Chance me at the Ivies?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So, next year I think I'm applying to: Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell, UChicago, Amherst, Georgetown, Middlebury, Swarthmore, Vassar, Tufts, Boston College, University of Florida, Mount Holyoke, and Kenyon.</p>

<p>I'm a junior at a very difficult private school. Generally about 20% of our grads go to Ivies, and a whole lot more go to other top tier schools (Duke, Emory, Vanderbilt, Wash U, Tufts, etc.). I'm just trying to figure at my chances at some of these schools, and since my college counselor isn't being much help, I'm turning to you!</p>

<p>GPA: 3.96 unweighted
SAT: 2290, but I'm retaking it next month. 760 CR, 730 M, 790 W
Subject tests: 780 USH, 720 WH, 690 Lit
APs: 5 on World History, waiting on 5 exams, taking 6 next year.
School doesn't calculate rank</p>

<p>Leadership roles:
Captain of the Varsity Golf team for 2 years.
Editor-in-chief of the literary magazine; was previously assistant editor, and poetry editor before that
Copy editor for the school newspaper; was previously a staff member for 3 years
President of the Environmental Club
Co-president of the Literary Society; was Secretary
President of the Habitat for Humanity Club</p>

<p>Volunteering: Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club, local historical society, cancer society, etc. I'll have over 400 hours by the time I graduate.</p>

<p>Awards:
Mount Holyoke Book Award (given to me by the local alumni chapter)
Cum Laude Society
National Honor Society
Leadership in Community Service Award (given to only three high school students)
Excellence in AP English Language (given to the student with the highest grade)
Excellence in AP US History (same as above)
Coaches' Award (Varsity Golf)
MVP (Varsity Golf)
Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society)
All-Florida Distinction from the Florida Scholastic Press Association (highest honor for an article written by a high school student)
Florida Art Association Awards of Merit & Excellence
2 paintings were showcased at a local art festival
One of the previous paintings was showcased in a local magazine (it won a contest)
A couple of awards from a statewide French speaking competition</p>

<p>Well, I'm planning on double majoring in English lit and history with a minor in creative writing. I'm getting awesome recs from my creative writing and AP US teachers, and my college counselor happens to be my AP English teacher, so I'll get a good rec from her, too.</p>

<p>Thanks a bunch, everyone!</p>

2

<p>As I see it:</p>

<p>University of Florida - low match
Mount Holyoke - match
Boston College - match
Kenyon - match
Tufts/Vassar - high match/low reach
Georgetown, UChicago, Cornell - reach, but definitely possible :slight_smile:
Middlebury - reach
Swarthmore - reach
Amherst - reach
Brown/Dartmouth - reach</p>

<p>I think it’s possible for you to get into all of the above schools. Unfortunately, the problem with these super selective schools is that there are many other qualified applicants as well, so in the end it’s more or less a crapshoot for some of them, unfortunately. However, that being said, I think you’re definitely a well-qualified student and I expect you to get into the majority of these colleges. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>You certainly have the well-rounded resume necessary to compete with applicants in each of these school’s admissions pools and I would guess that you will be accepted into a large majority of the schools to which you apply. You have very strong standardized test scores, althought your Lit SAT II is a tad low, your extracurricular resume is very impressive, and you seem to have assumed a very rigorous academic track at a challenging school. As long as you write solid essays and receive solid recs I see no reason as to why any of the schools you have listed are out of your reach. Sadly, like reesezpieces said…many of the schools are simply crapshoots for applicants. Anyway, you are certainly qualified and have an above average chance at even the most presitigious schools on your list.</p>

<p>Return the favor? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/935287-chances-top-tier-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/935287-chances-top-tier-schools.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>You look like a strong candidate for most of those schools–the only thing is, which ones? I doubt you will be accepted by all, but as phillip said, most is a good bet. Since your main extracurricular passion is English, I would definitely retake the Lit SAT, (it would be a great score if that were not your main strength) or take enough others that you won’t need to send it.</p>

5

<p>Holyoke is safe. Looks like you should get into several of the others but it’s always tricky from schools like yours as many of the accepted will be recruited athletes, legacies and the connected, especially at ivies.</p>