Expert: Todd Johnson - 9/27/2007

Question
I would love to get into a school like Brown, Rice, and University of
Pennsylvania. I got a 1990 on my SAT and I am in
the top 14% out of 1,055 students.  I speak 5 languages and played violin for 8 years.  I'm involved in numerous activities. I am wondering if I have a good
chance to get in?


Answer
Laila,

Thanks for writing. The quick answer is not almost no one has a good chance of getting in at such highly selective colleges. These colleges regularly reject students with near perfect test scores and students at the top of their class. The reason is that schools like those you mention are looking for not only great test scores and great grades but also something a little extra. What that extra is will differ from college to college and year to year.

Your grades and test scores while strong will put you in the lower tier of students applying to the schools you mention. If you are a student from an under represented minority or a  talented athlete then your chances would probably increase. There are many other variables that might make you a more attractive or less attractive candidate for these schools.

If you want to look at colleges like these for your reach schools I think that might be appropriate. I would also, however, find some good match and safety colleges that you like where your chances of acceptance are higher.

Finally, I would mention that other than being all good schools the colleges you mention have less in common than many other colleges might. You should determine what you are looking for in a college, ignoring name and prestige for now, and then find colleges that fit what you are looking for in a college.

Good luck in the search for the right college for you.