Chance me, perhaps help narrow down my list, and find a college that best suits me

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm applying to about 10-13 colleges, all LACs, some varying in selectivity. I'm inching towards Vassar as my top choice school (perhaps even applying ED) but am unsure. Could you please look at my resume and stats, chance me for the listed schools, perhaps help narrow my list, and help me find a school on this list that best suits my academic, extracurricular, and social interests. A heavy order, yes, but I really am in need of some guidance here...</p>

<p>I am a white male from AZ, attending a very rigorous, private, college prep school. Keyword: RIGOROUS.</p>

<p>My school doesn't weigh GPAs, but I am taking 2 AP courses (my school only offers about 5-7). Also, a B- warrants a 2.7, where as most other schools in my area (and I think in general) give all B grades a 3, all A grades a 4, etc.</p>

<p>So, my GPA, according to my school's regulations and unweighted procedures is a 3.26, but by other standards, I have about a 3.4</p>

<p>ACT score: 27, 10 on essay. Retaking this weekend and likely getting at least a 28, aiming for a 30.</p>

<p>Course load
Freshman:
Forms in Literature A-/A
Geometry C/B
Biology B+/A-
World History B/B+
Spanish II A-/A-
P.E. A/A</p>

<p>Sophomore
Literature and Writing B+/A
Advanced Algebra B-/B-
Conceptual Physics B-/C+ (yikes...)
European History B/A-
Spanish III A-/A-
Visual Arts I B+/B+</p>

<p>Junior
American Literature A/A
Functions, Statistics, and Trigonometry B-/B
Chemistry C+/B-
U.S. History B/B
Spanish IV B+/A-
Visual Arts II A-/A-</p>

<p>Senior (grades are as such: current quarter grade/speculated semester grade)
AP Literature A/A
Precalculus B/B
Journalism A/A
Creative Writing A/A
AP Spanish B/A-
Advanced Visual Arts B+/A</p>

<p>So, basically 4 years of english, foreign language, and math, with 3 years of science, history, and visual arts. I would have taken history and art for 4 years, but there were scheduling issues...</p>

<p>Extracurriculars/Passions</p>

<p>President of class, 9th grade</p>

<p>Vice President of class, 10th grade</p>

<p>Secretary of class, 12th grade</p>

<p>Took Japanese 101 at community college during 10th grade, got about C+. I clearly wasn't prepared for college level work, but continued to study independently. I studied abroad this summer in Tokyo and am taking Japanese 101 again at community college this year, with a current A+ average.</p>

<p>Student recruitment Committee for 3 years</p>

<p>National Art Honor Society for 3 years, am Vice President this year.</p>

<p>Summer of Art program in downtown Tucson in 9th and 10th grade. Art work was displayed in a gallery, some pieces even selling.</p>

<p>Art work being displayed in Tubach and at a Day of the Dead gallery this year.</p>

<p>Have helped set up annual Spring School Art Show each year, and will have my own larger gallery space this year.</p>

<p>Writing for school newspaper</p>

<p>MASTERWORK: an optional program for seniors at my school in which they can pursue a passion that integrates academic and extracurricular passion. Seniors work on their masterworks all year and finally present their projects to the entire school at the end of the year. I am making a graphic novel, integrating my artistic and creative writing passions. Will explore psychological themes.</p>

<p>Ok, now for the schools...</p>

<p>Vassar College (maybe EDII)
Lewis and Clark College (EA, had a great interview, with my interviewer writing me and encouraging me to apply)
Middlebury College
Grinnell College (had an excellent interview, and my father went there)
Macalester College
Oberlin College
Skidmore College
Bard College
Whitman College (same case as Lewis and Clark)
Reed College
Willamette University
Linfield College
Wesleyan University (I only recently begun looking into Wes, it looks nice.)</p>

<p>That's 13 colleges...Alot. Honestly, it's not that I'm shooting blind here, hoping to hit a target. Rather, I figure I have the next 3 months to decide the next 4 years of my future and intellectual growth. I want to have the most options and "shoot for the starts." </p>

<p>I have no idea what my major will be, but I am interested in International Affairs, Japanese, and Psychology. All of the above colleges have some sort of education in these areas minus Reed, but I am completely fascinated by Reed's academic philosophy and atmosphere, and so I figure I should give it a shot. </p>

<p>So, if my ECs and Passions section wasn't clear enough, I'm really into the visual arts and Japanese culture and studying abroad. Throughout all my life, I have lived in 4 different nations and 4 different states (hence my international affairs interests) and really like Japanese culture. Colleges that have an international focus are nice (Middlebury, Lewis and Clark, Macalester) but I'm rather looking for a college that has the most in depth, diverse, intellectual liberal arts education. Vassar immediately comes to mind, offering 1000+ courses, with majors in my interests, but the social scene irks me a bit. I've visited and loved the campus, but some students seemed to almost revel in their indie-hipster pretentiousness. </p>

<p>Then I looked into Wesleyan, which looks amazing, but perhaps is too big a reach for me. Oberlin, Reed, Bard, and Whitman are pretty cool, and I like them alot. I'm calling Skidmore, Lewis and Clark, Willamette, and Linfield my safeties. </p>

<p>I guess I'm looking for a college that has diverse academics, a laid back student body, and preferably in the north east...Any suggesstions? Should I take off any of these schools? What are my chances?</p>

<p>THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING THROUGH THIS EPIC WALL OF TEXT.
:)</p>

2

<p>I forgot to mention that I will also have very good teacher recs and rec/evaluation from my GC.</p>

<p>I am in the process of revising what will be an excellent and compelling essay.</p>

3

<p>Scoring a 30 on the ACT would really help you. And I hope you have honors classes in addition to the two APs. I think Wes/Middlebury would be reaches.</p>

4

<p>My school does not offer Honors courses, but courses at my school are considered honors courses at the local public high school (I have friends there, they tell me.) hence the rigorous description.</p>

<p>Thanks for your post!</p>

<p>Further thoughts?</p>

5

<p>Your resume looks rather weak for nearly all of the colleges on your list. You may want to consider some LACs that are not so selective, or consider adding in your state uni and other such safeties. </p>

<p>I don't see any awards to prove your talents in the arts. While you say Japanese may be a passion of yours, getting a C in a community college course can't be good.. i'm not sure how good this CC was, but in general I don't think their classes should be that difficult, because I've taken a number of classes at my CC. Retaking the same CC class doesn't make you look good either even if you are getting an A+ (after all, you're retaking the class). While it's nice that you were Pres of your class in 9th grade, your class leadership positions have been getting worse through the years (Prez- Vic - Treasurer) which is not ideal. Your grades and ACT score seem just slightly below average or perhaps average for these LACs, especially vassar, wesleyan, middlebury, etc. What are your AP scores, SAT ii scores, class rank?</p>

6

<p>Awards in the arts...Hmm, both my school gallery and other galleries I have been in (minus the Tubach one) don't offer awards. I agree with the CC stuff, but to me it shows a dedication to something, and I figure this is worth noting to colleges. And I'm interested in merely helping my class in any way I can by being an elected official. I ran for president and the like every year, but was beaten by others. </p>

<p>Thanks for your input!</p>

<p>Further thoughts?</p>

7

<p>No SAT IIs btw, and I'm taking those APs this year, so I haven't taken the exam yet. I'm ranked 5th out of 12 people in my class.</p>

8

<p>bump 10char</p>

9

<p>bump 10char</p>

10

<p>218 views? Please...I need advice!</p>

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<p>You might also want to look at Bennington College in Vermont.</p>

<p>As far as your current list--it's really hard to get a sense of how you'll do (considering that people here can't know this for sure anyway). But you have strong interests and should give it a shot. The only way to really cut down your list is to either do more research on the schools or visit them to see if you really care for them all equally. Of course, if you have the stamina for all of those applications.....</p>

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<p>Hah, don't worry, I've got the stamina ;) I figure I have about, what, 2 months to decide the next four years of my life. I should give it my all, apply to as many places that interest me as possible (though I have to wonder if 12 is pushing it), and "shoot for the stars" as they say.</p>

<p>Further thoughts?</p>

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<p>Out of all the schools on your list, the one that stands out to me as markedly different (granted, I don't know much about Willamette and Linfield) is Middlebury. Most of the schools on your list are liberal, artsy, laidback while, to me at least, Middlebury comes across as preppy and country club-ish. That's just one person's opinion, of course, and I never looked seriously at the school... but from what I know of it, it seems quite unlike the other schools on your list.</p>

<p>And about the indie-scene thing at Vassar... I'm not a fan of people who try to play up that particular persona either and have found plenty of people on campus who don't "revel in their indie-hipster pretentiousness" (by the way, I loved the way you put that). There are people who do (my roommate is one of them), but the vast majority doesn't.</p>

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<p>Thanks for your thoughts littleatheist, and I apologize if I came across as rude or pretentious myself in describing Vassar's student body. I'm merely going off what I've heard and what I briefly saw at Vassar. I'm still very much enamored by the school. Still, sorry ^_^;;</p>

<p>Ah middlebury...Honestly, it was the first school I ever truly was fascinated by, and its always been, to me anyway, the classic liberal arts college that embodies all I want in a college. Yes, it is not as artsy or liberal as other schools on my list, but Midd has such strong programs in areas I like that I can't help but apply there. When I visited, I saw a fair share of collar popped preps and the like, but I also saw some crunchy birkenstock wearing hippie types. </p>

<p>And thanks for the compliment on my wording (about the reveling indie-ness)</p>

<p>Further thoughts?</p>

15

<p>with your current stats (27 on act and 3.4 gpa) i don't think you should put high hopes on your reaches. i think it's more healthy to look at matches because most likely those will be the ones you ultimately get accepted. as far as the number of schools on your list, i think you have too many reaches/high reaches and i'd suggest you look into matches that you'd be happy attending. it seems like you already have your heart set on going to vassar, wesleyan or other top lacs but the fact is your stats are lower than the 25 percentile of these schools so unless your an urm with hooks i doubt you'd get in. be more realistic about your reaches, matches and safeties so that you won't end up at a school you do not like.</p>

<p>Vassar College (ed)- reach
Lewis and Clark College (ea)- match
Middlebury College- high reach
Grinnell College (legacy)- low reach
Macalester College- reach
Oberlin College-reach
Skidmore College (they need more men)- high match
Bard College- low reach
Whitman College- high match
Reed College- reach
Willamette University- low match
Linfield College- safety
Wesleyan University- high reach</p>

<p>the worst case scenario; you only get into matches and safeties- l&c, willamette and linfield- would you be happy attending any of these schools? if the answer is no, you should reconsider your list. good luck.</p>

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<p>I'm realistic of my chances, and would be be very happy to attend Willamette, Linfield, or L&C. Thanks for your input! Remember that my ACT score will be higher than a 27 (at least I'm hoping...I've studied like crazy for the past 2 months.)</p>

<p>Oh, and I've decided NOT to apply to Wesleyan. My GC, interestingly enough, knows the dean of admissions very well at Macalester, and says he could get a few good words in for me there...</p>

<p>Further thoughts?</p>

17

<p>bumppppppp</p>

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<p>Your GC can advise you about your list of schools.
That's his job.</p>

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<p>I agree with mtpaper. Talk with your guidance counselor and listen carefully to what he says your chances are at the schools on your list. Guidance counselors have a better sense of where students with stats similar to yours from your school have landed in the past than a bunch of strangers on the internet. </p>

<p>That said, since you seem to favor liberal and more laid back schools, you may want to also look at Kalamazoo, Earlham, Beloit, Bennington, Hendrix, Guilford and perhaps even Hampshire. They are all more like your top choice schools in terms of campus culture and feel than either Linfield or Willamette. The Johnsont Center at the University of Redlands in California may also be worth a look. Good luck!</p>