Chance me Swarthmore ED (it’s a little early, I know)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Swarthmore College
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I’m probably going to submit ED to Swarthmore. I just want to see what my chances are I guess.

Personal:
White, Female, Nevada, not Vegas,
Muslim, LGBT+


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150,000 (but my family has tons of uninsured Medical stuff and debt ect. )

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School:
W: 3.85/UW: 4.1 (senior year probably be 4.5)
40/600 (~top 7%)

ACT: 32
Reading: 35
Writing: 35
Science: 33
Math: 25

Junior year:
AP Chem - 2
APUSH - 4
AP LANG - 4
(these are the most likely scores, i’ll Update when I get my test results back)

Senior year:
AP CALC BC
AP LIT
AP COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES
AP ENVIROMENTAL
AP GOVERNMENT

i’m Also taking the Sat subject tests in Lit, US history, and Chem so… there’s that. I’ll update with those scores.

EC:
Founder of Mock Trial Team
Debate team captain
Mock trial team captain
Volunteer disability tutor for five years on and off (because it depends when they have students)
NSDA National Competitor
Debate Academic All American
Honor roll/Various academic awards
SKILLSUSA competitor (and NTHS member)
NSHSS
Middlebury Interactive Language Camp Antendee - Arabic (last year and this year)
Poetry Out Loud State Finalist

I’m probably going to major in Linguistics (maybe also Chem) and minor in Arabic. I’m a language nerd what else can I say.

I know Swarthmore weighs the essay pretty heavily so I’m working on that and I’m going to fly it by some of my teachers who attended small liberal arts schools. I’m also applying for Discover Swarthmore. Idk if I’ll get it. I know it’s a little early to ask people to chance me, but I’m just really nervous about applying.

So… at least on an academic level (aka minus the essay), where am I at?

(Also I wrote this on my phone because my laptop is broken so don’t crucify me please)

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Edited original post with what was in this comment.

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i think you look like a great candidate for swarthmore; however, i don’t recommend sending that ap chem score (if you plan on sending your scores, that is). i’m sure you’ve already looked into it since you’ve done a language camp there, but i definitely recommend middlebury if you’re looking into majoring in linguistics and minoring in arabic. their early decision acceptance rate is ~50% every year, and they’re most notably known for how amazing their language department is. good luck, homie!

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The ACT score is on point and your GPA is more or less there. That puts you right in the average. The acceptance rate is only 15%, so don’t be surprised if you get a rejection.

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Hey! I was accepted to DiscoSwat and Swarthmore RD, and I will be attending next fall! Feel free to ask me any questions.

I would say you have a competitive profile, but definitely work hard on your Common App personal statement and the Why Swat essay. The acceptance rate for Swarthmore this year was 9.1%.

A question for you: why do you love Swarthmore?

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My kid is also a HS junior who wants to go to Swat and his scores and grades are pretty similar. His ACT had almost exactly the same breakdown - he got 1 lower in English and 1 higher in Reading. I hope you and he both get in and become friends because you sound like an awesome person.

My suspicion from talking to the admissions officers last time we visited is that you and he pass the requirements for academic scores, so it will come down to that elusive ‘fit’. Discoswat will let you know a bit whether the school is a fit for you. If you want to show in your essay that you are a fit for them, they have the list of criteria they look for right on the admissions page - https://www.swarthmore.edu/admissions-aid/applying-to-swarthmore

Good luck and hope to hear more from you.

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Hey! I started a discussion thread for DiscoSwat if you’re interested now or once decisions come out to have a community backing you up. :smiley:

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So, AP:
Chem: 3
(I was honestly very surprised and very happy. Definitely wont be reporting this on my actual application though)
Language: 4
US History: 5
(Very happy!)

I really don’t want to talk about SAT Subject Tests. What Subject Tests? Never happened…

I have a feeling that my essay will really have to shine after these test scores. I’m definitely not at the bottom of the barrel but, I’m a little disappointed in myself. I’m even more nervous by the fact that I’m my DiscoSwat application I told them every single test I took (AP and Subject Tests) and now I’m absolutley terrified that they’re going to see that, see that I didn’t report certain scores (or any scores, in the case of he subject tests) and disregard me. Hyperbolic and irrational? Absolutely. Petrifying? Definitely.

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My kiddo isn’t taking the subject tests at all because he is totally over standardized testing.

@sillis from Swat’s admissions page: We do not require SAT Subject Tests, but we will consider these scores if you provide them. If you have indicated an interest in our engineering program, you are encouraged to provide the Math 2 Subject Test.

Don’t report the subject tests. Don’t worry about it.

My kiddo is interested in linguistics too, although it lags behind his interest in theatre, psychology, anthropology and history. It’s a pretty good thing that LACs exist to give a breadth of educational options.

And don’t be too nervous about the essay. Be honest and tell it from the heart. I like your writing here, I have a feeling that you will write something good if you just let yourself do it and don’t overanalyze.