Admission Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Swarthmore College
1

<p>I'm an applicant from India, and have applied to Harvard(EA-Deferred), Columbia, Dartmouth, Yale, Princeton, Brown and UPenn, amongst the Universities.
I've also applied to the following LAC's: Williams, Bates, Colgate, Grinnell, Swarthmore, Reed and Carleton. </p>

<p>I want to major in Physics, and my scores and extra-curriculars are as follows:</p>

<p>SAT 1: 2150, CR=710(national percentile=96),Math=710(national percentile=94), Writing=730(national percentile=97);
Math Level 2:800(national percentile=88);
Physics and Chemistry: 770(national percentile=82 and 83 respectively);</p>

<p>My school transcripts placed me at the top 1% of my class for my 9th and 10th years. However, ranks have slid down badly over the past year. </p>

<p>My Co-Curriculars include:
30 odd wins at city, regional and national level at quizzing events, for one of these quizzes I received an award from the ex-President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
Several leadership posts at school.
Have won a few national level essay/creative writing competitions, and a handful of national/city level debates and/or Model United Nations conferences.
Over the past 2 months I have received decent ranks in 3 Olympiads, which are held in India, and 7 other countries in Asia(though I think South African students do take part too).
(I came State Rank- 3rd, International Rank-81st in the Science Olympiad,
I came State Rank- 12th, International Rank-323rd in the Math Olympiad,
I came State Rank- 24th, International Rank-420th in the Cyber Olympiad)</p>

<p>I have helped at a home for the elderly, and have helped to educate underprivileged children from city slums.
Played for my school soccer team.
Have certification in Piano and Music Theory till Grade 5 from the Royal School of Music London.
....etc.</p>

<p>I think my essay/essay type answers were quite strong and do me justice.</p>

<p>I was deferred by Harvard, but that notwithstanding, Swarthmore is one of my favourite schools. So could anyone please chance me? Keeping in mind I need full/near full financial aid.</p>

2

<p>Anybody…bump?</p>

3

<p>Swarthmore doesn’t promise to meet full need for internationals, and many other schools on your list also do not. Your SAT scores are fine, nothing more than that. Not meaning to sound harsh, but the fact that your grades are showing a downward trend doesn’t bode well. You also have a group of colleges which are “all over the place” and I don’t mean geographically. Many of them don’t have a lot in common with each other, but at least you have some which might be “matches.” Do you have any academic “safe” school as well as a financial “safe” school to which you are likely to be admitted?</p>

4

<p>i guess all my safeties lie back here in india, just aimed high while applying to the us really. Thing is the olympiad rankings came in post midterm. Shouldn’t that have some impact? My 9 and 10 were as proper as possible i guess…</p>

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<p>To be really honest my list of schools is all over the place but i’m really attracted to harvard, brown, grinnell, reed, carleton, and of course swat…</p>

6

<p>

What I read on the Swarthmore website was:</p>

<p>

</p>

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<p>Yes. I did read that on the website. But what do my stats look like?</p>

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<p>Again, not trying to be harsh, only realistic. Your SAT’s do not stand out for Swarthmore and with a downward trend in grades for your junior year, that’s a problem. Your EC accomplishments look interesting although I don’t know how to evaluate them in terms of the accomplishments of students in the US.</p>

<p>082349 points out a misstatement I made. Swarthmore will meet an international student’s full demonstrated need if you are admitted but that is a very long shot since they are telling you in the same paragraph that the possibility of being admitted is under 5%.</p>

<p>Most recent SAT data available: 25%-75% Critical Reading 680-770, Math 670-760, Writing 680-770 In other words, your CR and Math scores are below the 50% for Swarthmore. It’s not the absolutely most important thing, but you asked the question.</p>

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<p>Agreed. While my sat’s are much too low for my own liking, i never got much of a chance to study for them or maybe chances to retake. But, no excuses… Let’s leave the rest to hope i guess. :)</p>

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<p>however, my sat subject tests should help right? Plus the olympiads?
I’m in love with swarthmore. Out and out rejection would hurt. :/</p>

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<p>I got in with a 680 math 1 710 physics, and 750 chem, so your stats will definitely help.</p>

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<p>i hope so! I’m in love with swat carleton and grinnell and brown! Harvard’s a great name, but i want a smaller community feel in my undergrad years!</p>

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<p>@astrobling: I have no idea how likely you are to be admitted to Swat, but I wouldn’t worry too much about the SAT, I had a 2040 ( 760 CR 700 W 580 M) and was admitted with an early write, so they do look beyond scores:)n</p>

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<p>that’s great to hear! As long as it all works out in the end you won’t find me complaining! Getting into any of the places i applied to with the aid i need would be very satisfying. What’s your intended major btw Sarah1994?</p>

15

<p>I wonder, will the lack of an interview hurt my chances? I applied very late in December, and being an international a face-to-face interview was probably not feasible…</p>

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<p>my intended major is Gender and Sexuality Studies, with a possible second major/minor in Biology, Arabic, Anthropology, or Dance. Having an interview can help you (I think mine was one of the main reasons I was admitted), but not having one shouldn’t hurt, especially since you are international.</p>

17

<p>hmmmm. None of the colleges had interviews. Upenn brown took in person interviews, princeton took it over skype. Now let’s see! Thank you!</p>