Chance me: Boston College, Vassar College....

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m a junior and high school and getting really nervous about what colleges I should be looking at!!
So far I’m planning on applying to BC, Vassar, University of Rochester, Hobart and William Smith, and Hamilton
Here are my stats:

Prospective major: International Relations

Gender: female
race: white
Class: upper middle class

GPA (my school doesn’t do a point system or weighted averages): 97/100
*my school doesn’t do rank, but I am probably in the first quarter

ACT: 32
SAT: 1390
*haven’t taken any SAT Subject tests but I am planning on taking US History and World history

AP/Honors classes:
10th grade: English honors, AP World History (3)
11th: AP Lang, APUSH, AP psych, university french
12th: planning on taking AP Chem, AP Macro and AP Micro, AP Stat, independent study for french, AP lit

Extra curriculars:
-Mock trial: I have been president for my sophomore and junior year, and will be senior year (have been in it for 4 years)
-Model UN: since 10th grade, officer for junior and going to be president senior year, won an award for best position paper
-Junior Class Officers: Secretary
-Started my schools YA book club
-Was in key club my freshman and sophomore year, but had to quit due to a lack of time, but thinking of rejoining senior year
-Varsity Track and Cross Country (since freshman year) and I am a captain for both
-Model UN Junior: teach middle schoolers the ins and outs of MUN and served as a chair for them
-I tutor middle schoolers in french (since 10th grade)

Extra:
-Will be shadowing assembly men and senators at a conference in May
-I have a book blog, where I write reviews (its not very popular though)

Awards:
-French: Have won awards for french since 7th grade, for highest average in the class
-AP world History: won award for high academic achievement in the class

Thank you so much for reading this!! comment below any schools you think I should apply to or anything I should do to help my application!!!

2

@seaturtle1126, looks like you have a good starting list, but most, except HWS, are going to be statistical reaches with your current academic profile.

Have you been working with your GC to make sure you also have a good mix of matches - those schools where a 32 ACT is at the top-25%, and safety schools where a 32 ACT is above the top-25% and the acceptance rate is over 40%.

3

Also, are you looking to run in college as that’s a hook that can help?

4

I have looked at other schools that I am basically guaranteed to get into, so don’t worry! I am taking the SAT again in March though, what score do you think I should aim for to have a chance at getting into one of these schools?

5

@seaturtle1126, a 34+ for Hamilton and Vassar. A 33 for BC and Rochester. You are fine at HWS.

6

Try getting that president leadership position in Model UN. Also, I’d retake the ACT and aim for a 33+. If not, definitely try getting 700s+ on two SAT subject tests. BC if you apply early should be a high match as you are a competitive applicant

7

Your extracurriculars are impressive and definitely demonstrate leadership and an interest in your target major. Do you think you could try to push them a step further, maybe aiming to win some regional awards in Mock Trial or MUN?

8

Do you think that my SAT score needs improving though too?

9

@seaturtle1126, Yes, it would best to improve either as a 1360 SAT = 31 ACT

So, your current 32 ACT is slightly better as it comports to a SAT range of 1450-1480, which is great.

That said, you are looking to gain acceptance to schools such as Hamilton and Vassar where the top-25% ACT is a 34 = 1520-1550 SAT.

10

@seaturtle1126 I think its great u r looking at colleges in junior year. I started september this senior year. You have similar SAT to me I think you can get into BC I got deferred to RD there but ur GPA is better than mine so good luck !

11

thanks for all of your help! I was wondering what some other target schools would be for me? I’m having difficulty finding ones that are good for IR

12

I really want to go to BC!!! But I’ve heard that it’s more competitive EA than RD… should I apply to EA or RD next year??

13

@seaturtle1126 EA is more competitive, but, BC will take note you showed interest and did it early (deadline Nov 15 so get started in october). If they defer you, they will give you another shot and give you another fair chance. I would say apply EA and see what happens!

14

Since part of admissions is a numbers game (meaning, its easier as an unhooked applicant at a bigger school like BC), applying EA will definitely help.

Also, you’ll probably have the same odds at Vassar as Hamilton. Last year (Class of 2021) at Vassar it was 35% for male vs 19% for female; at Hamilton it was 24% for both male and female - BOTH schools will likely have lower acceptance rates this year (Class of 2022) as they are Top-20 schools.

That said, in all cases demonstrate as much interest as you can - visit, interview, reach out to AO for you state/region.

Other schools that your current scores profile in the top-25% would include Trinity, Franklin and Marshall, and Lafayette - all have great Gov/IR programs.

Good luck and hang in there - you’ll land at a great place!

15

I think you’ll have a good chance at BC as the last year’s admitted (Class of 2021) median SAT was 1310-1450 and median ACT was 31-33.

Hamilton and Vassar’s scores were a little higher;
Hamilton - SAT 1360-1510, ACT 31-33

Vassar - SAT 1370-1510, ACT 31-33

In all cases, you need to remember that Accepted scores will be higher than Admitted - median ACT was 33 at both Hamilton and Vassar.

16

Thank you so much for the help! What other schools have you applied to?

17

You’re welcome!

I’m a dad with DD’s who are both Freshman at Hamilton. They both had the same academic profile, and after acceptances to a bunch of similar schools decided Hamilton was home - they both love it there!

One is a Gov/IR major and a Varsity student-athlete, and the other is a /Neuroscience/STEM major and both a member of Sailing Club Team and a leader in the Outing Club.

18

University of Richmond is another great choice if you like BC, and a similar academic profile.