedom in constructing their own admissions criteria (much moreso than a state funded school).
Being a racial minority may help you at some schools or programs, but it also isn't a 'golden ticket.' Asian minorities face a unique problem in that although they are a racial minority demographically speaking in the United States, they are generally over-represented in college student bodies. Because of this it admission for Asian-American students can become hypercompetitive.
Also, while speaking more than one language fluently speaks very highly of your cognitive abilities it really isn't as beneficial as you might think in influencing admissions officials. The only time it would really become relevant in determining acceptance would be if the department or program you were apply to had a predetermined language requirements (this is usually only the case for humanity subjects; i.e. history, linguistics, etc ...).
By the time I applied for college I could speak 5 languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and French), and I can tell you it didn't have any bearing whatsoever on my whether or not I got in -- quite honestly ... they didn't care. It is a helpful skill to have once you get into college though ...
1.) does it matter to universities if you are a different race (asian)? would they be more interested in accepting?
2.) does it matter to them if you were born into a family that speaks a different language all the time? after high school i will be fluent in 3 languages.
3.) if #1 was a yes, what exactly are ivy league universities looking for? if i say that i would like to major in medical rather than hotel management, would my application stick out above the rest? because i am of a different ethnic background? also, if yes, and if you are an alumnus of an ivy or if you happen to know a lot about this, what should i do?
thank you so so much!
Ivy league school based on race/ethnicity?
Normally, being a minority is a good thing. Unfortunately for you, you're Asian. That's an overrepresented minority. It's the worst of both worlds. You actually face tougher admission standards because there are "too many" asians applying and the schools are trying to boost the numbers from the other minority groups.
Reply:One important difference with the Ivy League system is that, with the exception of Penn State, they are all private universities. The reason this is important is that they have a greater deal of freedom in constructing their own admissions criteria (much moreso than a state funded school).
Being a racial minority may help you at some schools or programs, but it also isn't a 'golden ticket.' Asian minorities face a unique problem in that although they are a racial minority demographically speaking in the United States, they are generally over-represented in college student bodies. Because of this it admission for Asian-American students can become hypercompetitive.
Also, while speaking more than one language fluently speaks very highly of your cognitive abilities it really isn't as beneficial as you might think in influencing admissions officials. The only time it would really become relevant in determining acceptance would be if the department or program you were apply to had a predetermined language requirements (this is usually only the case for humanity subjects; i.e. history, linguistics, etc ...).
By the time I applied for college I could speak 5 languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and French), and I can tell you it didn't have any bearing whatsoever on my whether or not I got in -- quite honestly ... they didn't care. It is a helpful skill to have once you get into college though ...
Does Poison Ivy have a bloom?
I have a small vine that looks like poison ivy but it blooms a small yellow bloom. I have highly allergic reactions to poison ivy but need to do away with this if that is what it is. This vine also has a small thin bean that comes in the fall BUT the leafs look excatly like the poison ivy picture on Yahoo under Common Pesky Plants. Does anyone know what this is.
Does Poison Ivy have a bloom?
No, poison ivy is just a leafy stem, this stem will be red with green leaves(usually there will be 7 sequential leaves). likewise poison oak has five leaves extending from a red stem. If you see a red stem just stay away from it. However they are capable of developing small white berries
Reply:Poison ivy has small white berries. It is most likely to reproduce by running its roots underground and spreading that way. When in doubt though, hit it with the RoundUp!!
boots
Does Poison Ivy have a bloom?
No, poison ivy is just a leafy stem, this stem will be red with green leaves(usually there will be 7 sequential leaves). likewise poison oak has five leaves extending from a red stem. If you see a red stem just stay away from it. However they are capable of developing small white berries
Reply:Poison ivy has small white berries. It is most likely to reproduce by running its roots underground and spreading that way. When in doubt though, hit it with the RoundUp!!
boots
How do i get rid of poison ivy?
ive had poison ivy for about a week and its spreading! it itches like a ***** and i dont know what to do. Got any remedies or somethin that can help me please. i just want to get rid of this poison!
How do i get rid of poison ivy?
Witch hazel or calamine lotion help to dry it out and itch less.
Reply:what's happening is it is infected and the infection is spreading and leaking puss, go to the doc for some antibiotics and stay away from that stuff. they make a poison ivy killer herbacide if it is in your yard
Reply:Make a paste of baking soda and put on it.
If you live in a rural area with good black top soil, make a thick mud of that and apply.
Reply:rub bleach on it.....
its ganna hurt alot but it will dry it all up
im serious i had it baddddddddd
How do i get rid of poison ivy?
Witch hazel or calamine lotion help to dry it out and itch less.
Reply:what's happening is it is infected and the infection is spreading and leaking puss, go to the doc for some antibiotics and stay away from that stuff. they make a poison ivy killer herbacide if it is in your yard
Reply:Make a paste of baking soda and put on it.
If you live in a rural area with good black top soil, make a thick mud of that and apply.
Reply:rub bleach on it.....
its ganna hurt alot but it will dry it all up
im serious i had it baddddddddd
Will i get poison ivy rash?
mu husband and i went out and we have some little ivy creepers growing across our gravel. so anyways, they basically just apeared recently. we pulled two vines out, and found poison ivy a little farther back. what do you think the chances are we get a rash from the ivy. we didnt touch it at all, however the vines we pulled out, may have been in contact with the poison ivy, we dont know. is it likely we will get a rash? blessings and thanks
Will i get poison ivy rash?
I pull up poison ivy with my bare hands, but I stuff it in a garbage bag and then go inside and wash right away up to my elbows with plain soap like Ivory. Not soap that has a lotion added to it, because that can trap the oil against your skin. Fels naphtha soap is an old favorite, too. Unless you're terribly allergic to it, cleaning the oil off your skin within a few hours of exposure usually does the trick.
Reply:It could happen if the vines were in contact with the ivy, however you have to be allergic to poison ivy to develop the rash and the itching. See link below, should help you with any other questions or concerns. Good luck.
Will i get poison ivy rash?
I pull up poison ivy with my bare hands, but I stuff it in a garbage bag and then go inside and wash right away up to my elbows with plain soap like Ivory. Not soap that has a lotion added to it, because that can trap the oil against your skin. Fels naphtha soap is an old favorite, too. Unless you're terribly allergic to it, cleaning the oil off your skin within a few hours of exposure usually does the trick.
Reply:It could happen if the vines were in contact with the ivy, however you have to be allergic to poison ivy to develop the rash and the itching. See link below, should help you with any other questions or concerns. Good luck.
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