Chance me for Barnard (and *chances* are I'll reciprocate :) )

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m currently a junior at a typical suburban CT school. Middle-class, white, and parents have advanced degrees, so no real hook there! My SAT reading and writing sections are pretty great if I do say so myself and blow the Barnard target out of the water, but my math needs WORK, and I’m pretty sure my GPA/rank is above the average. My ECs and internships are my passion, and I know that I’ll have really strong essays and a killer interview (I’ve wanted to go to Barnard [not just Columbia!] for as long as I can remember college searching, I think I really embody the “Barnard woman” ideals, and I can talk up my strengths like nobody’s business. Please tell me what you think and I’ll get back to your post right away (chances was a bad attempt at a pun, I totally will)! Thank you!

GPA: 4.0 unweighted (school rates rank but not GPA)
Rank: 1/160 (current solo valedictorian at a school where two past valedictorians have gone to Brown and Yale)
Classes (took/taking/plan to take)
All APs/College Course (UCONN) and Honors, plus an intensive Spanish History independent study with a teacher I worked to create the curriculum for that might be made into a new class at my high school
UCONN Spanish 5
UCONN Anatomy
UCONN Western Civilization A & B
AP Human Geography
AP US History
AP Language and Composition
AP Lit
AP Bio
Honors Chemistry
Honors Pre-Calculus

Current SAT (“cold run;” as in, this was my first attempt and I did not study)
Composite: 2060
Reading: 760
Writing: 790
Math: 530 (I know, it’s super rough. The way my block scheduling works, I haven’t taken a math class since 1st semester freshman year and I hope to improve a solid 100-150 points with tutoring [hopefully before the SAT change], I also don’t plan on majoring in anything math/hard science if that helps my case)

EC’s
Editor, Voices of Valley (Student Newspaper)
-Quill and Scroll recognized paper
-Revived from failing paper to strong monthly publication
-I’ve written several articles that have appeared in local and state papers, and interviewed several prominent poets and bloggers for a series
-Organized a coalition of Shoreline editors
-Contribute to a monthly student news site
Secretary, Class of 2017 Steering Committee
-Role is far beyond that of secretary–I’ve preemptively organized our senior reception, ran fundraisers that raised over $15,000 in total (a huge amount in a small town), and organized several class events
-Coordinated meeting documentation, finances, and communicated with vendors
Head of Public Relations, Interact (Junior Rotary) Club
-Contributed 120+ volunteer hours to the club for various local events
-Contacted organizations and local publications
-Helped organize club information (that was previously in disarray!)
Model United Nations
-Participated in 10 major conferences
-Won 3 delegate awards at major university conferences
Mock Trial
-Participated since 7th grade
-High-scoring lawyer
-Team Captain
Musical Theatre Department
-PAT (Production Assistant Team): helped organize practice schedules, delegate tasks, and complete other duties for the director
Secretary, Ecology Club
-Organized activities for the club
-Created PPT/video presentations for club meetings
-Contacted various local organizations and legislators
-Took comprehensive notes at all meetings
Tennis

-Probably Varsity spot my junior or senior year, but nothing special, skills-wise (sports aren’t really my thing but I love the community aspect)

Awards/Honors
Fairfield University Model UN Honorable Delegate
National Honors Society

Spanish Honor Society
Woodstock Academy Model UN Best Delegate Honorable Mention

UCONN Model UN Model Delegate Award
National Forensics League, Distinction Level
Samuel Colt Award for High School Spanish
High School High Honors Roll
SHED Writing Conference Delegate

Work/Volunteer Experience (not including Interact activities)
I have plans in place to intern at a Yale Cognitive Psychology lab this summer and assist with undergraduate research, and it’s possible my name could be on a published academic paper
Intern to the Senior Policy Analyst for the Connecticut House Democrats
-Wrote comprehensive legislative summaries for the end of session report
-Coordinated and formatted constituent newsletters
-Observed and extensively documented minute records for various committee meetings
Girls In Engineering Workshop, Mentor/Instructor
-Designed and taught 8-week curriculum to get elementary school girls interested in STEM fields
Professional DSLR and Film Photography
-I started taking friends’ senior photos, but progressed and developed a small professional event and portrait photography business
-Strong professional film and DSLR portfolio
Theoretical, but tell me if it would help/be a “hook” I developed an all-natural spray deodorant formula and I’m considering marketing it for girls with body hair (like myself) and running a small online business from my home and selling to local vendors

2

Bump (we have similar stats)

3

Your GPA and EC’s look great as you know - I really think the biggest thing you can do between now and January 1st (besides writing killer supplements) is to get your math SAT up. The content in the math SAT only covers up to Algebra 2 so it’s really not the content that’s generally the issue, it’s getting timing and tactics down. I used a McGraw Hill SAT test prep book and it helped me get my math score from a 630 to a 690. Good luck - Barnard’s an awesome school and we may even see each other there next fall! (Yes, now is when I ask you to chance me back for the same school…sorry bout it lol)

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1833435-chance-me-for-barnard-tufts-northwestern.html#latest

4

Your application is absolutely phenomenal if I’d say so myself - your experiences in leadership and research really put you at a fantastic place! The only thing holding you back, as others have said is that Math SAT Score - get it up! I personally used Barron’s Math SAT and Dr. Chung’s Math SAT books in order to do this. Do this, and you’ll most probably get in - good luck!

Chance me back: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1834062-chance-me-for-top-business-economics-program-i-chance-back.html#latest

5

Agree with the other repliers. Try improving Math SAT with books or old tests, or take the ACT. You have a very good chance.

Chance me? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1834024-chance-me-for-ucs-particularly-berkeley-la-sb-davis-usc-and-uwash-seattle.html#latest

6

Agh, edit. Sophomore year for math, I’m not that far behind!

7

@gtrfreak Wow, that does mean a lot coming from a bonafide mogul. Thanks so much, and you should have no problem with your admissions (as I made clear in my chance post)!

8

Wow your EC’s are awesome and your only a junior?hyperventilates because of the awesomeness
Lol jk. :smiley:
But,yeah your EC’s are awesome as I said before. Honestly, if I tried doing all that I would panic(anxiety issues)…lol.I guess,as you already know,you could work on your math score,which shouldn’t be that hard,I mean if you got a 790 on both CR and W I know you are capable of getting above a 600 or more on the SAT. Oh also, try to get the 2 SAT subject tests that they require out of the way towards the end of your junior year.no pressure I mean do what ever you think is best,but for me I waited until my senior year and it’s a lot for me to study for those,do essays/supplements,piano lessons,school, applications, friends, and whatever else life throws at me. So yeah that’s about it. Enjoy your junior year and keep it up, your doing great,but also don’t forget to have fun!
I know we’re suppose to be helping you and this is your thanksgiving vacation,but do you mind sharing any tips for the SAT CR? Thanks a bunch(for your response on my thread)and good luck with the college process in advance! :slight_smile:

9

Sorry I meant * you got above 750 on both CR and W.
Yeah it’s around that time where 6’s are 9’s lol. Time to go to bed

10

@Tookme10mins Shucks! Thank you! And please, I don’t mind offering up some of my ~signature wisdom~ (which will likely be wildly unhelpful). Not to be that girl but I didn’t study at all for my CR–I just took it and got lucky. Honestly, I’m pretty sure it was a fluke with who was taking the test at the time, but that could just be the impostor syndrome talking :wink: Basically, I’m a huge journalism nerd and policy geek. I read a ton of non-fiction (and to a lesser degree, a lot of modern fiction). You’ve probably heard this all before, but READ, READ, READ. I think that was my biggest advantage, other than luck. Specifically, “like” the NYT, Atlantic, New Yorker, etc on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. It sounds ridiculous but it really helps to get me reading and learning. I’m also right in the thick of AP Comp at my school, so that helped with the set-up (I haven’t done any standardized tests outside the state ones, so the whole set-up was brand new this year. I was honestly ready to discount my dreams and accept a 1600 before scores came out–needless to say I was pleasantly surprised!), so maybe just an eff-ton of practice tests. I plan on taking SAT II’s in the Spring when I finish up APUSH, but I appreciate the reminder.

Also, by the way, this is @rougesneakers, coming at you from the incredibly shameful account I created for myself in 8th grade. I forgot my password, and I’ve stooped this low. Thank you for your response, are you interested in Barnard?

11

Oh, duh! Of course you’re interested. I responded to your post re: Barnard/Vassar. Silly me, it’s too late :slight_smile:

12

Have you visited yet? My sister just graduated from there and she told me she knows quite a few times where a girl would give someone a tour and then later reccomend them to someone they knew was on the admissions team :wink:
Anyways, I think you sound like a great candidate!! congrats on that valedictorian spot!

13

Awesomeness. Thanks for the tips, I will try reading more and hopefully on test day I will have some luck :D. Anyways thanks a bunch and happy thanksgiving. May you devour a lot of tasty food and don’t forget to take home leftovers(assuming your going to a family members house)

14

I did tour, but it was unfortunately a large group with a distracted guide (no slight on her; it was a Wednesday right before midterms and I could tell she was stressed). I was thinking about going again, and that seals it for me! Thanks for the insider info :slight_smile: I sent a snazzy card (“handwritten” by a robot from Bond) to the admissions rep who did our info session, so hopefully they’ve ~opened a file~ for me :wink:

15

And @misfits2123 not to be a total stalker, but do you know your sister’s stats at all? I’m having trouble finding objective information on students who were actually accepted beyond the averages from the Barnard website.

16

Your list of extracurriculars shows a strong inclination towards leadership, and I think it goes without saying that every school values that in their students; you’re a junior, so I’m pretty confident that you’ll be able to raise your math score with enough prep (Lord knows I did). I’d say you have a pretty good shot at Barnard, and if you get that SAT math up, maybe even Columbia.

17

@Prospective1998 Sadly, I only have until January before the format change that I know will screw me (rumors and PSATs show it favors math-inclined students), so wish me luck! Thank you for the reply :slight_smile:

18

I think your chances are pretty good, with things as they are. Math is known to be the easiest to improve on so hopefully you can do well in Jan or on new SAT. Also, you might do better on ACT, but there’s a science section too.

19

Thanks for the advice @andyis :slight_smile:

20

I know when she entered in 2011, she had a 32 ACT, 3.9 GPA (her only B was in Drivers Ed), some pretty challenging classes- AP Biology, AP Chem, AP Stats, AP/BC Calc, AP Lang and Lit, and AP Art.
4 years of tennis, 1 year of soccer, 4 years of speech team and math team, and she was treasurer of her senior class
(not much leadership)
She went to a small school (less than 1200 students) and was the only Indian Asian person in her school (lol we lived in a small farm town)
Parents make less than 100k, she has overcome alot of medical problems (which she talked about her in essay)

I’ve met alot of her friends though and seems like there is a big variety of students at Barnard. Some girls seem like they were probably killer at English, Art, History while others love sports, math, science, idk!!
I feel like it gets harder and harder every year lol but I mean, compared to her, your EC’s and GPA make it evident that you are very much qualified :slight_smile: