Hello! I'll get straight to the point: I would love to be accepted into an Ivy League college, but I have a problem. I received a 84%, or a C, in the first semester of Chinese II a couple years ago. And last semester, I received a 81% in AP Bio, which is also a C. I'm worried about whether or not a good college will accept me with these two Cs. I have a high GPA and good grades otherwise, but I'm not sure. At the moment, I'm a junior in high school. If I do well until I graduate, will I be accepted into a good college? What do you guys think?

I feel you. I don't mean to be discouraging, but Ivy League is tough shit, and everyone at my school that are applying are the top of the class ranks. If you play a sport or excel in a certain skill (that received some sort of national recognition) there's a slightly higher chance for admission. Even in my home state's top college (where education isn't that good), didn't accept me (I do AP classes, in national art honor society, prez of the chinese club, media aide, etc.). Extra activities help a lot, and colleges are specifically looking for students that are "well-rounded". It'll definitely help that you play a sport since it's overemphasized (and in my opinion- a stupid determinant). Do you have any noticeable accomplishments? Are you active in your community/school in any way?
Ivy league colleges are hard to get in especially if they don't extend and invitations for you to apply (I know 2 people who've gotten mail from Harvard and Stanford). I know Brown sent me an invitation to apply (once), but it was geared towards me joining the medical field. Is there any specific study you are interested in? It's best to find out now so that they at least think you're set on their programs. Those schools are competition, but it doesn't mean that you shouldn't try. Since you're a junior now, push harder on your SAT and ACT studies and take it 3 times at the very least (if your scores aren't high enough to meet the standards). The guy I know who got accepted into Stanford is a academic genius who works for his grades (although he doesn't partake much in activities that I know of), and has gotten nearly perfect scores in the SAT/ACT/AP exams. Good 'ol hard work definitely pays off if you don't have much time to spare in community matters.
Bottom line is, do as much as you can. I've had intentions to go to Harvard at one point, but I haven't been putting enough efforts in my studies to actually consider applying. I also strongly suspect the reason for my rejection to the top college in my state is because I don't have any active background on top of my ok grades (A's and B's), so chances are slight. I don't know any Ivy League students, but I know some attractive candidates these schools want, and they work HARD. Try to pursue anything of your interest with great effort. Have some backup colleges that come close to the schools you seek, some are bound to recognize your potential.
It's definitely good that you're questioning about college now. It means that you have a head start over the majority of the people in your grade. Talk to your guidance counselor because they most likely know the standards and requirements (Sorry about the rant).

Thanks so much for your detailed answer! Well, I can't say I'm the biggest sports person or anything like that. I am in my school's National Honor Society, but that's pretty much it. We help others, tutor children, and run events for our school there. Other than that, I suppose being young for my grade is noticeable. And it seems that I have to work very hard for my SAT test that's coming up soon. I'm a bit nervous about that. Also, I'm pretty set on majoring in Psychology. Are there any noticeable activities that I can take part in, that relates to this major? I would like to start on it now, before I start applying to colleges. Thanks again! :)

If you can maintain a 3.8 or above throughout your senior year with 7 or more classes, they usually won't even look at your other years.
You still need a high ACT or SAT score to match, tho.

Okay, thanks! But, my school isn't based on a 4.0-point scale. It's 4.875. What the lowest you think an Ivy League will accept in this case?

I didn't apply to any Ivy Leagues, but I got accepted into MIT, which has an acceptance rate on par with the toughest of the Ivy Leagues. I had a 4.07, and wasn't even in the top 5% of my class. If your test scores are good and you are well rounded in your extra curriculars, you'll be fine. Also, if you can find a way to intern or understudy with a company or professor that is doing work related to your intended major, that is HUGE. Also, make sure you take the hardest classes you can in high school.

So we had a college application seminar today (right on!!!) and well here are some stats (of which I remember...)
Basically Ivy League universities' acceptance rate is around 3% to 10% with around 35,000 applications.
This is what the presenter stated:
Average GPA for Ivy League schools (from those accepted): 4.9
Average SAT (before 2016) score (from those accepted): 2250
(I don't remember ACT)
SAT score (from those not accepted: 2250

So, basically, when it comes to Ivy League schools, it really is up to luck, essay, and your interviewer.

(BTW the presenter is the founder of Princeton Review)

>>6>>7 Thanks guys! Internships sound perfect! I will definitely start researching that. And wow, those stats are going to be really hard to achieve. I have to start practicing a lot for the SAT. And as for the application essay, do you guys have any tips on that?

>>8 Be entertaining, be funny, make them like you as a person. That's really about it.

Story time: So, continuing with the record of yesterday's presenter, he told us about this time when the essay for Stanford acceptance thing was: "You are stranded on an island for the rest of your life. What two books do you take with you and why?"
Guess what's the number one answer.
The Bible.
The third?
The dictionary.
So, here you can tell they're trying way too hard to look educated or something for the school, but most essay readers for colleges are twenty-something years old women who stayed back two years after graduating because they love their school too much. They want entertainment, not a six page essay on how you memorized the dictionary or whatnot.

Hope that helps (I probably didn't do much, but yea...)

>>9 That's pretty helpful advise! Thanks, I'll be sure to remember that when I write my essay.

You don't have to go to an Ivy League college. Besides, those schools can get pretty competitive. Just go to a school where you think you'll feel comfortable. If you wana go to Ivy League colleges, go ahead, but also have backup plans just in case you don't get in.

Honestly, I had the option, but I chose to go to a state school instead so my scholarships would cover everything. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I have a 3.85 on a 4.0 scale and got a near perfect ACT score even though I've never actually studied in my life.