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I'm looking at Ivy League schools, especially Yale (EA), Princeton, and Harvard. My friend, who is a Georgetown student, said I was more or less definite there. What are my chances at the Ivies, and is Georgetown not safe enough?

GPA: 3-year 98.9 = 4.0 unweighted (junior year was 99.3)
Rank: 4/393 = top 2% @ excellent private school blah blah blah
SAT: 1600
SATII: 760 literature, 740 writing, 730 math1c
AP: Not offered, but taking hardest classes possible w/ 100 in most, 99 in some
Essays: One good, One I really like and posted under "What do you think of this essay?" (college counselor kept as example for future)
Recomendations: One from Senior English teacher said I was his best student ever and talked about the extra work im doing on Joyce; didn't see Chemistry teacher but my project won the school fair in her class

-Debate Captain: 17 hours a week incl. tournaments almost every weekend, top 16 at National Championships 2003, placed high (b/w top 16 and champion) in almost all major national tournaments attended, over 30 trophies in four years, teach and train frosh for locals, volunteer judge when not competing

-Yearbook lead design editor: 15 hours a week almost over whole year incl. summer, editor since sophomore year, gold award for best design in NY, yearbook consistently ranked highest class in all competitions nationally, as well as best in NY overall

-Parish Religious Education Program: 7 hours a week, teach Catholic catechism to 4th graders, train sophomores to teach

-School service: NHS, library service director, Sacristan (prepare for school mass), Lector (reads at school mass)... probably amounts to 5-10 hrs a week over the school year

-Organized and taught free SAT class for parish, 2 hrs/wk, 10 wks

-Studied at Cambridge University, England 2003: A+ in Economy, A in Philosophy, P in British Cultural History; also visited cultural landmarks over the three weeks; one week in Paris followed with more guided touring

-Victory Briefs Debate Institute 2002 @ UCLA, two weeks

-Other garbage: National merit semi (1/5 at my school), NHS 2002-3, Schoolwide Science fair best of show (top out of 1600), Dartmouth Book Award 2003, winner of 1/5 scholarships given to freshman class of 400+

By Marinakitchen (Marinakitchen) on Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 02:01 am: Edit

Georgetown is NEVER a safety. Even if you're perfect, which you aren't. I say you have a VERY good chance, but just in case, apply to a real safety. Good luck!

By Thedad (Thedad) on Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 01:40 pm: Edit

I agree with Marinakitchen. G'town rejects its share of 1600's/valedictorians about as much as any HYPSM school.

By Kektek (Kektek) on Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 09:19 pm: Edit

Sounds good. I looked at BC, but I didn't really think I'd go there, so I don't know if I'll apply. Any other safety suggestions, or anyone else know what my Yale or Princeton chances might be?

By Kektek (Kektek) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 09:27 pm: Edit

bump

By Reba616 (Reba616) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 10:33 pm: Edit

You're exaggerating. Almost 50 hours a week of extracurricular involvement, a 1600, and a 99 average at a private school? Riiiight...

By Freak4korn72 (Freak4korn72) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 11:01 pm: Edit

How the heck can you do all that? I dont think its possible

I work 20 hours a week, Science Olympiad 6 hours (I thought about it and I think 10 is too much for average), 2 hours NHS, and I had 2 hours book club when I was in it last year. I have done 22 hours community service in the past year and four months. I have 12 credit hours at a community college with a 4.0 and a high A in my high school class. With that being said, I have like no free time, but I am valedictorian however. VERY LITTLE free time, and next quarter/semester is gonna be worse because I have two high school classes and 12 credit hours again, plus all the ECs and Job. I think I am going to have to quit my job just so I can have a social life.

By Kektek (Kektek) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 12:18 am: Edit

Well the stats are true (99 isn't even the best in my grade, my best friend there has a 99.6 three year average), but the times are admittedly misleading. My average week involves getting to school at about 7:30 and leaving at around 6 every day, plus a debate or speech tournament either on Saturday or the whole weekend. PREP is part of my school schedule, so it accounts for 40 minutes a day and about three hours on Wednesday when I actually teach class. Almost all of my service is in the hour before school everyday or during school, such as with Mass. All afterschool hours are divided between teaching debate and yearbook. Considering I have a tournament almost every Saturday, all day, and about once a month a weekend long tournament, I spend a huge amount of time with debate. The rest of it is yearbook, which runs all year including coming in on free weekends, breaks, and summer holiday. I probably don't put in 17 hours of debate and 15 hours of yearbook every week, true, but it does add up considering the weekend and summer stuff.

By Freak4korn72 (Freak4korn72) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 06:52 am: Edit

Do you sleep?

By Kektek (Kektek) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 06:36 pm: Edit

Yeah I need to sleep more, lol... I only get like 5 hours a night... last night was 3...

By Nealp (Nealp) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 07:10 pm: Edit

1/5 nm semis? and its an excellent school? 5/ 393 are nm thats not all that great for a PRVT skool

my public school, senior class of 436ish (changes everyday) had 21 semifinalist + like 15 commended. and all of those 21 + 15ish came from a group of 88 students (IB). if its THAT exceptional how come kids can get 99.6%?

By Kektek (Kektek) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 02:12 am: Edit

Deferred Yale EA