<p>Williams is probably quite a bit of a reach, but it's my top school, so I'm applying early decision. If I don't get in, St. Olaf would be my next choice. Thanks!</p>
<p>GPA: 3.77 unweighted, 4.5 weighted
31 ACT
My class rank is 90/831, weighted.
African-American, attending a public high school in the Chicagoland area</p>
<p>-Section leader in the Marching Band (member for four years)
-Member of Science National Honor Society
-Staff on school newspaper
-Model U.N. (2 years)
-Students for Peace and Justice (2 years)
-Church Choir (4 years)
-Flute Choir (Freshman, Sophomore, and Senior year, since it died junior year; leader senior year)
-National Achievement Semifinalist (will not know of Finalist recognition until January)
-AP Scholar
-Girl Scout
-Played flute for seven years
-Volunteer at local food pantry
-Will go on an immersion/exchange program to Guatemala during spring break</p>
<p>I have taken all honors and AP Courses. I will have taken 8 AP courses by the time I graduate.
AP Psychology
AP English Language
AP American History
AP English Literature
AP Calculus AB
AP Spanish
AP European History
AP Biology (taken over the course of three weeks of summer at Northwestern, receiving an overall grade of 89% for the first seven days and 92% for the second seven days-a midterm separates the two semesters. This translates to a year-long AP Biology course)</p>
<p>I also took a Creative Writing Program at University of Chicago, receiving a final grade of A</p>
<p>I was a finalist in my school's Ernest Hemingway Creative Writing competition, and was awarded second place in my school's Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Contest. I was given the Prairie State Achievement Award for PSAE scores in the state of Illinois.</p>
<p>Thanks for reading all of this! ^.^ Also, a question to anyone: do colleges want weighted class rank or unweighted, or does it matter??</p>
<p>Williams College-ED
St. Olaf College
Carleton College
Davidson College
Carnegie Mellon University
Wellesley College
Mount Holyoke College
Bowdoin College
Washington and Lee University
Vanderbilt University
Denison University
Baylor University</p>
<p>You probably won’t get into Williams, but you’ll definitely get into St. Olaf. There you have it.</p>
<p>Williams College - reach
St. Olaf College - match/high safety
Carleton College - slight reach, but you have a good shot.
Davidson College - reach
Carnegie Mellon University - big reach (they don’t count freshman grades, so that could help or hurt you)
Wellesley College - slight reach
Mount Holyoke College - match
Bowdoin College - reach
Washington and Lee University - reach
Vanderbilt University - probably your biggest reach
Denison University - safety
Baylor University - safety</p>
<p>I’d say get a few more matches. Might I recommend Kenyon in Ohio?</p>
<p>Shoot for your dreams. If you’re applying ED to Williams because you love the school then go for it. I think you’re a match for Mount Holyoke College (I’m applying there as well! )</p>
<p>CMU is definitely a major reach. I know a lot of the admissions counselors there and they definitely are very picky, even if you’re a URM. I would put Wellesley as a reach as well simply because admissions there is more selective than most people assume.</p>
<p>It’s not really silly, their ED acceptance rate is like 35% or something, which is 2x its RD rate, but it’s still the best ranked college in the country. It’s basically Ivy-level. You seem to be a good writer though, so anything’s possible.</p>
<p>are being WAY too hard on your chances. The combination of your adequate test scores, extremely tough schedule of courses (a big deal for Williams), strong performance in a class at an elite university, excellent EC’s, and demographic profile make you a 50-50 bet for Williams (wouldn’t be surprised either way) and, at worst, a match or likely admit for every other school on your list. Vanderbilt and CMU are NOT big reaches, they are match schools for you. Don’t despair, appying ED was the right choice, you certainly have a better shot than many, and even if you don’t get accepted, why always wonder “what if?”</p>
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