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What should I take for college?

What would it take for me to get into an Ivy League college with a scholarship?

  • Is it even possible for me to get a full scholarship at an ivy league college, based on both financial need and academics if my GPA isn't above 4.0? Last I checked, it was 3.825, and I think it's gone up since then, but it's not at 4.0, quite yet. I've always had vague dreams of going to an Ivy League school, and I'm now a Junior in high school (for three more days). Next year I'll be a Senior, and I'll have to start applying to colleges soon, but I don't really have any idea of where I want to go. If I don't get a scholarship, I won't be able to go to college at all; I have no college fund and my mom makes somewhere between $13,000 and $17,000 a year (I live in a one parent household). I just want to know if I would even have a slim chance of going Ivy League, or if I should give up now. I'll give you more information, because there are other factors in this. Firstly, I have a minor disability. The disability isn't very debilitating, and it doesn't affect my mental status. It's a problem with my back; we aren't even sure what exactly is wrong with me, anymore, but, basically, when I carry heavy objects, (and sometimes for no reason at all,) my back starts hurting really badly, and a lot of the time it keeps me home from school. It doesn't affect my grades very much, right now, since I'm in high school and I can get make-up work sent to me when I'm absent, but I know it'll probably have more of an impact once I'm in college. Second, next year I'm probably going to be participating in a school program that will allow me to attend our local community college for the second half of my Senior year in high school. I say probably because I haven't taken the test, yet, but I'm going to assume that I'll pass it, for now. This program involves me taking four college classes (for a total of twelve to fourteen college credits) before leaving high school, giving me a head start in college credits. To take these four classes, I also have to take two duel enrollment classes in my first semester (I believe that these also give college credits, but I'm not sure; if they do, it's only one credit each). All six of these classes are graded on a five point scale, instead of a four point scale, which will probably bring my GPA up to a least 4.0 by the time I graduate, maybe even higher; however, it won't bring my GPA up to that point before I start applying to colleges. Lastly, and probably least importantly, I plan on majoring in something to do with science and/or math. I'm especially interested in Chemistry and Biology, and I'm very good at both. I don't really know if this is all that important, but I thought I would mention it. I just want to know if there's any way that I could go to an Ivy League school before I start seriously looking into college. So, in your opinion, do I even have a chance?

  • Answer:

    Colleges look at your unweighted GPA, not your weighted GPA. Mathematically, you can't get a perfect 4.0 unweighted GPA if you don't currently have a 4.0. But that doesn't matter - you don't need a perfect 4.0 to get into the Ivys. Your GPA is fine. Continue doing what you're doing. Take some APs/those college classes you mentioned. Keep your grades up. Rock the SAT. The Ivy League schools don't give out merit scholarships (based on academics). They only give out scholarships based on financial need. You do have financial need, and based on the income you listed, I am sure that if you can get into an Ivy, you will receive significant financial support there. You say you aren't sure what's wrong with your back, and yet it's severe enough to prevent you from going to school sometimes. You need to get a formal diagnosis. Some back issues are treatable; but just as importantly, if you have a physical issue that prevents you from going to class, you need to get that diagnosed before you get to college, so that you can ask the university for reasonable accommodations. Professors won't just let you miss class without a formal, documented issue. If a professor does require attendance, just saying that you have back issues won't be enough to get an approved absence - you need that diagnosis. Do you have health insurance? If so, then go to the doctor. I can't say you will get into an Ivy. They simply get so many applications, the majority of them from very good students, that they reject great kids. But could you? Based on your academics as stated, you do have a shot. But as with any student, you'll need backup schools. Because you have financial issues, you will want some of those backups to be schools that do give out merit aid - such as Wesleyan U in CT. And you also want to apply to the best public university in your home state.

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Look, every person is different in the eyes of a college, so these questions are really hard to answer. But..i need to be real with you. My friend had about a 4.5 GPA (honors and AP) got a 2400 on the SAT, had so many volunteer hours (hundreds), was on varsity basketball for 3 years in high school, and many many many more things. Her dream was so go to Stanford. She did not get into Stanford and I was convinced she would. I have other stories of very similar endings. Another friend had a 4.7 and took 6 AP classes her senior year, and did not get in Harvard. The thing is, there is so much competition out there that you need to stand out and have everything going for you. Unfortunately, if I am honest I do not think you stand a chance of getting what you want. Especially, with a full scholarship. I am just trying to be real with you, and I am very sorry. However! Still apply! Never tell yourself just because the odds are against you that you should not apply. Like I said, every college views someone differently. So go for it, but do not set your mind to it. Have a back up plan that you are happy with. Find a good school that is not Ivy League that you have a good possibility of getting a scholarship and acceptance to. But please, do not set yourself on the Ivy League idea. Give it a try, but find something else. More realistic. Plus, you can always transfer to an Ivy League after a few years in another college. There are many options. Best of luck. I hope you find somewhere where you belong.

IF you could get into an IVY school you may qualify for a financial scholarship. Ivy schools can get well over 20,000 applications, and accept less than 2000. Most application are excellent, from students with perfect 4.0 GPA.- ACT scores of 30+, SAT subject scores of 700+. Do not assume an ivy school would accept those college credits. Colleges are going to want your unweighted cumulative GPA from beginning of freshman year to end of junior year. Once accepted it will be on the contingency of your senior grades. You have a much better chance at other schools over any ivy

One thing to keep in mind, as far as scholarship go, is that the more of a catch you are for a school, the more they are likely to offer you to get you to attend. That is, "everyone" applying to the Ivies is outstanding, and the Ivies don't need to offer scholarships to entice students to attend. However, some of the very good colleges that are lesser-known or less "prestigious" would be happy to have those same outstanding students attend their colleges and will often make them very good financial aid offers to entice them. As an aside, if you're interested in science/math at a top college, you may want to look at Harvey Mudd College in California. It's a top-notch small school for serious science/math/engineering students who also have other interests, i.e. science "nerds" who aren't "nerdy". They have a very good clinic program, in which students solve real-life problems for actual companies. The school is also small enough that profs really get to know their students and can write them meaningful recommendation letters, give them leads on internships and jobs, and hire them to work in their labs over the summers.

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