<p>Hey guys, I’m applying to:
• Williams College
• Princeton University
• Swarthmore College
• Washington and Lee University
• Bowdoin College
• Lafayette College
• Haverford College
So, here I go. Feel free to be honest. I know where my numbers fall, but do you think that being a white female from NJ will hurt my chances?
General:
• White female from New Jersey, big public high school
• Dual Citizenship (Netherlands)
• Want to major in chemistry, potentially biology
Academics:
• ACT: 35
• Sat Chem: 780 Sat Math II: 750
• AP Chem: 5 AP Lang: 4
• Taking AP Lit, AP Biology, AP Calculus BC this year (I have block scheduling so only 4 classes every day—can’t take many AP’s)
• Have taken all honors courses possible
• All A’s except 3 B+’s during freshman year (all honors courses)
• GPA UW: 3.87 W: 4.19
EC’s:
• Horseback riding for 10 years (huge time commitment!)
i) NJ State champion 2010 and 2011
ii) 10th in nation 2012
iii) Volunteer at barn every week
• Treasurer of Invisible Children 2011-2012 (help children in Uganda—member since freshman year)
• Cross Country (JV, varsity 2011-2012)
• Winter track (JV 2011)
• 1st place 2011 Atlantic City Half Marathon in my age group
• Science Honor’s Society (AP Chem tutor)
• Play alto saxophone since 5th grade (marching band freshman year, wind symphony since sophomore year)
• Babysat during sophomore year</p>
<p>Princeton - Impossible to predict. Anyone who says otherwise is lying.
Williams - Mid Reach, but still possible.
Swathmore - Less of a reach than Williams, but definitely possible.
Other colleges - No idea.</p>
<p>Which of these schools are you using as safeties? Also, why are you mainly applying to liberal arts colleges?</p>
<p>Thank you! I have other safeties, tcnj, lehigh, and Lafayette are safeties for me.</p>
<p>I love liberal arts colleges. I love the style of learning and close relationships with professors and small class sizes based in discussion. I also like having a well rounded education!</p>
<p>Bring your GPA up, do a lot more volunteer work. your sat scores are awesome, those will help. most of those colleges are within reach if you work hard. idk about princeton though</p>
<p>I am also a white female from NJ, so I feel your struggle a little bit. It seems as if we are over represented at so many schools.</p>
<p>With that being said, looking at your stats, and your ACT score, if these schools are considered “out of reach” for you, who are they attainable for? Don’t underestimate yourself. I feel like you have a fair chance.</p>
<p>The only thing I can say about Princeton is that I believe that sometimes it is harder to be admitted to be Princeton if you actually do live in New Jersey. The valedictorian in my school last year had a 2170 on her SATs (which actually comes no where near your 35) and was wait listed. So like I just said, maybe you do have a fair shot. </p>
<p>" love liberal arts colleges. I love the style of learning and close relationships with professors and small class sizes based in discussion. I also like having a well rounded education!"</p>
<p>Have you looked into Kenyon College and Oberlin in Ohio?</p>
<p>Gibbons:
Thank you! My guidance counselor always says to be prepared for the worst so I guess that’s why I have low confidence. That’s good to know! Thank you! I will chance you back for sure.</p>
<p>Shacherry
I have, but they are just too far away for me. The max I want to go is about 7 hours. They’re great schools though! Thanks for the suggestion!</p>
<p>You weighted GPA seems slightly low, but that may be because you can’t take many APs. Honestly the fact that you couldn’t take many APs might hurt you. Hopefully they’ll see that you took all that you could given your schedule and Honors classes are always good. Your ECs and test scores are good. I think you have a great shot everywhere. They all seem like matches.</p>
<p>Every school except for Princeton seem like matches. I’d say Princeton is a low reach for you, but it’s a reach for everyone. Your chances are still very good at Princeton, but it’s just kind of unpredictable since it’s an ivy.</p>
<p>graceclassof2013
Thank you for your response! Yeah, it sucks! We can basically only take 3 APs every year and still fulfill graduation requirements, and even that’s insane. I hope colleges recognize that!
OperationIvy
Thank you also! I’m definitely not expecting much from Princeton, especially since I’m from NJ. But who knows!</p>