Low GPA - 3.4 Unweighted at one of the top 50 school districts in the United States.
ACT: 33
Nearly all AP’s , so far from freshman to junior year I have taken 7 AP classes
will take 7 more AP classes in senior year.
Tons of competitions for Dance (Hip Hop) ; Awards/ Medals ;; tons of Top 16’s
Thought Dancing at my High School for an entire class
Tons of hours for volunteering
(Lots to list if needed)
(SEVERAL leadership positions ((VP, P)) in multiple clubs ever since 10th grade.)
Planning to apply for ED I || Majoring in Econ
Is this school an ideal “reach” college; what other colleges should I look into?
Will I have a chance at other colleges like University of Michigan - Ann Harbor , Colby, etc.
Will take recommendations into many colleges, but Vassar is my top priority.
Well, your GPA is pretty low. You have a shot with all those AP classes though as long as you do well. Good ACT, but Vassar is still a reach for you. Good luck.
I don’t want to steer you away from Vassar. That ACT is really strong, so if Vassar is your top choice, go for it because you DO have a chance to be admitted there; 33 ACT is at their 75% line. Can you pull up that GPA a little? If you can apply ED, do that, and in your essay, be passionate about wanting to attend there.
Yes, you would have a chance at UMich and Colby too. Schools that are about as difficult to get into as Vassar are in your target zone, but you should also have a safety or two in mind. Good luck!
As the mother of a recent Vassar grad, and a soon-to-be Colby Mule (daughter is starting in September), both schools really look at the whole student but do consider an applicants GPA. Appying ED certainly helps (neither of mine did) and showing a passion for the school will go far (especially in the case of Vassar). Colby and UMich are also very selective and even with all the “right” credentials there is no “sure” thing in the college admissions process. UMich is obviously a bigger school but again they have become very selective. Like all seniors applying this fall, craft the best application, show passion, and have “reaches, solids and safeties”. Good Luck
If you are firm on econ, some strong departments can be identified through this analysis, available online: “Economics Departments at Liberal Arts Colleges” / IDEAS. The study looks at faculty publishing. Vassar does very well at 9th.