Demographics
White Female, New York, double major in biology and studio art while on the premed track, high income, Dad went to Lehigh. I submitted a supplemental art portfolio to all colleges which allowed me to send it.
GPA: 97/100 w, N/A uw
Mid-sized, competitive Public School
Rank: School does not rank
Test Scores: Test optional
Coursework
Took 6 APs: AP Physics 1, AP Studio Art (4 on AP), APUSH, AP Calc AB, AP Micro, AP Chemistry (did not take tests for the rest)
Took 1 honors class: Honors Chemistry
Took 1 college class: College Psychology
Took Four years of Latin
Awards
Honor roll all of high school
Many Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Gold Keys in Photography and digital art during all four years
Sold artwork to a museum
National Honors Society
National Latin Exam Silver Medal
National Art Honors Society, National Latin Honors Society
New York State Olympics of the Visual Arts first place in jewelry and second place in photography
All County Art
Long Islands Best Art Competition
Extracurriculars
In four clubs: Olympics of the visual arts (art based competition club), Photography Club, National Art Honors Society, Premedical Society
Leadership:
Olympics of the visual arts: Secretary (10), VP (11), President (12)
Photography Club: Treasurer (10), VP (11), President (12)
National Art Honors Society: Historian (11), VP (12)
I play tennis outside of school
I have a part-time job working with an art teacher who teaches art classes to children
I did two pre-college summer programs in photography and emergency medicine
I traveled to Hawaii, Greece, and Italy to do community service (90 hours of service)
Essays/LORs/Other
I think my main essay is pretty strong
LORs: I asked my AP Physics teacher and my APUSH teacher. I think both letters are pretty strong.
With WashU:
I visited campus
I did the optional 90 second video
Alumni interview
National Portfolio Day
Schoolhouseworld math certifications
Went to admission counselor presentation at my school
Cost Constraints / Budget
None
Schools
Safety (certain admission and affordability)
Pitt (already accepted), Delaware (already accepted), Elon (EA), University of South Carolina (EA)
Match
Lafayette (regular), Lehigh (regular), William & Mary (regular)
Based on your prospective majors, your EC list definitely reflects that, though in that and awards, it would probably have been more helpful to show more biology related work.
I assume you didn’t take the SAT or ACT… and with 7 AP classes, depending on what your school supplied you with and the opportunities you took, WashU is definitely a reach, but with a really compelling essay and if your interview went well, I think you do have a feasible chance with schools in that level of academic excellence.
I applied for bio. My school does offer AP bio but I chose to take AP Chem instead because it will prepare me better for premed chemistry in college. I explained in my why major essay why I wanted to major in bio and do premed. I wrote about how my mom had cancer and that inspired my passion for medicine.
For schools like Wash U and Vandy, in order to have a chance from our competitive North East public high school, you likely will submit a 1500/34+ test score (and even then, chances are not high). Going test optional will be a disadvantage. A 97 weighted average would also be on the low side for these schools.
I think you put the schools in the correct categories. They are reaches ( but not impossible) Good luck!
Congratulations on your record; you have a shot at it, for sure! Your course rigor seems to be light for WashU, Vandy- type schools: only one honors: are there honors courses in English, history, bio, foreign language at your school?
Does your school have naviance, so you might be able to assess how a 97 weighted gpa does in admissions? Alternatively , ask your counselor if they can give you an estimate of your class rank. Also, it might help you to ask how many from your school typically get in to WashU, Vandy etc each year. If your school has a large % who gets accepted to Ivies++ each year then you likely have a better chance.
Last year it says four people were accepted. My school does not offer honors Latin so I could not take that and they don’t offer honors social studies, they only have AP which I took. My gpa seems about average on naviance so it could go either way. But I think my art stuff has a chance to get me in.
Ok. Thanks. When I went to WashU at national portfolio day they seemed impressed with my portfolio. I don’t know if that means anything though. I mainly do photography and digital art.
You applied ED. So you’ll know soon enough. And the acceptance rate was 27% vs 8% RD. So that helps.
I personally think being a TO student makes it more difficult at the top schools. But 42% of those who enrolled were TO which is a few % less than kids who applied TO.
No one can truly tell you. We are not AOs. That you’ve already got two great acceptances and Elon is going to happen, enjoy your weeks and you’ll know soon enough.
But you’ve already got wonderful options. So that part is great.
That is fantastic! You sound very talented and you should be proud of your accomplishments. ED will certainly help and it looks like you already have some great options. Take some deep breaths and you will know soon enough!
I think you have a great chance! My DS was accepted RD without test scores from a competitive hs in chicago area. She is a dancer and english major with similar stats. (less AP science/more AP english and SS)
We are not high income, and she was offered great aid, but ulitmately decided on Vandy (also RD, no scores).
Congratulations on all that you have already accomplished and Good luck!