Chances at Amherst, SLC, Tufts, others

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi! I'm wondering about my chances at certain colleges based on what I'm going to list below. What's a match, a reach, a safety etc. Forgive me for being really thourough, I am also trying to organize my thoughts here. It's a bit long! Sorry. This is basically my resume. </p>

<p>If you have any other suggestions please go for it!</p>

<p>To illuminate: I'm one of seven kids, the oldest still at home. My dad is a former carpenter with epilepsy (forced retirement) and emphesyma, so my mom can't work either because she has to be here all the time. I was the only one in the house with a job for a while until my sister got one recently and I understandably don't get a lot of time out.</p>

<p>My GPA is 98.5 (weighted according to level of class, but there is a known problem yet to be corrected that will raise it by maybe a point) and I am Third in a class of about 300.</p>

<p>Freshman and Sophomore:
All the highest class levels (Honors, but some didn't offer an honors version) that I could get.
Bio & Chem, English 9&10 and Creative Writing, Geometry & Algebra II (most people at my school start at Algebra I but I had already taken it), Art/Ceramics (one class), Spanish 2&3 (had already taken 1), World History Parts A&B (two classes).</p>

<p>Junior:
AP U.S. History - 5 on exam
AP Physics - 4
Independent Study Creative Writing (they were not going to offer Creative Writing this year because too few people registered for it, so my teacher and I convinced the principal to let me selfstudy it, which he is generally reluctant to do, so I designed my curriculm and grading [to be done by my prev. year teacher] and wrote a 200+ page book as my class)
H English, H Spanish 4 (first year an honors was offered), H PreCalculus/Trig (one class)</p>

<p>Senior Year Schedule:
AP European History (expecting a 4 or 5, partly because I'm used to DBQs now and partly because I am a history buff)
AP English Lit (expecting 4 or 5)
AP Psychology (my teachers have told me to expect a 5 but I don't know because I know nothing about Pysch going into it)
AP Calculus (will be glad for a 4 or 5, more realistically a 3, but I am a strong test-taker)
Honors Spanish 5 (AP not offered, too few registered students)
Intensive Sociology (no Honors or AP offered)
Library Aide 3 periods a week/ PE the other 2 (because I wanted to do something usefull)</p>

<p>ECs:
[I don't know if 8th grade matters but here it is: Cowrote (with theatre class) and stared in school play "BAD", three school awards (I think Math, Spanish and Most Valuable Player, meaning I was a contender for all the subject awards), and President's Education Awards Program Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence]
-Troupe Taconic - 9 (independent of school; disbanded
+play, Ghost Lights, written by all of cast
+volunteer staff at charity concert hosted by/benefiting TT (believe it or not, the performer was Jesse McCartney, TT's director knew his manager)
-Shakespeare & Company's Fall Festival of Shakespeare - 10, 11, 12 (program for local HSs at professional theatre company, acting, costuming and volunteered time in production center)
-Gay Straight Alliance - 10, 11, 12
-Spanish Club - 10, 11, 12 (hoping to get this more organized and start a chapter of the Spanish National Honor Society, the staff adviser kinda doesn't care about it)
-Class Council - 9, 10, 12 (11th grade they became the Prom Comittee and I was too busy to do it, I had a job)
-Part time job at a restaurant at the Crown Plaza Hotel - summer after 10 to summer after 11 (I actually just quit bc my checks were mysteriously missing money)
-School Literary Magazine, Editor - 11, 12
-Local (County) Lit Mag, CoEditor - summer after 10th and hopefully this summer and next, if it happens (outside of school with local writing/tutoring center)
-Took an online Beginner's Fiction class with the above tutoring center - 9
-Accepted to and attended New England Young Writer's Conference - 11 (you can only go once)
-Attended "Women in Technology" seminar at local CC over Spring Break - 9
-National Honor Society - 11, 12 (tutor, hoping to be elected to an office next year)
-Film Production Company "Half&Half Films", CoFounder - 11, 12
+I've written two screenplays, extraed in a friend's indie film, and the company has its first 3 films in the works for a festival in the winter
[Note: As yet, I've been mostly unable to do volunteer work except for Shake&Co and NHS because I have so much else to do, mostly with work and my family (you'd be surprised that the other ECs take up relatively little of my time), but I'm starting to do more this summer and school year.]</p>

<p>Awards:
(Above for 8th)
Freshman:
-School award in Theatre Arts
-National Science League Award in Biology ("Participated in Science Competition With Distinction")
Sophomore:
-I may have been given awards, but I didn't go to the ceremony so I have no idea, they may have been lost in the shuffle so to speak
Junior:
-IEEE Berkshire Section Science Writing Contest Second Place for an essay about the Aurora Borealis/Australis, along with school award for the same
-Massachusetts Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery
-School award for Excellence in Spanish, Advanced Level
-School award for Outstanding Achievement in Physics
-Middlebury College Book Award (from local alumni association/my school) for achievement in English</p>

<p>SATs:
CR 800/Math 680 (will retake to raise this)/Writing 790 = 2270
No SAT Subjects yet but I'm thinking any of Literature, US History, European, Spanish Listening, Math 1, and perhaps Physics just because I already did the AP Exam and didn't die. :)</p>

<p>I think that's about it. So here (finally!!) are the colleges (don't worry about all of them):</p>

<p>Amherst C
Bennington C (eh, my mom wants me to go here because it's close to home)
Brown U
Colby C (again, mom, for other reasons)
Columbia U Columbia College
Emerson C
Harvard C
Middlebury C
New York U
Princeton U
Sarah Lawrence C
Smith C (though I am concerned about it not being coed, most of my friends are guys)
Tufts U
Wellesley C (ditto to Smith)
Yale U</p>

<p>I am mostly interested in English, I LOVE to write and I want to be a novelist, but I am good in math and science, I have a particular love of theatre and film, and mostly unexplored interests in psychology and architecture (the program for drafting/CAD at my school is an incredible class-period-vampire).</p>

<p>Sorry there are so many and sorry this whole post is so long!</p>

<p>Thanks sooooo much to everyone who got this far and for any input or suggestions you can come up with!!! Thanks a billion and a half.</p>

<p>Whew.</p>

2

<p>You have very good stats and a buttload of ECs, PLUS oldest of 7 children?!?!</p>

<p>Amherst: Match
Columbia: Slight Reach
Harvard, Princeton, Yale: Reach
Brown: Slight Reach
NYU: Safe match</p>

<p>You'll get into the rest.</p>

3

<p>Heh, someone told me I'd get into Harvard as a quota kid. :) That kinda made me laugh. It's not the top of my list interest-wise anyway. Thanks so much for your reply!</p>

<p>And again, to everyone, forgive me for making it so long! I've just been worried beyond belief about this, and I need some peace of mind. Thanks.</p>

4

<p>Absolutely competitive anywhere. You have a story, excellent EC's, and it's obvious what your passion is. You have one of the most impressive resumes I have seen on CC not because you were the "best of this or that", but because you've taken advantage of so many opportunities. I wouldn't be surprised if you get into all of those schools.</p>

5

<p>Madourd, you have a winning combination: excellent statistics -- grades, scores and rank -- and excellent intangible qualities – like life experience and extracurriculars. You will undoubtedly be of interest to quite a few of the colleges on your list. </p>

<p>The starting place is always to identify your financial needs. It sounds as if you would need and would qualify for substantial financial aid, but just need to make sure as your financial situation can have a major effect on your overall list.</p>

<p>I think your list is sensible and fairly well balanced and although you really don’t need any more reaches I would suggest that you consider Williams, Wesleyan and because of their strength in the arts – particularly theater and creative writing. Hamilton, Skidmore and Kenyon, which are somewhat less selective, would also be good fits. </p>

<p>After you've had a chance to thoroughly research and hopefully visit you'll be able to narrow down to a few reach/match/safeties that represent the environment, character and teaching style that suits you best. Right now, you have quite a range, which is okay at this point, but I think you could focus better.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t both with retaking the SAT as your Math score won’t hurt you and your others may just go down. Instead I would concentrate on putting together you’re the subjective parts of your application: essays, recommendations, activities resumes. Possibly a theater performance tape. This is what will get you into one of those super-selectives, not 20 more points on the SAT.</p>

<p>Your activities and accomplishments are wonderful but need to be edited and focused. Think about how to organize everything onto a resume or activities list. </p>

<p>Also, for the colleges that don't interview, you'll need to make sure that your personality and energy comes across in your essays and recommendations. Again, think about how to communicate who you are and what you will contribute to the campus community. </p>

<p>Good luck and let us know how it goes.</p>

6

<p><i>Amherst: Match
Columbia: Slight Reach
Harvard, Princeton, Yale: Reach
Brown: Slight Reach
NYU: Safe match</i></p>

<p>Amherst is possibly the most selective LAC there is . . . how is that a match and columbia a slight reach? I'll say that Amherst is a slight reach</p>

7

<p>Amherst is the only one I've visited yet and I love it there. I agree with Flippy about the Amherst match/Columbia slight reach, everyone I've asked seems to say this, but it's always better to be cautious. Thanks for reminding me not everything is a sure bet.</p>

<p>Man, I love you all! This place is great. I mean, you can only rely on you guidance counselor so much. Not that she's not great, but she's probably a little biased for me just because I'm her student.</p>

8

<p>OP:</p>

<p>there is no such thing as European SAT II. it is US or World History.</p>

<p>i would highlight your english interests. your ECs seem almost nebulous. be sure to present an activity list in an organized fashion.</p>

9

<p>Oh, that kinda stinks. My school's world history curriculm basically never even touched on anything outside Europe, that probably won't help me.</p>

<p>How do you think I should organize my ECs to increase my chances? By grade, or by related activities? Should I perhaps exclude the science things or does it make me look more well-rounded?</p>

10

<p>bump... :-D Refer back to my last question.</p>

11

<p>okay...i just signed up for this forum but OP i think we actually live in the same citybut go to different schools. i will also be a senior next year</p>

<p>sorry if this is way too off topic</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
How do you think I should organize my ECs to increase my chances? By grade, or by related activities? Should I perhaps exclude the science things or does it make me look more well-rounded?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Madourd, Your resume should definitely be arranged by activity not by grade. Because writing is such an important part of your persona I would tend to focus on this activity first and organize the entire package around permutations of writing and literary accomplishments: For example, fiction, theater, film showing a progression of accomplishment and awards in each.</p>

<p>The second category I would think would be theater and film, which writing segues into nicely.</p>

<p>I would not feature the lesser activities like Spanish Club, Gay Straight Alliance and NHS but if you like you could add an “Other” category at the end. Personally, I would advise against this as I think it dilutes the impact of establishing a clear and focused identity. </p>

<p>Your accomplishments in the sciences are pertinent and should be included. The most significant, I think, is the science writing award which would also fit under the literary umbrella.</p>

<p>I like the idea of using the resume more as an activity package than as an enumeration of everything you’ve done. In that event I would include other supporting materials such as a recommendation from someone involved in theater or creative writing, an example of your work, media articles on your performances and accomplishments (use VERY sparingly), a performance tape or photographs and, where applicable, the essay on “what EC means the most to me.” </p>

<p>This approach is particularly effective at LACs and colleges that are known for strength in the area that you’re promoting. Most likely the admissions committee will pass your resume/package to the English and theater departments for evaluation. They NEED creative writers and thespians, just as they need football players and tuba players so they're going to want to like you -- you just have to make it easy by having a focused and brilliant presentation.</p>

13

<p>Sorry, another long one.</p>

<p>I'd like to put a note on the NHS thing just because I am a tutor and I think I'll have an office next year (maybe not president, but vp or tutor leader).</p>

<p>I have a tape of the monolog that I wrote and peformed in my first HS show and I probably have tapes of earlier shows. Maybe even of last year's Shakespeare show, though I didn't have a huge part. This year might be better. Should I send these, and in what format? A DVD? Early on I did a lot of writing for the shows I was in, though lately I have been more focused on film. I could send some or all of one of my screenplays (they are only about 40 pages each). Maybe a clip from one of the other films I am working on? I could also, of course, send an excerpt of my book. I can definitely get recs from my writing/film mentor Frank and Mrs. C, the school librarian/lit mag advisor/head of NHS/a good friend of mine.</p>

<p>Do these sound like good ideas? Does anyne have any moe ideas? And how do I send all these extra materials and make sure they see them? I do not feel that theatre, though I love it, is my strongest point. I'd say writing, then film, then theatre.</p>

<p>My other recs will be strong; teachers of creative writing/english, last year's math because it will show that I work hard even at what I don't like, history, probably spanish, and maybe physics, if I need some from divergent classes.</p>

<p>If I can decide what to write my essays about, I'll be all set! (My parents think I should explain my dad's situation with epilepsy, but I'd rather have my guidance counselor do that so I can write about one of my theatre companies or the film company.)</p>

<p>I feel a billion times less stressed now that I have some idea of what I'm doing. I almost don't want to admit to myself that I want to go to Harvard because I probably won't get in. The only person I know who got in there was president of, like, EVERYTHING.</p>

<p>(I feel like this is devolving from a What Are My Chances? thread. Forgive me, and think of everything in the context of what will help me increase my chances! Thanks so much to everyone for their help.)</p>

<p>If anyone would like to see my rearranged/more-detailed EC list and rearranged college list (order of desire to go there), let me know so I can get some feedback! :)</p>

<p>(elkir, where do you live/go to school? I'm at Taconic.)</p>

14

<p>
[QUOTE]
I'd like to put a note on the NHS thing just because I am a tutor and I think I'll have an office next year (maybe not president, but vp or tutor leader).

[/QUOTE]

NHS can pad an application, but when applying to top schools (others may argue differently), they'd much rather see those great EC's that you listed above. </p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
Do these sound like good ideas? Does anyne have any moe ideas? And how do I send all these extra materials and make sure they see them?

[/QUOTE]

Those sound like great ideas for supplemental materials. Just put the address of the admissions office that the teachers send recommendations too on the package. I also put a cover letter, saying "I hope you take blah blah blah into consideration..."</p>

15

<p>Madourd, If you look on the colleges’ websites you will find instructions for submitting performance tapes. Here’s an example from Williams. If not available for the colleges you’re interested in, call them and ask. If I recall Yale provides detailed instructions which you can use as general advice for other schools.</p>

<p>
[quote]

Theatre
Send a résumé or a videocassette or a DVD of a performance of two contrasting monologues (less than five minutes total). Introduce the tape with name and address, titles of works to be performed, and your training and experience.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Submitting examples of written work is trickier. Some colleges said send it; some said we don’t want it, get one of your recommenders to describe it. Again look on their websites and if unclear call and ask. I think it depends on the college but as long as your examples are compact (no novels) I can't think that it would be a negative.</p>

<p>For general resume opinions read this thread on the Parents Forum called Resumes: To submit or not to submit. <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=212780%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=212780&lt;/a>
This is a controversial topic. Some people think it’s overkill; some (like me) think it’s important to provide additional information, especially for schools that don’t interview.</p>

<p>I'm sure that over the course of the next few month you'll be able to put together a resume that you're happy with. You just need to keep trying different formats until you get the right balance between focus and detail.</p>

<p>You should include two academic (e.g. not theater) recommendations. I believe that it’s a good idea to add a third pecial interest recommendation, but not everyone agrees.</p>

<p>Your essay should show not explain. (As a writer you know what I mean.)</p>

16

<p>Yes I do! Thanks for pointing that out. And I agree that a resume is necessary just because I have to give a little more detail about my non-school ECs like the film company. And thanks for reminding me not all schools want to see extra writing (I know, for instance, that Harvard "will consider everything you send them", but elsewhere won't). I think I'll send an excerpt from my book and one from my screenplay, and a clip from one of the movies. Sound good? (As I plan on majoring in English and Film Studies, or a major/minor of the two.)</p>

<p>I'm actually reconsidering the theatre tape because I'm not so much concerned with showing my performance, as acting is not really my thing. I don't mean it as an audition or anything. I like acting, but it's more of a hobby or a way to help my friends in their movies. What I want to do, passionately, is write and direct. I'm also no longer in contact with my director from my early shows, and I don't think my current director likes me personally, so those as recommendations might best be left behind. I have the academic ones all set up. Would it be enough to just say, "I contributed material to this show, including a personal monolog"? And maybe something about how I do theatre to learn the literature and have fun more than because I want to be an actor?</p>

<p>Thanks for all the posts! (Oh right, cover letters! Duh, I should have though of that.)</p>

17

<p>Madroud, I don't know much about film studies. I'd suggest that you organize your questions and post on the "Arts Majors" forum. </p>

<p>I'd also suggest that you take a look at Wesleyan. Among the LACs they have one of the best film programs.</p>

18

<p>i go to phs</p>

19

<p>I figured :). I like the building at PHS a lot better than Taconic. But I digress.</p>

<p>I should clarify that the English is more important to me than the Film Studies, but I definitely want both. I would minor or even get a certificate in Film Studies, but I would prefer to double major.</p>