Chance me for BU, Amherst

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey everyone, I'm a high school senior out of Conn. and I'd really appreciate a "chance" here. </p>

<p>BU and Amherst are my top choices so far, with Uconn as my backup (though I'm sure I'll apply to a state super-safety as well to placate my parents). I've looked things over and I'm really not sure about Amherst or BU, and would appreciate some guidance. Uconn I think I'll get, though. Might as well throw Brown in there too, just for the fun of it :P</p>

<p>Gender/Race: Male, Caucasian</p>

<p>GPA: 3.2 (unweighted; 3.4 weighted)/ 89.15</p>

<p>Scores: SAT - (800 reading/680 writing/550 math) - math is weak, I know.
I've just taken the ACT today, actually, and I'm pretty sure I did excellently, but one can never know until the scores come. I'll also take SATII English lit and US history nov.15.</p>

<p>AP's - English Lit (early college experience course at UConn). Considering taking the AP Latin test as well.
Honors - Latin IV (only honors Latin offered), Chemistry (sophmore year, final grade 72)
Class rank - top 25%</p>

<p>Extra Curric's
Student Editorial Board, literary magazine - 12
"Peer Advocates" diversity/acceptance club - 11, 12
JV lacrosse - 9,10
Emergency Room volunteer - 12</p>

<p>Awards -
Cum Laude, National Latin Exam - 10, 11 (This year's not yet taken)
Maxima Cum Laude, Latin Authors and Literature test - Connecticut State Latin Day</p>

<p>Intended Major - Classics/Latin and Greek ( I have consistently earned no less than a 95 in my Latin classes, with it usually hovering between 97 - 100) and considering Premed to go with it.</p>

<p>Other -
Taking Boston University Latin Scholarship test next weekend, not sure if that helps.</p>

<p>Essays/Rec's</p>

<p>I can't really judge the quality of the essay for you, but I did recieve a "This is perfect! Send in right away!" from my English teacher when I asked her to read it over.</p>

<p>My recommendations are likely excellent. I have one from my Latin teacher, and as I'm pretty sure I am the only student that has ever shown a remote interest in her subject that it is quite good; my guidance councilor attested to the same.</p>

<p>I have one from my chemistry/physics teacher that should be good, I didn't do great in chem but made up for it with physics.</p>

<p>I'm still waiting on one from my English teacher. As she runs the literary magazine, we've become close, and I don't doubt it will be good either.</p>

<p>So, what do you think?</p>

2

<p>Also, it would be great if anyone has any suggestions of other schools with good classics programs to check out. I’m sort of flying blind here. When I told my guidance councilor I wanted to pursue Classics, she said “Wow, I’ve never heard that before!”</p>

3

<p>Amherst and Brown would both by pretty major reaches, I think. BU I think you’ve got a good shot. Maybe Holy Cross? I’ve been told that has a good classics department</p>

4

<p>I wasn’t serious about Brown, but thanks for your input :P</p>

<p>I was looking at Holy Cross too, but I’m a little wary of the whole Jesuit thing. I’m an atheist and I’d prefer to go to a secular campus if possible. It seems to me they might be a bit more liberal, and I’d probably fit in better there. Do correct me if that is prejudice on my part though.</p>

5

<p>I’d say decent shot at BU if you don’t need aid. Amherst and Brown would be near impossible given rank.</p>

<p>Your 800CR score will be of interest to lots of schools. There would be several good fit LACs. Other than classics, what are you looking for size and location wise? Do you qualify for need based aid or are you looking for merit aid?</p>

6

<p>I’m probably going to need significant need based aid for a private school, somewhere in the ball park of 26-28 grand (assuming it at 50,000). That’s primarily my reason for trying that BU Latin scholarship. I am definitely looking for merit aid as well, though.</p>

<p>I really feel comfortable at smaller, rural colleges; yet, BU also intrigues me given its location and size. I really feel I could make a clean break from my last 17 years living in a tiny rural town and do well. Location wise though, I will definitely be staying around the northeast. I live in Connecticut and I’m not too keen on flying home for Christmas. I’d say the furthest I’d be willing to go would be Pennsylvania or New Hampshire, in either direction.</p>

<p>And also, forgive my ignorance: what’s an “LAC”?</p>

<p>EDIT</p>

<p>Got it, Liberal Arts College :P</p>

7

<p>I would focus on the LACs that meet need, getting that much merit aid would be hard. Look for the ones where your stats fit. You would have much greater choice if you were open to schools outside the NE as you don’t have the stats for most of the generous aid schools. Schools like Beloit, St. Olaf and Grinnel
are worth a look. Holding out for a NE school may mean your state school. So if you don’t like it much, consider areas would you would provide diversity and thus have a better chance.</p>

<p>[Schools</a> That Say They Meet Full Need - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/paying-for-college/articles/2008/09/05/schools-that-say-they-meet-full-need.html]Schools”>http://www.usnews.com/education/paying-for-college/articles/2008/09/05/schools-that-say-they-meet-full-need.html)</p>