chance a junior?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Swarthmore College
1

<p>i know this is a bit early for a chance thread, but swarthmore is my #1 school so i'm getting really nervous and would love to know what you guys think of my chances.</p>

<p>i'm probably applying RD- i'd do ED but i'm probably going to need to compare fincancial aid packages, so ED doesn't seem like an option for me...</p>

<p>here are my stats:</p>

<p>Academics:
GPA - Unweighted: 3.88 -this should go up a bit this year, probably 3.9, but my school inflates gpa's slightly (an A- is a 4.0 instead of 3.7, B+ is a 3.7 instead of 3.4 and so on, but i mainly get A's with a few B+'s in all advanced classes)
GPA - Weighted: 4.30 - by the end of junior year, it'll be 4.33 or 4.35
Class Rank: top 10%
*if you need more info to judge me based on academics i can post my grades for each year, so let me know</p>

<p>Scores:
SAT I: 2350 (1 sitting)
SAT I Math: 760
SAT I Critical Reading: 790
SAT I Writing: 800
SAT II Math Level 1: 800</p>

<p>*Extracurriculars: *
- Chorus (since 7th grade)
- GSA (coprez)
- Theater (i do about 1 play/year)
- Photo Club
- Amnesty International</p>

<p>Leadership positions:
- copresident of GSA</p>

<p>*Volunteer/Service Work: *
Peer Tutor, Cultural Council Member</p>

<p>Honors and Awards:
-French Award
-Community Service Award (i got a school award for 50+ hours this year, and next year i'm shooting for a presidential award for 100+ hours)
-i got 229 on the psat, so i'm assuming i'll be at least a national merit semifinalist, if not a finalist</p>

<p>i'm also biracial (1/4 black) if that helps</p>

<p>what do you think my chances are at swat, and is there anything i should be working on to improve them? thanks so much! :)</p>

2

<p>Swarthmore is my number 1 school too! Hooray! </p>

<p>Expand on volunteering and service.</p>

3

<p>dude your sat is amazing >< how did you get that…</p>

4

<p>Your stats are good enough for any school, but you’ll need to breath some life into your application to have a shot at Swarthmore and other elites.</p>

5

<p>ok, thanks for the feedback- what exactly do you mean by that? i’m planning on making sure my passion for politics shines through (i forgot to mention my experience campaigning for obama; i worked for his campaign in 2008, i volunteered at the polls in 2010, and this year i’m doing model congress in boston) and i’m going to work a long time on my essay to make sure it shows my personality; i should also have some great teacher recs. is that what you mean, or is there something else you think i should be doing?</p>

6

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<p>There ya go! That’s something that would let the admissions office see a living, breathing teenager who would bring something interesting and enthusiastic to campus. You have the stats to be a strong Swarthmore applicant (and, yes, of course your ethnicity will be a plus for a school that is exceptionally committed to diversity). Now, it’s question of letting your personality and interests stand out – something Barack Obama apparently didn’t do when Swarthmore rejected his application!</p>

<p>The model congress sounds interesting. Could be an essay topic. Meanwhile, learn all you can about Swarthmore and politics. For example, there are two rather prominent Swarthmore alums in Congress right now – Carl Levin, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chris Van Hollen, Chair of Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.</p>