Chance me for Reed et al?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a junior. I posted a chance thread months ago. By now I've thought more about specific colleges, taken my SATs, and can otherwise provide a clearer picture of what my junior year looked like academically. </p>

<p>GPA: 3.6uw, 4.1w
SAT: 2100 (730cr, 680m, 690w)
(I've only taken this once. Should I retake it? Or take the ACT? Or do nothing?)</p>

<p>HS does not rank but is large/competitive (700 students in graduating class)</p>

<p>IB Diploma Candidate
13 IB Classes
(SL: English I, TOK, HotA, Psych I, Latin I & Latin II (years 4 & 5), Physics I, Physics II, Theatre I, Math Studies)
(HL: English II, Topics of the 20th Century, Psych II)
1 AP
(Basically, I've taken the most rigorous classes offered.)</p>

<p>President & Founder of Young Feminist Society
International Thespian Society Clerk/Historian
National English Honor Society Vice President
National Honor Society member</p>

<p>Excellence in English Award (1 out of 700)
Excellence in Latin Award (2 out of 700)</p>

<p>4 years heavy involvement in theatre
(acting, understudying, set deco & props, stage management)
(both in & out of school)
3 years volunteering with middle school theare
(stage management, set deco & props)
2 summers counselor at Camp Firefly
(gs camp)
1 summer counselor at Stage Door Camp
(theatre)
1 summer at Institute for the Arts
(theatre, creative writing, dance)
12 years girl scouting (heavy involvement)</p>

<ul>
<li>(Hopefully) strong recommendations/essays/interviews. </li>
</ul>

<p>I'm applying ED to Reed, as it is my first choice school.
Chance for Bennington, Hampshire, Brandeis, Grinnell, Macalester, Reed, Occidental, Wesleyan, Vassar, Pitzer? Thank you in advance!</p>

2

<p>You should get into Reed. Can you afford to apply ED? Your SAT is excellent, but it wouldn’t hurt to take it again in October. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>I definitely think you could get into Reed ED. Just make sure you have your finances set straight before you sign the ED contract.</p>

4

<p>I definitely thin you could get into Reed ED, although I agree with other posters in saying that taking the SAT one more time won’t hurt. However, college admissions are unpredictable - though I’m pretty sure/almost positive you’ll get in ED, if you don’t, then I definitely think you have a great shot at some of the other schools in which you’ve expressed interest. Vassar and Grinnell would probably be the hardest to get into, but for most of the others, I wouldn’t doubt that you’ll be accepted.</p>

5

<p>I think you are a match for Reed (meaning 50/50, don’t be surprised either way), but realize that GPA + rank + test scores together count for only 20% of admission criteria.</p>

<p>“Can you afford to apply ED?”</p>

<p>“Just make sure you have your finances set straight before you sign the ED contract.”</p>

<p>Anyone can “afford” to apply ED, which should be used only at your one dream school above all others, when you do not care about comparing FA offers, where the only question is “Can I afford it?” Here’s the pertinent part of the ED agreement:

<a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/ED_Agreement.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/ED_Agreement.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If the FA offer is not enough, you just say thanks but no thanks, and apply RD elsewhere as if you never applied ED. There is no danger.</p>

6

<p>vossron - thanks for the ED info. My son is junior and we will definitely be applying for financial aid. We may now reconsider his decision not to apply ED.</p>

7

<p>Thanks to everyone for the opinions!</p>

<p>Re: Financial Aid: Is it true that Reed is more difficult to get into for students who require FA? I’ve read that their admissions process is need-aware, and that once one gets in, they meet 100% of projected need, but how much will not necessarily being able to pay my way affect my chances?</p>

8

<p>There’s no way to know how much the effect is. They must balance attracting the students they want the most with the available FA funds. It’s dynamic, depending on the the students needing FA who apply.</p>

9

<p>You should get in. But let’s be honest. Your high school record and SAT scores are basically the most important and you have that. Reed also recommends taking SAT subject tests. You might want to consider that</p>

10

<p>I don’t mean to be argumentative but I would not encourage someone to apply early decision if they are not a full pay. The reason is that financial aid packages vary greatly between colleges. If you are not a full pay you would be well advised to be able to compare financial aid packages from the schools you are admitted to.</p>

<p>In the case of the OP, this is a terrific list of colleges. Are you really going to want to go to Reed over Grinnell if the financial aid offered from Grinnell is substantially better than from Reed? Yes, Reed meets full demonstrated need, but that means full demonstrated need as they determine it.</p>

<p>If the answer is yes, you will attend Reed if you can possibly afford it no matter what other kind of offers you receive then you could apply to Reed early decision. But if you want to make finances part of the equation then you shouldn’t apply anywhere early decision.</p>

11

<p>I agree with Pea. Again, ED should be used only at your one dream school above all others, when you do not care about comparing FA offers, where the only question is “Can I afford it?”</p>