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Honestly, do you think I will get into Ivy league schools & Cambridge University?

By the end of my jr. year, i will have a 4.4 GPA if not a 4.0. I'm sure of that. I'm planning on getting a really high score on my act and sat. Of course, i would need to good grades to match my GPA. My concern is that since I messed around during middle school and freshman year high school (even failed a class), they will look at that against everyone else and put me in the no pile regardless of my grades now...

I attend the most rigorous school in my state and it has an excellent reputation... so what do you think?

p.s, I want to study engineering. If that even matters..

4 Answers

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  • 3 years ago

    No. You seem rather clueless and are making a lot of assumptions about what grades and scores you will earn. You've failed to understand that top 1% GPA and test scores are only the beginning. Everyone who applies to these schools has those in addition to some extraordinary accomplishments outside the classroom. One failed class will make it impossible for you to earn an UNweighted GPA of 4.0 on a 0-4 scale -- and that is what all universities look at.

  • drip
    Lv 7
    3 years ago

    Ther e are other top ranking schools for engineering in the USA.

    https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engi...

    Ivy League schools have acceptance rates are under 10%. They take the best of the best. They will read your whole transcript. They will expect to see extra activities and leadership positions in every thing you do. To be outstanding and have done something unique. Just good grades is not enough. Middle school is not looked at. Freshman year is and a failed class will not bode well.

  • Todd
    Lv 7
    3 years ago

    I hate to say this, but a person that's smart wouldn't ask this question. They would also know elevated GPAs mean almost nothing to admission.

  • 3 years ago

    What is your unweighted GPA (out of 4.0)? Every high school weights differently, so a 4.4 is meaningless.

    Everyone "plans on" getting good SAT scores; reality may not support this.

    And you don't mention extracurricular actives at ALL, and it's important to the Ivies that you are a well-rounded student, who participates in student activities and doesn't have to study 24/7 to maintain excellent grades. You should have at least one EC activity in each of five categories: student leadership (student counsel, student judiciary, peer leadership); academics (Math Olympiad, Science Bowl, debating club, student newspaper); fine or performing arts (crafts, drama club, band); athletics (varsity or JV team, or club sports); and community service (key club, scouting, volunteering).

    Colleges won't look at middle school grades (unless they are part of the high school curriculum, such as if you took a Regent's class in 8th grade). Freshman year will count, however.

    And yes, you will be compared with applicants that have excellent grades now AND excellent grades freshman year, so why should an Ivy choose you instead of them?

    I'm not being facetious by asking that question, by the way. If you want to be admitted, make sure you have a good answer to that. You need to really stand out in some way or another, aside from near-perfect grades and SAT scores; every applicant is going to have those. Independent, published research; writing accepted by national magazines; all-state athletics; winning national contests; professional acting or dancing; starting a national charity or business; etc. will get you noticed.

    For admission to Cambridge, U.S. students are typically required to have five scores of 5 on AP exams in the appropriate subjects (for engineering, these would include physics, salculus BC and a third science subject; chemical engineering also requires chemistry).

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