<p>Could you guys please chance me? I'd really like to go to Colby!</p>
<p>Non-academic, non-extracurricular:
Race: White
Gender: Male
State of residence: Michigan</p>
<p>Academic:</p>
<p>UW GPA: 3.767
W GPA: ~3.98</p>
<p>Unweighted rank: 27% (I'm not sure if this will increase at all)
Weighted rank: 22% (Will increase by time of application)</p>
<p>1 honors class sophomore year
3 AP Classes this year
2 AP classes and 1 honors class Senior year</p>
<p>28 (I am retaking. Most likely in June, September, and October and I will be prepping between those dates)
English- 34
Math- 29
Reading- 24
Science- 25
Writing- 8</p>
<p>Extracurricular:</p>
<p>Robotics team: 2 years. Will be 3 after senior year, 2 of which will be as head of finance.
Varsity hockey: 1 year. Had to stop after knee injury
Have volunteered for my local library and gotten a job each summer.
Founded a group for my library for Magic: The Gathering. I was leader of it for a year (it closed after that due to loss of interest of former participants)</p>
<p>Awards/recognition:
Lettered in academics my Freshman year
Recently qualified to go to States in the "Econ Challenge" for our AP Economics class
I haven't received it yet, but I know I'll graduate Cum Laude. I don't know if colleges care.</p>
<p>What would you recommend doing to increase my chances?</p>
<p>Definitely get your ACT up (though you plan on doing that already), or take the SAT and send whichever scores were better. Colby’s average ACT scores fall between 29 and 32, so yours is a little low. Do you plan on taking any subject tests? It sounds to me like math might be your thing, which could be a huge benefit for you. </p>
<p>Also, if you’re really interested in Colby, you should participate in the Experience Colby program (<a href=“http://www.colby.edu/admission/visit/ec/”>http://www.colby.edu/admission/visit/ec/</a>). Colby is big on applicants conveying interest and having strong letters of recommendation. </p>
<p>I’d say if you did that, you’d have a pretty good shot!</p>
<p>Edit: I also read somewhere that about half of Colby admits are taken from the early decision pool, so consider applying ED if you’re really serious about Colby (though I applied regular decision and I’ll be attending Colby in the fall). </p>
<p>Thanks for the reply!
I’ll be studying for the ACT this summer to get up my reading and science scores to 29s or 30s hopefully. You said something about subject tests. Would subject tests help my app? I don’t know most of the stuff from Math 2 but I could take Math 1 and possibly literature. What score would be a good one to send them in? Also, if they are important, how would you suggest studying for them?</p>
<p>Also thanks for telling me about the Experience Colby program. Upon hearing about it from you, I immediately assumed it was some sort of $5,000 dollar summer program, which I couldn’t afford. I’m glad it’s free!</p>
<p>I have thought about the possibility of applying ED, but I have heard rumors about colleges not giving as much aid to ED appliers, which frightens me. </p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>Should you take subject tests? Yes, yes, yes!!! Take subject tests in subjects you are really good at (but some schools require at least one math and science, MIT, for example). Definitely take the Math II if you think you’re up for it, a 690 in Math II is more impressive than a 740 in Math I. Math I is algebra and geometry, and Math II goes up to Precalc. I’m pretty bad at math so it was really hard for me, personally, but f you’re good at it, don’t worry too much. You can take up to three on one day, so don’t be afraid to take three. You can only take Math I or Math II in one day, though. </p>
<p>Just like the regular SAT, anywhere from 600 to 800 is great. I think the subject tests are a little more lenient though, because less people take them. Just taking them at all is already a good sign. You can use this graph to give you an idea of what students tend to get on subject tests: <a href=“http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/SAT-Subject-Tests-Percentile-Ranks-2012.pdf”>http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/SAT-Subject-Tests-Percentile-Ranks-2012.pdf</a></p>
<p>As for studying: Take your subject tests in June when all the material from the year is fresh in your mind (but you can always retake them, just like the regular SAT). There are also SAT Subject Test study books you can probably borrow from a teacher (unless you live in the Midwest…I’m in NY and finding SAT resources is super easy here but can be tougher when everyone in your area takes the ACT primarily…) or order online. CollegeBoard also has some resources on their website.</p>
<p>Yes, Experience Colby is totally free! They even bought me a plane ticket and everything! (and one for my friend, who lives in California!)</p>
<p>I have no idea about that ED aid thing…that’s weird, I don’t know anything about it. Generally, depending on your financial status, your expected family contribution is pretty much not going to change. What DOES change is the TYPE of aid in your financial aid package – loans vs grants. Colby has a no-loan policy, which is why it was the cheapest option for me.</p>
<p>Which APs are you taking?</p>
<p>And you’re quite welcome! c:</p>
<p>Hey Taffyta, do you know if Colby pays for everyone’s plane ticket for the Experience Colby? </p>
<p>And can you chance me too? I have a 29 ACT and I’m hoping to get it to a 30 or 31. My super score is a 30, don’t know if they look at that. I have a 4.0 unweighted and 4.12 weighted GPA. Will graduate with 8 AP classes. Varsity softball for 3 years. Band for four. Freshman Mentor for two years. Student Council and Executive Council for four years. Class officer for three years. In NHS and I volunteer for NHS (school requires it). I’ve been to a summer program (leadership, law, FTE Economics for Leaders) each summer. I just got a job. </p>