Chance me for Claremont McKenna?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I just discovered Claremont McKenna and it is quickly becoming my dream school. I have planned a visit for next week, but I'd like to know my chances going into it.
So! Here is my info:</p>

<p>Female
White
I attend a public high school in northern California that sends few students to top schools. Most go to the local community college.
I will need financial aid. Badly.</p>

<p>Scores:
ACT:
Composite 33
English 33
Math 30
Reading 35
Science 34
Combined English/Writing 30
Writing 8</p>

<p>SAT:
Composite 2140
Critical Reading 790
Writing 710
Math 640</p>

<p>GPA (9-12) UW: 4.24 W: 4.2667</p>

<p>Advanced Classes:
Freshman year: Honors English
Sophomore year: Honors Earth Science, Honors English, Honors Geometry.
Junior year: AP US History, Honors English (Academic Decathlon), Honors World Geography/Religions.
(Planned) senior year: AP Language, AP Statistics, Honors Spanish 4, and possibly Honors Chemistry.</p>

<p>Additionally, I took the AP Literature test without being in the class Junior year.
A's or A+'s in all of these, no AP results yet.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>2013-2015 School Newspaper - Editor-in-Chief
2013- Current Journalism Fundraising Club – President
2012-2013 Associated Student Body Member
2011-Current California Scholarship Federation (Hopefully president senior year, will definitely be in a leadership position.)
2014-Current Ecology Club (Hopefully president senior year, will definitely be in a leadership position.)</p>

<p>2011-Current Frosh, JV, Varsity Volleyball – Middle Blocker ("Most Inspirational Player" junior year, likely captain for senior year)
2011-2012 Frosh Swim Team
2012-2013 JV Soccer - Goalie - Most Valuable Player</p>

<p>2011-Current California Scholarship Federation – Community Volunteer
2011-Current Humane Society - Volunteer
2011-Current ATCAA Food Drive
2013-Current Bear Service Club
2011-2012 American Field Service</p>

<p>Academic Honors:</p>

<p>2014 Academic Decathlon Regional Competition
- Overall High Scorer, Honors Category
– Gold Medals: Social Science, Music, & Super Quiz.
– Silver Medal: Interview
– Bronze Medals: Essay & Art</p>

<p>2012 -2013 Student of the Year: World History, English II Honors
2013-2014 Student of the Year: Journalism
2013 Sophomore Scholar – Rotary International
2014 Junior Scholar – Rotary International
Honor Roll all through high school</p>

<p>What are my chances, and what can I do to improve?
Should I do an interview?
Would it help me at all to apply early decision?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Other things I thought of: I will likely apply as a psychology major, which I know is pretty popular there. In addition, I know that CMC heavily weights leadership, and I wanted to add that I was very involved in the founding of the paper. I didn’t just come into the position of Editor, I helped to create the paper.</p>

3

<p>Take a look at the Common Data Set for Claremont McKenna and compare with your scores (it looks pretty good ). <a href=“http://www.cmc.edu/ir/CDS_2013-14.pdf”>http://www.cmc.edu/ir/CDS_2013-14.pdf&lt;/a&gt;. Academic rigor, rank, gpa, test scores and recommendations are very important, essays are important, and interview is considered. You might also want to apply to some of the other Claremont’s (and visit them, too, when you’re down there). You can always attend Pomona or Scripps and take classes at any of the other Claremont’s. </p>

<p>Do not apply Early Decision unless you are 100% sure you want to attend and can afford it. If you have to compare financial aid packages from other colleges, it would be best to go Regular Decision. </p>

4

<p>You have a chance. It’s probably still a reach, especially as a Californian, but worth trying. My son applied, and was rejected. He had lower stats, and knew it was a big reach, but his adviser thought that his “leadership” credentials made CMC a plausible longshot. It’s less of a stretch for you. They are good about meeting need, I understand, but not so great about surpassing it. They have a good endowment. ED might be worth pursuing, but figure out your EFC/Net Price first. They won’t award much merit aid. </p>

5

<p>I will keep that in mind about early decision. I have one outstanding recommendation letter so far, and should have another soon. Are there any weaknesses that I can work on? I’m planning on taking the ACT once more in the fall.</p>

6

<p>Howdy Howdy. Also class of 2018.
Just wanted to comment. Visit both! I thought I wanted to go to both but after actually being at Pomona and Claremont I ended up rescinding my application for Pomona. Also , since you’re looking for financial aid, check out the ISS scholarship! It’s full tuition (plus bonuses they don’t list) and the only downside is you have to have an interdisceplinary major. Since you’re psychology already though, it might not be too annoying.
As for statistics, my GPA was higher but my act was lower, and I did substantially less extracurriculars. My thing was that I was super concentrated on one thing but good at everything else.
As far as choosing over other schools, I chose it over Amherst, uchicago, Vanderbilt, grinnell, others.</p>

7

<p>Just wondering, how is your UW GPA above 4.0?</p>