Each week, The Ivy Institute selects a student’s profile and questions posted publicly online to provide a detailed admissions review and answer that we believe will be helpful and beneficial to all students.

Reddit User:

“Is it possible for me to be accepted in the Ivy league under these conditions?

Hi guys i am an international student and i am going to apply to Ivy league schools but my gpa is low (2.7) does this make it impossible for me to get accepted. First of all, I took care of my family throughout my education life, the country I live in has a terrible economy so my grades were not very good. As I learned later, I had ADHD, so in short, my grades were bad until 12th grade. When my business started to make a profit in 12th grade and I realized ADHD, I upgraded my grades to 4.0. I was the school president during high school, and I also had a philosophy club that I founded myself. I played in the basketball team of our school and another club. I have my own software company that I founded, and I also have social assistance activities such as helping the earthquake in Turkey and teaching the immigrants our language (I don't add more so as not to prolong). So, under these conditions, if I get 1600 on the SAT and give the required APs as 5, what are my chances of getting accepted?(Thank you for reading)”

The Ivy Institute’s Predictive Admissions Modeling:

After analyzing the student’s profile using our Predictive Admissions model, The Ivy Institute is pleased to present the insightful results.

• Brown: Denied

• Columbia: Accepted

• Cornell: Accepted

• Dartmouth: Denied

• Harvard: Waitlisted

• Princeton: Denied

• UPenn: Accepted

• Yale: Denied

Please be aware that the results generated by our Predictive Admissions model are based on the information provided. The actual results may vary if additional profile information is taken into consideration. Moreover, the results presented are specific to the student’s current application strategy, as listed above. It is essential to recognize that different application strategies, such as the one we recommend below, could yield different results.

The Ivy Institute’s Review:

This student's profile immediately makes it clear that they have a wealth of distinctive and unusual life experiences, making them an extraordinarily interesting and engaging applicant. The student's notable life experiences and obstacles they have conquered are sure to get the admissions officer's attention right away at an Ivy League school. Their story is filled with strong feelings and interesting subjects that could really hit home with the admissions committee.

Each of the main challenges that the student has faced along the way offers a compelling opportunity for discussion in their application essays. The student should comment on how these events affected their academic achievement while overcoming difficulties like these, providing a positive perspective that highlights their perseverance and improvement at every stage.

Among this applicant's outstanding successes are a variety of leadership positions, the beginning of important projects, and their participation in volunteer work, notably during natural catastrophes. In particular, their dedication to family obligations and proactive attitude in launching their own firm show off their exceptional work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit.

The student's commitment to assisting others, demonstrated by their involvement in earthquake relief operations and language instruction for immigrants, also displays their caring character and dedication to enhancing the community.

However, it will be important for the student to continue to overcome and offset the lower grades earlier in their studies. While the unique experiences and impactful life events provide a strong foundation for their application, addressing the academic challenges head-on is crucial. We recommend that the student takes proactive steps to demonstrate their readiness for rigorous academics.

One effective approach is to complete several online or in-person college-credit classes. These courses not only showcase the student's commitment to academic growth but also provide tangible evidence of their ability to excel in a higher education environment. By excelling in these classes, the student can demonstrate their capacity to manage coursework and achieve strong grades, thereby addressing any concerns about their earlier academic performance.

For students in situations where unavoidable life events have impacted their educational journey, considering a gap year can be a strategic option. Taking an additional year before applying to Ivy League schools can provide the student with valuable time to further build and strengthen their profile. During this gap year, they can pursue internships, engage in relevant projects, and potentially retake standardized tests to enhance their application.

While this decision requires careful consideration and planning, a gap year can serve as an opportunity for the student to bolster their academic and extracurricular achievements, as well as gain additional life experiences that can contribute to their narrative. The gap year route can also be advantageous for enhancing their application to Ivy League schools, as it showcases their determination to overcome challenges and highlights their commitment to personal and academic growth.

This applicant's profile highlights their potential for empathy and altruism as well as their demanding extracurricular obligations. Even if their GPA is below the norm for admission to the Ivy League, their distinctive life experiences, subsequent successes, and captivating stories provide them a chance to distinguish out. They can successfully show that they have the potential to succeed in an Ivy League environment by seeing their challenges from a positive angle and highlighting their personal development. Their prospects of getting into an Ivy League school are further increased by their exceptional AP coursework, strong SAT scores, and range of experiences.

The Ivy Institute’s App Identity Strategy

The Ivy Institute's App Identity strategy for this applicant can be thoughtfully tailored to harness the wealth of diverse experiences and impactful life events they've encountered. The key to maximizing the potential of this student's profile lies in skillfully channeling their unique journey towards a focused academic pursuit that resonates deeply with their personal narrative.

One compelling path to explore is directing the student's academic trajectory towards the study of international affairs, specializing in disaster relief. This choice would adeptly align with the applicant's profound responsiveness to global crises, as evidenced by their involvement in earthquake relief efforts and their innate understanding of the financial needs of various international populations. Their empathetic approach to aiding communities during times of distress underscores their ability to meaningfully contribute to the field of disaster relief on a broader scale.

Furthermore, the applicant's personal connection to the earthquakes in Turkey infuses their academic pursuits with an authentic sense of purpose and urgency. By delving into the intricacies of disaster response, recovery, and preparedness, the student can leverage their firsthand experiences to fuel academic inquiry and contribute to innovative solutions in the realm of disaster management.

Another avenue to explore within this strategy is the profound impact of language education on individual and community advancement. The student's dedication to teaching languages to immigrants not only showcases their commitment to fostering inclusion but also underscores the transformative power of linguistic fluency. This passion could be channeled into exploring the ways in which language education can bridge cultural divides, enhance communication in disaster-stricken regions, and empower marginalized communities.

The Ivy Institute's App Identity strategy for this applicant is to highlight their remarkable journey as a lens through which they can specialize in international affairs with a focus on disaster relief and language education. This approach resonates with their unique life experiences and allows them to draw upon their intimate understanding of global challenges to make a lasting impact. By cultivating a narrative that seamlessly weaves their diverse achievements into a focused academic pursuit, the student stands to create an application that not only captures the essence of their journey but also resonates deeply with the values and mission of Ivy League institutions.