Chance a White Girl, 2310 and Strong Essays

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So hi, I'm a rising senior in Massachusetts. I'm not really looking to crack the Ivy League, but I do have some super reaches and I'd like to know if I have a sliver of a chance at any of them.</p>

<p>My stats: SAT 2310, CR 800, M 740, W 770. I only took it once so this isn't super-scored.
Class rank 4th in a class of about 300 at a regular public school.
Freshman GPA was a 91.9, Sophomore 94, Junior 95.9, which averages out to an unweighted 93.96. SAT II US History 800, planning to take Literature in October.
AP Tests: 5 in English Language and Composition, US History, and Chem
Senior Schedule: AP Literature and Comp, AP Psychology, AP Calculus AB, AP Spanish, Physics, and two extra English classes, one honors.
ECs- Odyssey of the Mind 9,10, paid work 12-20 hours a week at the same store 10,11,12, school's literary and art magazine 11,12 (I hope to lead as editor next year), NHS 11,12, Spanish NHS 11,12, Multicultural Society Club 10,11,12
recipient of the school's Harvard Book Award for “most promising junior”
white, unfortunately
STRONG recommendations and (I think) well written, revealing essays</p>

<p>I think my strong suits are the rigor of my classes, the degree to which I've improved, my test scores, and definitely my recommendations and essays. Weak is anything extra-curricular; I was shy at the beginning of high school and didn't join a lot of stuff, and I haven't led much or done much for my community. I'm not sure how much the Harvard Book Award will help; I've heard it's like a super recommendation from your teachers because it shows you're respected at your school. I'm also not sure how much being a white girl from Massachusetts will hurt me. </p>

<p>My list:
UChicago
Columbia
UC Berkeley
Amherst
Swarthmore
U of Michigan
Wash U in St. Louis
Tufts</p>

<p>I'm not sure how much this is gonna help me but I'm giving it a shot. I'll chance you back. Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Berkeley: Match
UMI: Match</p>

<p>Everyone else is a reach (although Chicago can be made reachable if you pay attention to the prompts)…</p>

3

<p>Wow, I would have thought Chicago was one of the biggest reaches there. I’m good with essays but the Chicago prompts are tough!</p>

4

<p>UChicago: mid reach
Columbia: high reach
UC Berkeley: low reach
Amherst: mid reach
Swarthmore: low reach
U of Michigan: mid match
Wash U in St. Louis: low reach
Tufts: high match / low reach</p>

<p>Good luck! :slight_smile:
(Any reason why you don’t like any Ivies besides Columbia?)</p>

5

<p>I knew Brown and Columbia were opposites in their academic styles… I mean, Brown has no distribution requirements whatsoever (except in engineering, due to ABET requirements, but what kind of student would go to Brown for engineering?) and Columbia has one spend the first two years clearing one’s way through the Core.</p>

6

<p>You have a good chance at all of the schools on your list, but no guarantees anywhere. Berkeley likes to see community involvement, and not being a CA native hurts- being white is not a problem.
In fact, I think you’d be better off to let go of the “white girl” issue. If you look at the stats at your colleges, you’ll see that white girls out number all other races. It’s silly to use that as some kind of excuse to make yourself feel better if you don’t get in. Your lack of involvement in anything outside of academics may hurt you, but your race won’t be a factor.
Your job will be a plus. I think it’s very likely you will get into a few of these places if your essays are strong. You give no indication in your post about what you might like to study or what your interests and passions are, but that might be a factor as well, depending on the school and what they may be looking for. Good luck!</p>

7

<p>Add a few more realistic liberal arts colleges like Macalester, Bates and Hamilton. You do need a safety though.</p>

8

<p>Thanks guys! Yeah this isn’t my college list it’s my list of reaches. I just wanted to see if I had any shot, and moonchild I’m just joking about the white girl thing, although you have to admit it helps to have a “hook”.</p>

9

<p>WUSTL cut out their supplement this year in hopes of getting higher application numbers, just an FYI they are aiming for like a 7% acceptance rate.</p>

10

<p>Wash U is becoming really competitive. It’s not my top choice, although now, with no essay, why not apply, lol. That’s an Ivy League acceptance rate… are there Ivy League academics there?</p>

11

<p>Yes, especially in the S.T.E.M. domains, and it’s especially beautiful too.</p>

12

<p>Do you know anything about the rigor of its English department? You are moving the school further up on my list.</p>

13

<p>C’mon through some God in there. If not BC how about ND?</p>

14

<p>I’d throw in Middlebury, Pomona and Grinnell for English.</p>

15

<p>I’m interested in English lit and nervous that a religious school will have a certain slant/won’t be open to certain opinions. I’m not religious at all. I’ve heard BC isn’t oppressive though. Is that true?</p>