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I'm a college applicant this year, so what I say isn't absolute, but just from viewing your profile, you seem rather generic, especially for your demographic. In regards to your issues sophomore year, I'm not entirely sure college admissions will overlook that. There are a lot of people applying to college now and a lot of them have some sort of hurdle (many worse) that they have to jump over. For example, I know a girl who just got into Penn and Princeton this past year, whose dad tragically died in a fire freshman year. Add into that the fact that she was bottom of the barrel in terms of socioeconomic status. While that was an absolute tragedy in her life, she still was able to obtain straight As, go to ISEF, and just create a stellar profile. I understand it may have been hard for you to handle things during your sophomore year, but just note that there are a lot of applicants similar to you that were able to overcome those difficulties and keep school straight. College admissions, unfortunately, don't have the time (unless you're applying to any small LACs) to sit and truly think about each applicant and their context. Sure, they are aware of the situation you grew up in (again, your's isn't doing you any favors), but it's not like the sophomore grades will just be ignored. With your test scores alone, I'd say your relatively competitive to all of the Ivies. I would think you should be able to get into almost all top 10-20 schools. Again, I'm in the same position as you, so my opinion may not carry a ton of weight.

 

Don't worry too much. Even if you get rejected, provided you live in New Jersey, you'll be accepted into Rutgers Business School which is a popular feeder school to Wall Street due to its proximity to New York.

 

There's literally nothing you can change at this point other than writing stellar essays and sending your applications in. Asking us what your chances are is pointless. Get off WSO and do something with your senior year of high school.

I really hope this isn't a harbinger of what WSO is becoming: fucking high school kids asking dumbass admissions questions.

 

Honestly if you're really deadset on making it into one of those top schools just go to the best place you can now, kill it your first year and then transfer. It's still hard to transfer into the top schools, but its easier to make it in as a transfer student. Plus then you can demonstrate even more of a turnaround from your low point Sophomore year.

Also, don't get too caught up with the school. Where you go to college doesn't make or break you. Work hard, do your best, have fun and you'll find that things work out.

 
"mrharveyspecter"

It's still hard to transfer into the top schools, but its easier to make it in as a transfer student.

It's actually much, much harder to transfer into Ivies (other than Cornell) and really only happens for student athletes transferring for sports

 

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I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.

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