chances-2009

Colleges and Universities A-Z Swarthmore College
1

<p>Out of State (NY)
4.0 (98%) unweighted 102.6 weighted
9 AP classes (World History, American History, Chemistry, Literature, English Language, Calculus AB, Physics, Government, Italian)
9 Honors Classes
4th in Class of 300
2110 Sats/1370 Sats
4 Years varsity Soccer/Captain of Girls Varsity Soccer
4 Years Softball
4 Years travel Soccer- Captain all 4 Years
Italian Club 3 Years- Treasurer Jr Year/Pres. Sr Year
Interact Club 4 Years (Community Service Club)
Athletes Helping Athletes (3 Years)- Tried to Instill a drug and alcohol free lifestyle in the elementary students
Best Buddies Club- VP Senior Year
Student Government- Delegate Freshman Year
Habitat for Humanity Club - 4 Years
Habitat for Humanity at Church
Ran an annual bake sale for 3 Years where all proceeds went to Habitat for Humanity
Editor and Chief/Writer for Church Newsletter encouraging Youth involvement in Church/Church Activities
National Honor Society
Tri-M Music Honor Society - Secretary
Art Honor Society
Italian Honor Society
Marching Band (3 Years)
Attended 3 week program on Kinesiology at Brown University
Attended 2 week Program on Psychology/Advertising at University of Wisconsin at Madison
Music: Play the Flute for 9 Years in Symphonic Band/self-taught alto saxophone-played in the marching band/Self Taught Tenor Saxophone, Trumpet, and Percussion
Worked and Volunteered at a Summer Band Camp for 5 Years
Worked at a Local Soccer Camp - 2 years
Playing Holiday Songs for Patients at Huntington Hospital/Paumanack Village (2 Years)
Soup Kitchen on Thanksgiving
Buddy Program for incoming freshmen - helped freshmen become comfortable with the high school
Reflections Winner (1st place photography, Honorable Mention photography and visual arts)
National Merit Scholar
The Instrumentalist Magazine Musicianship Award
Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy Attendee
Jr. National Youth Leadership Conference Attendee
Honor Roll every year</p>

<p>What are my chances???</p>

2

<p>Everything looks okay. It's still a reach. I can't say that you're likely to get in, but that's because Swarthmore is very selective, and people who get into Yale and Columbia might not get into Swarthmore. Make sure you do well on your essay.</p>

3

<p>Your stats are fine to be solidly in the mix.</p>

<p>If you plan to continue soccer in college, you should contact the women's coach at Swarthmore immediately. Because they aren't using any of their reserved athletic "tips" to stock a football team, the women's teams have some ability to influence admissions for an impact varsity athlete.</p>

<p>My other piece of advice would be to think about distilling, organizing, and focusing your extracurricular list. Yours is so lengthy that it is difficult for someone who doesn't know you to see what really lights your fire. It's not a bad thing, it's just that the length of your list will make it tough on any admissions office. The best odds of addmission happens when a student presents a clear "personality" that jumps off every page of the application. You could go sports, music, your church involvement, and so forth, depending on what is really meaningful to you.</p>

<p>Finally, if you are really serious about Swarthmore, visit campus, do an overnight, learn as much as you can about the College, and write a "Why Swarthmore?" essay that lets them easily picture you as a Swattie walking across Parish Beach. Also, consider Early Decision if possible.</p>

4

<p>thanks for all the advice! I am definitely going to narrow down my list and just as you said, focus on the "meat and potatoes" rather than all of the other 'stuff.' THANKS!</p>