<p>I'm a rising senior from Wisconsin. White male from 60k family income. Gpa is 3.8 or 3.9 unweighted. 4.0 weighted. Currently #2 in my class of 65, but I may fall to #3. (Valedictorian has a solid chance at HYP) I wont have AP classes other than calculus and European History. I go to a small Lutheran school so my options are limited. I have as rigorous a schedule as I can.It's not 100% the most difficult possible but that's due to scheduling conflicts. I scored a 35 on my ACT.</p>
<p>Ive played varsity football since my sophomore year, and will most likely be a captain this year. I was on our FIRST robotics team this year. Im in NHS and will be president of my schools chapter next year. I've been involved in student council years and will be the student body treasurer. I was selected to participate in Badger Boys State.(American Legion leadership program. Don't know how much weight this carries) I also work 20 hours a week during school if that matters.Full time in the summer.</p>
<p>Im considering Grinnell and Northwestern. I will hopefully decide and apply early decision to my top choice. Thanks.</p>
<p>of course you are competitive for Grinnell! Do be sure to list your job on your application. I doubt you need to worry about not having 100% rigor – as long as you’ve taken a challenging workload, even if not every advanced course offered, that should be fine. </p>
<p>How important is football to you? Are you good enough to play D1, and if not, will there be club or other options for you at NU? Have you spoken to the football coaches at these schools (or at least at Grinnell; i imagine that reaching the coach at a D1 university is a bit tougher…)? That might make a difference in which school you prefer, I would think, if continuing to play is important to you. </p>
<p>I always respond to these chance threads with the caveat that none of us on CC can truly chance anyone! A lot of the admissions decisions come down to institutional needs, as the colleges create a balance among the strengths and backgrounds of incoming students to ensure a diversified student body. But, you certainly have a great record. Best of luck to you, whichever way you decide to go!</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. I actually didnt plan on playing in college because at that level it consumes so much of your life. I want to focus on school and other activities more.</p>
<p>You’re extremely well qualified for Grinnell. In fact, you should expect to get wait-listed. Grinnell, like many other selective colleges, exhibits what we here at CC call “Tuft’s Syndrome,” where overqualified applicants are wait-listed then rejected in order to keep admission rates low. The thinking is that you’re using Grinnell as a safety school and you’ll actually matriculate a more elite university.</p>
<p>To mitigate this, go beyond the Common App and communicate your enthusiastic interest to the admissions office through email or letters. However, a wait-list decision may be unavoidable. I was wait-listed from Grinnell and Kenyon, despite having driven 500 miles to visit and interview at Kenyon College to avoid that fate. Like you, I had a 35 on the ACT and extremely strong extracurriculars.</p>
<p>I might advise you not to apply. Realize that at #2 or #3 in your class, you have a solid chance at HYP as well. It’s not a guarantee, it never is, and you should prepare yourself for rejection. But I have a feeling you’ll get accepted at Cornell, Dartmouth, Brown, or even Penn. If Ivies aren’t your thing (and they weren’t mine, either, until I visited Princeton), then stick with top 20 universities like Northwestern and top 10 liberal arts colleges. Williams, Amherst, Pomona and peers are a big step up from Grinnell, and your chances there are very, very good.</p>
<p>My biggest issue was my relatively weak extracurriculars and lower gpa for ivies. Cornell also really interests me but visiting is probably too much of a stretch for me financially.</p>