<p>I'm a white male from rural Georgia.
I'm third in my class (out of 260-ish)
My SAT composite is 2210--
-CR: 770
-Math: 640 :(
-Writing: 800</p>
<p>SAT II:
Literature - 750
US History - 760</p>
<p>My unweighted GPA is 3.98; my weighted GPA is 4.6.</p>
<p>Here my ECs:
Founder of Politically Active Students (a combination of Young Democrats + Young Republicans to avoid partisanship -- as part of our newsletter, we recently campaigned for and endorsed our county's Democratic candidate)
Editor in Chief of yearbook
President of Gavel Club (of Toastmasters International)
Treasurer of National Honor Society
Secretary for Debate Team
Member of Youth Advocacy Board (a committee composed of the best high school students in our county who convene to discuss issues facing our youth)
Volunteer at local library and thrift store
Former assistant editor to newspaper (before it was cut due to budget concerns)</p>
<p>I've also had a part-time job since 10th grade.</p>
<p>I was a Governor's Honors Program State Finalist in Communicative Arts (English Lit), I was the recipient of a full scholarship from CNN to attend the Georgia Journalism Academy at the University of Georgia, and I have been named the top English and Social Sciences student at my school every year. I'm also an AP Scholar with Distinction. Our yearbook staff (of which I'm editor) also won an All-Georgia award (the highest honor) from the Georgia Scholastic Press Association.</p>
<p>My family makes a little less than 50k a year. </p>
<p>I hope to major in either English, journalism, or International Relations/Affairs.</p>
<p>Please chance me for Brown, NYU, Northwestern, UChicago, Oberlin, and Swarthmore! :) Thank you!</p>
<p>Brown: Reach
NWU: High match
NYU: Low match
U Chicago: Low reach (write stellar essays and it will help you)
Oberlin: Low match
Swarthmore: Reach</p>
<p>To give you some context here: the students who are denied at the tippy top schools (e.g., UChicago, Brown) have stats that are similar to yours . . . that’s why all except Oberlin and NYU are High Reaches for you and almost everybody else (see below for Brown stats)</p>
<p>You might explore a bit more the size and location . . . the schools you list range from a few thousands to 10s of thousands of students and from a discrete campus in small town to spread out buildings over Manhattan . . . so which kind of place do you think you’d thrive more in?</p>
<p>You don’t need to know that right now but visiting the campuses might help . . . </p>
<p>And money: what have your parents say they can pay per year - $20k; $30k; $40k? That’ll make a difference since many of your schools do not offer merit (non-need-based) money</p>
<p>That said: you’ve got good extracurricualrs so GO FOR IT.</p>
<p>And have a financial discussion with your parents NOW before you fall in love with a school that it turns out you can’t afford (like the friend of my kid’s who got accepted at Tisch performing arts then could not go . . .)</p>
<p>Brown said no to
76% of Valedictorians
85% of Salutatorians
85% of those with a 750-790 SAT CR
92% of those with a 650-690 SAT Math
79% of those with an 800 SAT II Writing</p>
<p>That is why you are most everyone is a High Reach to Brown/Ivies/UChicago/etc</p>
<p>Wow, what a good profile! Kudos to all your work over the last few years. If I were you, I’d really emphasize the journalism part of your application. It’s of course totally fine if you major in English/IR once you’re accepted, but I wouldn’t really talk about that possibility on your application. If you hone in on journalism you’ll seem like you have more passion, drive, and direction which will increase your chances. I also say this because of your impressive awards in journalism. Focusing in on this will help you stand out a lot and impress adcoms. </p>
<p>If I had to give a really subjective guess for your odds I’d say UChicago is a low reach, Brown a high reach, Swarthmore a low reach, and the rest matches or lower. Good luck!</p>
<p>In at NYU, Oberlin & Swarthmore. Likely for Chicago. Brown and Northwestern are tough calls. Brown can be quirky, while The Medill School may not be as predictable as most think.</p>