Any shot, whatsoever?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Swarthmore College
1

<p>I am a white female.
From Southern Virginia, a rural area.
Income is 20k a year, parents divorced.</p>

<p>SAT:
Verbal: 800
Math: 620
Writing: 710
Total: 2130</p>

<p>SAT II:
Literature: 750
Biology: 750</p>

<p>GPA U/W: 3.95
GPA W: 4.19
Rank: 2 out of 147</p>

<p>Classes: I have taken the most rigorous coursework available in my school, (which is pretty sad). I took all honors classes available 9th and 10th. Then 11th I took 2 college level courses and 3 AP courses. I had to take 2 of the APs online. This year I'm taking 3 college level courses and 2 AP courses, one online.</p>

<p>APs and AP Exam Score:
Biology (5)[online], Psychology (5)[online], US History (5), AP Env Science[online] and AP Government (taking now)</p>

<p>Work Experience: (I've been working since the day I got my learners permit at 15 and 1/2 )
Amusement Park entertainment performer?
Merchandise Company cashier
Daycare child supervisor
IHOP waitress</p>

<p>Volunteer Experience:
I've been volunteering at a local Food Bank since May, 4 hours a week. So, about 100 hours and counting.</p>

<p>Extracurricular:
Forensics (public speaking) Team; Impromptu Category: 9-12th grade. Captain: 11th and 12th.
Drama; 9-12th grade. Have been in 3 plays, and been stage manager for an additional 2 plays. Lead role one play
SODA; teaching 4th graders about developing the right attitudes; 11th and 12th grade.</p>

<p>My main 'extracurricular' I put down is taking care of my niece. She is a year and a half old and I've been helping to take care of her since she was born. My brother and his girlfriend are pretty irresponsible, so I've provided for her both in the sense of helping her take her first real steps and in buying her food and diapers when they spent all their money on idiotic things.</p>

<p>Awards:
Chosen to attend Virginia Girls State (11th).
AP Scholar. (12th)
Honored by the School Board. (12th)
Accepted to Chesapeake Bay Governor's School (10th).
And I was chosen as a Questbridge College Match Finalist.</p>

<p>Which is actually the catch to my whole thing. Questbridge allows low income students to apply to top ranking schools. I decided to opt out of the initial college match, meaning now I can apply ED to a school of my choosing through Questbridge, and to a bunch of other ones through regular decisions. They'll allow me to use my questbridge application, which highlights the fact that I'm low income and have still managed to achieve.</p>

<p>So, I will most likely be applying to Swarthmore ED using my questbridge application.</p>

<p>And that's all I really have :/</p>

2

<p>I believe you should try. Make sure your essay reflects why Swarthmore in particular. Have you visited? What really appeals to you? Your only “low” point is that Math SAT - not horrible, but low for Swarthmore. But do try.</p>

3

<p>nattilee-you sound like an incredibly mature young woman! If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit Swarthmore, please spend as much time as you can on the web site. Read student interviews, the newspapers, see what’s going on around campus that might appeal to you. It will help you tailor your “Why Swarthmore” essay as well as, more obviously, help you figure out if Swarthmore is the right place for you.</p>

<p>I think the Admissions committee would look very carefully at your application and see that you have made the most of what your school has to offer academically and then went above and beyond that to challenge yourself. Although your math score is a little “light,” your verbal score is phenomenal, of course, and your SAT II scores show good mastery. Best of luck, and if you have any particular questions about life at Swarthmore, please ask.</p>

4

<p>My daughter got into Swarthmore with a similar Math SAT. The SAT isn’t everything. Your self-description suggests that you are a very interesting person who could make a contribution to Swarthmore. I’d like to meet you and I think the admissions folks will feel the same way. In fact, you look like a really great fit. The key to an admit for you will be whether you feel that Swarthmore fits YOU and whether you can explain in your essay why you feel that Swarthmore is the school for you. If you can’t visit, spend a lot of time on the website. Visit all parts and read all student and faculty contributions. Then, explain how Swarthmore is the place for you and why you find it a compelling. Also, have you read any books/looked at websites at how to write a personal essay? You’ve got any number of life experiences that could be the “hook on which you hang your essay hat.” If you’ve done some reading, you already know that strong essays often feature reflection by the applicant on a key life experience (which is often described in a way that draws the reader into a drama, dilemma, or other aspect of the experience). Strong essays enable the reader to get a sense of you as a person behind the application stats, showcasing passions, values, concerns, etc. My favorite advice for students is in the book Acing the College Application by Michele A. Hernandez. If you can’t afford a copy, see if your public library or school library has an interlibrary loan agreement and can get it for you. There are a number of websites that show sample essays etc. that help you get a sense of essays. Some of them sound really “canned” which is why I like the book above - the samples in that book show a diversity of approaches to the essay and the author (who was in admissions at Dartmouth) explains what she finds compelling in each one. Good luck! You have worked really hard to get where you are and you have much to which to look forward as you work through the college application process.</p>

5

<p>nattilee:</p>

<p>I think that, if your application communicates what you have presented here, you have a solid shot of being accepted to Swarthmore. I think you have every reason to be confident with your application. You might or might not get accepted (just like everyone else who applies to Swarthmore), but your application will certainly make it to the very serious consideration pile. Trust me, Swarthmore will take note of your academic accomplishments while working throughout high school. That counts for more than being editor of the high school paper.</p>

<p>BTW, you might be interested in this very personal account of Swarthmore’s President Rebecca Chopp’s journey to college as the first person in her family to attend college:</p>

<p>[Swarthmore</a> College Featured Events Blog Archive On Being a First Generation College Student: A Conversation with Rebecca Chopp](<a href=“Featured Events :: News & Events :: Swarthmore College”>http://media.swarthmore.edu/featured_events/?p=122)</p>

6

<p>I’m in high school too, so I have no idea of your chances. I’m only commenting because after reading a bunch of chances treads over the past week, yours is the only one that really stands out. I don’t know what it is exactly but you come across really well. And if I were a Swarthmore admissions person, I’d accept you. I hope you get in!</p>

7

<p>Thank you all for the comments and advice! (:
I will work really hard on my why swarthmore essay!</p>

<p>And thank you for that video, interesteddad, I didn’t even realize she was first generation!</p>

8

<p>Loved your profile … it has everything what a top notch school should look for … as interesteddad said it will make to the highly considerable pile …</p>

<p>Watch the Swarthmore Unscripted video/DVD in case you already haven’t …</p>

<p>I wish you the best! and hope you make it to Swarthmore…</p>

9

<p>Honesty probably not…Swawthmore is an extremely competive school. You have no “hook”. Plus your applying for finacial aid…a NO NO. Your math score is REALLY low, you need to try to raise it if you want to go to a good college. I hope this is your top reach, because you are going to need some safeties.</p>

10

<p>well, my money’s on you, natillee! Hopefully, you did go ahead and apply ED and will have a decision Dec 15. I hope you’ll come back and let us know the outcome. And thanks, ID, for that link to Pres. Chopp’s Q&A about her experiences as a 1st gen college student. I found it fascinating, and a propos to much beyond the college experience.</p>

11

<p>

</p>

<p>Actually, in this case, the financial need and having to work a real job throughout high school **strengthens **the application. That kind of background gets very serious consideration in admissions at a school like Swarthmore. These colleges are overrun by applicants from wealthy suburbs. They are aggressively looking for economic diversity. It’s not easy to find with median SATs being what they are at Swarthmore.</p>

12

<p>My daughter, a Jr at Swarthmore, had a similar math score.</p>

13

<p>It is my understanding that Swarthmore is need blind and generous with financial aid. Further I believe that they are committed to trying to diversify the student body, both racially and economically.
As you know, admissions to Swarthmore are extremely competitive. However, you should definitely apply ED if it is your first choice. If I were on the admissions committee, I’d vote yes:)
I wish you the best of luck.</p>

14

<p>I believe you will get in. Apply ED and you will get in. Unlike Ilovecompscience, I think you have a tremendous hook. You can do it!</p>

15

<p>Not only do you have an excellent chance of acceptance, but you may well receive a full-ride scholarship. Apply ED; they are very generous.</p>

16

<p>Any news, Nattilee?</p>