Chances? ^_^

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey :D</p>

<p>As I struggle through the application process, I can't help but wonder if it will all be in vain. Therefore, I would much appreciate it if I could have some advice on which of my schools are matches/reaches/high reaches, etc..</p>

<p>White male from rural MO</p>

<p>Possible majors: Linguistics, Philosophy, Classics, Physics/Astronomy</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0/4.0 unweighted (school doesn't weigh classes)</p>

<p>Rank: (tied for) 1 out of 48</p>

<p>ACT: 32 (highest composite) (E-35, M-29, R-33, S-35 (highest sub-scores))
I haven't taken the writing yet, but I am signed up to do so in September.</p>

<p>Not taking SAT.</p>

<p>Classes:
My school offers no IB's, no AP's, and only one honors course (which I have taken).
That being said, I have take the most rigorous courses possible.
I have taken no foreign language classes as my school only offers spanish (as a computer class, at that). I am, however, very interested in languages ( I just really dislike spanish).</p>

<p>ECs:
9th - FCCLA, piano lessons (I still play but no longer take lessons)
10th - Math and Science Society
11th - Philosophy Club, Quiz Bowl, work at Dairy Queen 10-20 hrs/wk, tutoring ~3 hrs/wk, NHS
12th - Philosophy Club, Quiz Bowl (captain), Class President, Student Council Vice-President, NHS (officers of other clubs can't hold office in NHS), working at Dairy Queen 10-20 hrs/wk</p>

<p>I have logged 50+ hours of (unpaid) tutoring</p>

<p>Awards:
1st place on Quiz Bowl all-district team.
Sophomore Pilgrimage
numerous "highest grade in class" awards</p>

<p>Schools I am applying to:
Amherst College, Brown University, Bowdoin College, Carleton College, Middlebury College, University of Chicago, Washington University in St. Louis, Yale University.</p>

<p>Are there any others I should maybe be looking into? I'd prefer the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic</p>

<p>Thanks! ^_^</p>

2

<p>Your GPA and rank look nice from the surface but there are two problems. One you have very easy courses, two you only have 48 kids so being 1st isn’t too difficult. Your ECs are also relatively weak, and nothing really stands out. </p>

<p>Your ACT score is good not great, but it is around the mid 50 range for most Ivies so you’re okay there.</p>

<p>I would say you have a pretty good shot at the schools, but it depends on how they look at the miniscule size of your school, and lack of difficult courses.</p>

3

<p>Weak extracurriculars and test scores, but your GPA and rank are excellent. Being from Missouri also helps your case. </p>

<p>Yale is probably out of reach, while Brown and Amherst are significant reaches, and the rest being high matches to low reaches. Perhaps you should select your favorite on your list and ED there; it should work in your favor.</p>

4

<p>All those schools seem like reaches. Add some safeties/matches.
Your class rank and GPA will help you, but your academic courses and class size will hurt you.</p>

5

<p>Every school you list is a reach, hoping this is not the whole list.</p>

6

<p>As much as I would like to apply ED to Brown, I’ve decided not to due to my need for financial aid.</p>

<p>I probably should have mentioned that my school does offer dual-credit options of classes; I have taken just about all of them (I will have 31 hours of “college credit” built up at the end of this year"). However, since it is an “option”, kids that are not taking the classes for college credit are in the same class as the kids that are, and with little or no supervision from participating colleges, the classes aren’t very special. </p>

<p>I have tried to take learning into my own hands in many ways since my school simply can’t provide. Perhaps I should try to accentuate that on my applications somewhere.</p>

<p>I’m also looking at Northwestern, Haverford, and possibly Colby. But I’m not too excited about them. Any ideas would be great! My one safety is Mizzou (bleh).</p>

7

<p>Amherst College, Brown University, University of Chicago, Washington University in St. Louis, Yale University are all reaches due to lack of academic challenges as well as insignificant extra-curriculars.</p>

8

<p>As the others have mentioned, get a safety. I’m definitely not as knowledgeable as the rest of them, being an applicant this year as well, but I’ve heard enough nightmare stories about first-tier applicants getting near-total rejections that I would suggest applying to schools across the board.</p>