cha cha cha chances??

<p>Hi there... anyone wanna chance me? I'd really appreciate it! Thank you in advance :-) </p>

<p>basics:
-CA resident
-attend rigorous private school
-indian (born in US)
-random "extra info": have lived with a total of 29 family members throughout my life </p>

<p>Academics:
-GPA (weighted) - 4.21 (highest in class - no "honors" classes offered); unweighted - 3.96
-taken most rigorous course schedule allowed (7 APs by end of senior year)
-top 10% of class</p>

<p>Academic Awards:
-National Merit Commended Student
-Washington University in St. Louis Book Award
-Cum Laude Society
-AP Scholar with Honor
-Maxima Cum Laude National Latin Exam Award </p>

<p>SAT I Scores:
verbal: 650 (ouch..)
writing: 800
math: 730
(total: 2180) </p>

<p>SAT II Scores:
Biology M: 750
Math IIC: 790 </p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Newspaper: (18 hrs/week - school year)
-editor in chief (12th grade), page editor (11th grade), reporter (10th and 9th)
-won "Excellent" award in national convention for editorial writing
-newspaper won 3rd best in the nation in it's category (8-page papers)</p>

<p>Theatre: (14 hrs/week - year round)
-drama club secretary
-placed in top 24 student-actors in state of California through monologue competition
-won superior awards two years in a row at state thespian convention
-won "Best Dramatic Actor" award (11th grade)
-inducted into the International Thespian Society (100+ hours of theatre) freshman year
-inducted into "Honor Soceity of International Thespian Society (600+ hours of theatre) junior year
-have had leads roles in two major productions
-have acted in a show at a community college
-have stage-managed and assistant-directed a major school play sophomore year
-attended a shakespeare seminar course intensive at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
-worked as a Standardized Patient at UC Davis medical school
-worked as a full-time summer intern at a professional theatre</p>

<p>Literary Magazine:
-production editor (12th grade); assistant production editor (11th grade); copy editor (10th and 9th grades)
-literary magazine won 5th place in the nation at national journalism convention (12th grade) and 10th place last year (11th grade)
-won "Excellent" award in poetry writing </p>

<p>Sports:
-Varsity Skiing: I started the girls' ski team at the school and was captain in 11th grade and 12th grade; placed 10th in league overall
-Indian Dance (Bharatha Natyam): 9 years
Varsity Soccer: 9th, 10th, and 12th</p>

<p>Community Service:
-work as a weekly tutor for "Breakthrough Collaborative," a organization for underprivelaged middle school students
-volunteer work at hospital (100+ hours)</p>

<p>Apple:</p>

<p>It is really difficult to give "chances".</p>

<p>Obviously, if you have the highest GPA in your high school class, that's strong.</p>

<p>Your SATs would neither keep you from being admitted, nor particularly help at Swarthmore.</p>

<p>A lot depends on how well you bring one or two of your ECs to life in your essays, contacts with the Theater department at Swarthmore, etc. That kind of thing is just impossible to evaluate from an EC list. Offhand, I would say that your theater and dance interests are probably the best place to hang your hat. For example, Swarthmore has a south Asian (Balinese) dance group that performs with the Balinese percussion orchestra.</p>

<p>On the plus side, Swarthmore has a large Asian American student population (16%) and has been admitting Asian American applicants at considerably higher rates than the overall acceptance rate in recent years. It's not clear how to evaluate that; it could simply be that the Asian American applicant pool is very strong. However, it is clear that Asian American applicants at least get a fair shake and that Asian Americans are not squeezed out of as many slots by recruited athletes and other categories as may be the case at some schools (including the school you applied to ED).</p>

<p>Overall, I would say that you are a pretty typical Swarthmore applicant on paper, so the odds would be determined by qualitative stuff that we can't really evaluate. I'd say decent shot, but -- as in most cases -- I wouldn't be surprised if it went either way. Swarthmore is pretty tough in the regular decision round.</p>

<p>As a practical piece of advice: I would rather see you approach your EC list is a different way. Less line-listing of getting "inducted" into various societies and more focus on what the actual activities mean to you. I'm guessing that Swarthmore would be more interested in hearing about your favorite major role (and why) than your induction into the National Thesbian Society based on accumulated hours. The theater students who get accepted are probably those who really bring their love for the stage to life.</p>

<p>I think you should have a good chance if you write essays that show personality and passion, and some coherent reason why you think Swarthmore is the place for you.</p>

<p>I definitely agree with the above comments. You look great on paper - bring out some personality and highlight what you love and why Swarthmore is your best fit! :]</p>

<p>I think I'd want to be your friend. Just guessing.</p>

<p>Yes, I second that. Your thread title was amazing.</p>

<p>lol... thanks for your input interesteddad, nngmm, forgetmenot, hellohowareyou, and plundertime! i think i'd wanna be your friend too :P... anyone else have any opinion about chances?</p>

<p>If swat is your first choice, I'd say that in your case applying ED2 would increase your chances. Just a thought.</p>