Chance to get into Swarthmore College

Applying to College
1

<p>My GPA is 3.8 unweighted.
My first SAT scores were Reading: 610 Writing: 550 Math: 480
but I took the test again yesterday and felt I did better.
I'm going to be taking the SAT English Literature and U.S. History Subject tests next month.</p>

<p>Senior Year Classes
Orchestra, Psychology/Sociology, Gym/Health, New Jersey History, AP English, Independant Study of Journalism, Mass Media</p>

<p>My school offers very few AP classes, and you can only take the available classes senior year. However, I took Honors Algebra I, Honors Geometry, Honors Physical/Earth Science, and Honors Biology.</p>

<p>I have been a member of the newspaper staff for 3 years. This year, I am the editor. During the summer of 2010, I attended the Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University in Washington D.C. and had a summer internship at a small, local magazine, Out and About.</p>

<p>Clubs/Groups
-National Honor Society (inducted Junior year)
-Student Council (2 years)
-Tri-M Music Honors Society (3 years)
-Renaissance Committee (2 years)
-Spanish Club (1 year)
-Journalism Club (3 years)
-Media Club (1 year)
-Strolling Strings (4 years)
-Riverview Chamber Ensemble (4 years)
-Music Academy (1 year)</p>

<p>I have played violin for 7 years and been in my school's concert orchestra, as well as a few small ensembles. Also, I had a private and group lessons with an adjunct teacher during seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. My high school's groups the Strolling Strings and Riverview Chamber Ensemble contains the best players from concert orchestra. Strolling Strings practices three mornings per week and performs at different events around our area. I recieve many community service hours for these performances. Riverview Chamber Ensemble strictly plays higher-level chamber music than that of Strolling Strings. We practice one morning a week. Also, I have performed solo at the Garden State Christian Women's Connection that my mom attends, four times. </p>

<p>Swarthmore is my dream school. I love that it has a small and select study body with such a beautiful and expansive campus. I am sure that I was a private, liberal arts education. I imagine every day being filled with stimulating and intellectual conversation and great fun. I feel that the fact that I do not drink or do drugs will be accepted at Swarthmore more so than at other colleges. I interviewed, and believe it went well. I'm going to include a supplement of myself playing violin and articles I have written for the school newspaper. I plan on studying English, Journalism, and Psychology.</p>

2

<p>someone reply?
I know it doesn’t look great, but I know that Swarthmore wants students who want them, and I want them more than anything.</p>

3

<p>The middle 50% in each section of the SAT at Swarthmore is 670-760 or 770. Unless you were able to raise your section scores by 100 or 200 (in the case of math), I think your chances are close to nil. In addition, your courses do not appear to have the kind of rigor that a school like Swat is looking for. I don’t see physics, chemistry, or pre-calc, much less calc. You have apparently dropped your foreign language senior year? Your GPA is fine.</p>

<p>I appreciate that you are strongly drawn to Swat, and if it is your dream school you should certainly apply, but I think you ought to be looking for some easier admits that have the same qualities you admire in Swat.</p>

4

<p>I agree with Consolation’s assessment.</p>

<p>Have you tried taking the ACT? You may do better on that test. If your scores stay around the same, you should also consider applying to schools that are test-optional. </p>

<p>Try looking at schools like St. John’s College (either the Annapolis or New Mexico campuses) and Reed. Some of the “Colleges That Change Lives” schools may also be a good fit for you.</p>

5

<p>I have taken Chemistry. My school only requires three years of science and math, which aren’t my strong areas, so I didn’t continue. It also only requires one year of language, and only offers Spanish and German. If we had French, I would have loved to take four years of that. I know that’s not much of an excuse. Also, an English teacher at my school who attended Swat is helping me with my essay!</p>

6

<p>I would absolutely look at the schools you have suggested, slitheytove, but I’m trying to stay close to home (NJ, DE, PA area). Thanks for the help.</p>

7

<p>Classes taken throughout High School</p>

<p>Sciences
-Honors Physical/Earth Science
-Honors Biology
-CP Chemistry</p>

<p>Maths
-Honors Algebra I
-Honors Geometry
-CP Algebra II</p>

<p>History/Social Studies
-CP World History
-CP U.S. History I
-CP U.S. History II
-N.J History
-Psychology/Sociology</p>

<p>English
-English 9 CP
-English 10 World Literature CP
-English 11 American Literature CP
-AP English 12 British Literature
-Understanding Short Stories
-Journalism
-Advanced Journalism
-Independant Study Journalism
-Media I
-Media II</p>

<p>Music
-Orchestra (4 years)
-Music Theory I

  • Strolling Strings 0 period (4 years)
    -Riverview Chamber Ensemble 0 period (4 years)
    -Quartet (1 year)</p>