Confused on how much my experiences will affect how colleges view me! Please help
Hello! My name is Rio and I am currently hoping to apply to two of the Ivy Leagues (particularly Cornell and Yale), but I worry my grades and SAT score are not up to par. I got a 1440 on the SAT (740 R&W, 700 Math) when my school's average is around 1240 and I have around a 3.8 GPA at my local high school.
However, I was wondering how much my experiences, background and extenuating circumstances could affect how colleges view me. I am Hispanic (URM), first generation, autistic and have experienced homelessness and food insecurity in my life. Things have gotten significantly better for me, as I now attend a more affluent school, but my family still struggles with finances and these experiences have started me on different ground than my peers.
I feel as if these experiences could explain these lower grades / my SAT score in comparison to others applying, but I am unsure if they will be good enough.
My main question is: Considering my extenuating circumstances, do you think I would be in consideration for an Ivy despite my grades being much lower than they may be looking for? Should I focus my efforts elsewhere and potentially apply ED to a school like Boston University or UConn instead of Yale like I was originally planning to?
I do not want to get my hopes up considering my grades are strong, but they obviously pale in comparison to the average student at Yale and nobody at my school that I know of has recently attended Yale, but I just wanted to see if anybody could help me feel better or at least put things into perspective.
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3 answers
I think you’re underestimating yourself a bit. A 1440 and a 3.8 aren’t “low,” they’re already solid numbers – especially considering everything you’ve carried alongside school. What really matters is the story behind the stats – and yours is powerful. Being first-gen, URM, autistic, and having gone through homelessness and food insecurity – that’s not just context, that’s resilience, perspective, and grit. Admissions people do read between the numbers, and they want students who’ve fought for their education and can bring that depth into the community.
Of course, Yale and Cornell are still long shots for everyone, even “perfect” students. But your background gives you a real chance to stand out. I’d say go ahead and apply to your dream schools, but also balance it with strong matches (like BU, UConn, etc.). Think of it as giving yourself more doors to open instead of betting on just one.
The way I see it – it’s not about if you’re “good enough” for them, it’s also about if they’re wise enough to see what you bring.
In my opinion, you still have a chance at an Ivy League because your experiences and resilience are highly valued by admissions. Even if your grades are slightly below average, your background and achievements can make you stand out. At the same time, I’d recommend also applying to schools where your stats make you competitive, like Boston University or UConn, to have a safer plan. And definitely make sure your essays highlight your story that’s your strongest asset.
Your GPA of 3.8 is quite high, as is your SAT score of 1440. Consider retaking the SAT and taking advanced classes. Additionally, consider having some safety schools that you are virtually guaranteed to get into. Apply for financial aid, as well as scholarships. These colleges will consider the fact that you are from a Hispanic background and favor you over Whites. These schools would be a reach school. Still apply to them. Who knows? You might get in because they look at more than just grades. They look at things like extracurriculars, job experience, leadership roles, and volunteering experience.
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