Hi, I'm an international student. I have a great SAT score and 3.92 GPA. My school doesn't provide AP or IB classes even tough it's one of the best schools in the city I live in. So my question is: Is it possible for me to get into an Ivy League without taking AP exams. I've read some things about how Admissions Offices pay attention to whether these courses are offered in schools or not. But I'm stressed because when I calculate my chances on Collegevine, I see that it lowers my chances. Could you please tell me more. Thank you.
Short Answer - There are people that get into Ivy Colleges without taking APs.
Long Answer - Unfortunately you disadvantage yourself applying without APs because your course rigor is a very important factor for Ivy colleges as well as Elites and Top Liberal Art Colleges. In lieu of APs, many successful applicants have IB diplomas or apply from Commonwealth nations where their A-levels grades support advanced course rigor. Other successful Int'l students have self-studied for APs and have taken many college courses either at local colleges or online. The reality is that getting into an Ivy is not always based on merit. There are many admit that get admitted because they are considered hooked applicants. A hook can be "legacy status", "recruited athlete", "VIP/Celebrity/Development candidate", "child of a faculty member", or being Black, LatinA, or Native/Indigenous in race or coming from a marginalized background like being LGBTQIA. At some Ivys, hooked admits might make up for 50-60% of the total admit pool so when you read about low admission rates like 3-6% for Ivys, it's actually much lower if you do not have a hook. Therefore, more scrutiny will be placed on your course rigor, intellectual vitality, essays, interviews, video submissions/portfolios, and recommendations. Getting into an Ivy, Elite or top LAC is a complicated rubric for admissions offices and unfortunately, in some cases, certain schools lean toward Intl students who have the ability to pay their own way versus applying for financial aid.
Good luck.
Hey @serrayalcinkaya!
Since your school doesn't offer any AP or IB classes, the college will look into that and won't count it against you. So don't worry, you still have a chance! However, if it still worries you, try self-studying for an AP exam, and take it at a nearby high school or college that offers it.
Hope this helps and I wish you luck!
Most Ivy League colleges prefer their students to have taken an AP class. If you look at the chancing simulator, the chance of getting into an Ivy League increases if APs are taken. It is still a possibility to get into an Ivy League without APs, but it would mean that your extracurriculars, essays, and your grades in school should be well built.
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