Chance a rising senior for top LACs?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Hello, all. You may have seen a similar post yesterday, but this one is slightly revised from new information. This is for my friend, by the way, who is reluctant to make a CC account. I'm assuming what she told me is accurate... </p>

<p>Caucasian female from NY
Intended Major: Neuroscience and maybe English or Spanish, but primarily Neuroscience </p>

<p>Objective:
ACT: 35
SAT: 2300
SAT II: Biology (E) - 790, Math 2 - 760, Spanish - 800
GPA: School doesn't have a 4- or 5-point system, and I don't think things are weighted, but her overall average is a 97/100 (all advanced/honors/AP/IB courses since eighth grade)
Full IB Diploma (expecting a score in the high 30s/low 40s)
13 APs: Mostly 5s, I think four 4s</p>

<p>Awards/Hooks/Etc:
First generation student
Income: <60,000 combined (parents are separated)
National AP Scholar
National Merit Finalist (expected)</p>

<p>ECs:
Treasurer and later President of Biology Club
President of NHS
Treasurer of Tri-M
Spanish Honor Society VP
Cello player - school and somewhat prestigious local orchestra
Class VP and later President
Math Team
Freshman mentor/Link Crew leader
Volunteer at local library (250 hrs)</p>

<p>Summers:
Tutored someone with Autism (100 hrs)*
Research at a chemistry lab (120 hrs)*
Research at a neuroscience lab (220 hrs)
Worked at town hall (60 hrs) </p>

<p>Essays & Recs:
I'm sure CA essay will be great because she's a fantastic writer (*I think they'll be about this summer), and the supplement essays will be just as good if not better, since she's genuinely interested in these schools.
Rec1: Spanish teacher for two years and Class Adviser (observed leadership from student council)
Rec2: TOK teacher who helped her self-study for the AP Gov exams (determination, creativity, etc.)
Again, I'm sure they'll both be glowing. Her guidance counselor also loves her, and they're in contact often, so she promised to write a stellar letter. </p>

<p>Schools:
Amherst College (ED)
Bowdoin College
Wesleyan University
Hamilton College (maybe ED 2 if not accepted to Amherst - she mentioned this, but I don't know if you can actually do it...)
Brandeis University
University of Rochester
Swarthmore College
Middlebury College
Brown University
Dartmouth College</p>

<p>She didn't tell me her safeties because, well, they're safeties and she doesn't think she needs to be chanced on them. </p>

<p>Thanks from both of us!</p>

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<p>I forgot to add that she would technically qualify as salutatorian, but our school does not rank anymore. I think GC said she could report this.</p>

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<p>Bump bump bump :)</p>

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<p>Excellent credential. Are you sure she need to be chanced? :)</p>

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<p>Haha that’s what I tell her! I think she’s worried about her extracurricular activities, in that she hasn’t cured cancer or some nonsense. What do you think her chances are at these schools? :)</p>

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<p>Bump bump. No one ever replies to LAC threads. :(</p>

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<p>One more bump before I fall asleep…</p>

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<p>Bump bump bump</p>

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<p>Personal advice: With your planned major, I don’t think LAC’s would be a good fit for your friend. With those stats, I think your friend is in the running game for most to all of them. I suggest adding John Hopkins in there as well. But personally, I think a large research university would suit much better.</p>

<p>Amherst College - high match
Bowdoin College - match
Wesleyan University - match
Hamilton College - safety in my opinion
Brandeis University - safety in my opinion
University of Rochester - safety in my opinion
Swarthmore College - high match
Middlebury College - match
Brown University - reach ( just because its an ivy…but I don’t think she should have a problem)
Dartmouth College - same thing as Brown</p>

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<p>Thanks @philosophymaj! I think her main problem is that many research university students suffer from large class sizes and professors who focus too much on research. I mean, yes, she likes that she’d be able to take grad-level classes at a larger research university, but I think the benefits of an LAC outweigh the detriments (she plans to go to grad school, so this is what she thinks is best for her undergrad).</p>

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<p>If she’s going to grad school, then best choice is where she accumulates the least debt.</p>

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<p>While I appreciate the feedback, she’s adamant that cost will not be the deciding factor (unless there’s a huge disparity).</p>

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<p>I’d say she has a decent shot everywhere, even at Brown and Dartmouth, and an excellent shot at Brandeis and Hamilton (and probably U of Rochester too, but I don’t know anything about it). </p>

<p>I think sciences are fine at LACs, precisely for the reasons she stated. Besides, if she wants to take graduate-level courses, she can take them at UMass through the consortium (provided she does get into Amherst). Or well, I think so, unless there are rules against it. </p>

<p>And yeah, if she doesn’t get into Amherst she can do EDII at Hamilton. Lots of students do that, in fact. I think it’s the only reason EDII even exists. Although it might not be such a good idea for her to apply ED if she’s applying for FA (which, judging by her parents’ income, she will). It’s usually better to just apply RD because then she’d be able to compare offers. Although who am I to talk? I did that myself, and my need’s a lot higher than your friend’s :P</p>

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<p>Thanks Guitar500 for the detailed response! I think she mainly wants to do ED because she doesn’t want to worry about it next spring.</p>

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<p>if she likes neuroscience and small class sizes, she should try pomona or another claremont college.</p>

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<p>Yeah, she has considered West Coast schools, but has ultimately decided to stay within the mid-Atlantic or New England regions.</p>

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<p>I’m surprised Harvey Mudd isn’t on your list, especially because of your major.
Harvey Mudd is my favorite LAC haha.</p>

<p>EDIT: Ope, just saw the post above. D’aww. Nvm.</p>

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<p>Thanks anyway! I have similar academic achievements and interests as she does, so maybe I’ll eventually check that out.</p>

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<p>Anyone else? So many views but few posts. :/</p>

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<p>youre in all</p>