Chance thread. I'm sorry.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Swarthmore College
1

<p>I apologize for adding another chance thread to this forum, but I want to emphasize that I write it for the very practical purpose of trying to decide where I should apply Regular Decision and where I might realistically stand a chance of being accepted. So please be honest. </p>

<p>Objective Stats:
Biological: White male
GPA: 96.66, weighted (my school doesn't calculate unweighted averages).
Class Rank: 16/126
Type of school: pretty crappy, relatively uncompetitive public school in upstate New York (just to contextualize my class rank as being even worse than it initially appears).
Course Load: most rigorous in class, including a skipped grade of math and now college math classes at the local LAC.
SAT I: 2370 cum, 800 cr, 800 m, 770 wr
SAT II: 800 math II, 770 ush, 730 lit
ACT: 35 comp
APs: 5s on Euro, US History, Calc AB, Physics B, currently enrolled in AP Eng Lang, Gov, AP French, and AP Chem.</p>

<p>Subjective Info:
Childhood (i guess not entirely subjective but whatever): happy, extremely fortunate, comfortable childhood, no hooks whatsoever.
ECs: Ballet, extensive involvement, have attended 4-week summer intensive for 4 years now. Music, extensive involvement, play cello in several local orchestras, attended 4-week summer intensive this past summer partnered with Philly, compose electronic music. Model UN, vice-president. Lit Mag, staff member. Mathletics, team member. Some community service, I tutor refugees in English at the local refugee center weekly. Finally, I have a music radio show at the local college radio station. I guess it's not an EC in the traditional sense but my love of music in general is such a big part of me in general that I included it in my app.
Honors/Awards: nothing really spectacular, National Merit Semi-finalist, AP Scholar with Honor, NHS.
Recommendations: excellent, i was able to build friendly and intellectually stimulating relationships with both teachers.
Essays: Common App essay is fairly good, details my love of photography and my year spent living abroad, things I didn't include elsewhere on my app. haven't started supplement...nervous laugh. </p>

<p>Sorry if I missed anything, and I genuinely appreciate all of your helpful input, regardless of what it says. Also, sorry for my erratic and inconsistent capitalization.</p>

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<p>I think you have fantastic test scores, great GPA and class rank. You have good ECs. Your music ECs are very interesting as well as the radio experience. You stand a very good chance. You should do a good job presenting yourself and write a good ‘Why Swarthmore’ essay and then see where that leads you. You have a very good chance RD.</p>

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<p>I think you will get into Columbia ED, so this thread will be irrelevant. But if not, you should have a very good chance at Swat.</p>

<p>(Btw, if you are applying to Stanford as well, make sure to send a music supplement (check the dates for it - they used to be earlier than the rest of the application.))</p>

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<p>thanks achat!</p>

<p>nngmm - i would love to send in a music supplement for stanford, but unfortunately you’re correct in thinking that the deadline for their arts supplement is significantly earlier than that for the application. i found this out on Dec. 1st, which was the deadline. so doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. thanks for your input!</p>

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<p>I hate answering “chances” threads for regular decision, because – honestly – the odds for regular decision at Swarthmore are daunting to say the least.</p>

<p>You certainly have the stats for a credible Swarthmore application and would have a shot. But, I will be the bearer of a splash of cold water and say that I’m not as optimiistic as achat and nngmm. I think you should be realistic about your odds of acceptance in the RD round at Swarthmore. The overall acceptance rate this year was 16%. Regular decision is lower than that. Regular decision with no diversity or athletic hook is lower still. I’m just trying to be realistic.</p>

<p>I have two concerns: The class rank is way low for Swarthmore from a run-of-the-mill public high school and class rank (or some other measure of academic performance) is huge in Swarthmore admissions, IMO. I believe it is the single most important factor. Swarthmore just doesn’t take many kids who haven’t shown exceptional academic performance (relative to their opportunities).</p>

<p>And, I’m not seeing anything that screams strong interest in Swarthmore. It’s been my observation over several years that applicants who have Swarthmore as “just another school on their list” tend to get waitlist letters. It’s not Tufts-syndrome. It’s just that enthusiasm for Swarthmore tends to make every nook and cranny of the application more compelling to an admissions reader trying to visualize each applicant as a student standing in line for coffee in Kohlberg or the Science Center.</p>

<p>On the flip side, Swarthmore has significant focus on their well-regarded dance program, so you may have something that makes your app stand out. I don’t have much of a feel for how strong you have to be in music for it to stand out. Overall, I think the music and dance will need to drive your application and I would pay particular attention to how you answer the Why Swarthmore question.</p>

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<p>I agree that fine arts and Swat-specific interest will be the turning points of your application. Swarthmore’s radio station is a often-disregarded niche. I have no idea how much being a male in ballet will help. The dance program here is very global and interdisciplinary.</p>

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<p>My son, also from an upstate New York public high school was admitted to Swat with stats less strong than the OP. His HS didn’t rank, but if it had he would have been in the top quartile. I think it was his 'Why Swarthmore" essay that got him admitted. Spend time on it and make it personal. Really try to explain to them why Swat is the right fit for you.</p>

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<p>just submitted my app. anyone willing to assuage or feed my post-submission nerves? also, although it’s too late to change anything, i was wondering if any of you wonderful people would be willing to quickly read over my why swarthmore and tell me what you think? preferably a current student, former student, or parent of a current/former student…thanks!</p>

<p>for the record, i was deferred from columbia.</p>

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<p>i love interesteddad’s posts on here. beautifully but concisely written and always dead on the money.</p>

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<p>^agreed. in fact, interesteddad, if at all possible i’d be particularly interested in hearing your opinion on my why swat essay; you seem very well-informed and realistic. again, thanks!</p>