Chances at dream schools???

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi everyone, I am a bit lost as to my admission chances at schools as my guidance counselor seems to think that "well, it might be worth a try...but I haven't had a chance to look at your record" is the answer to all of my questions. I would really appreciate anyone's help (no matter how biased or unknowledgeable-I'll take anything!) in evaluating my chances at these schools:</p>

<p>Swarthmore, Brown, Princeton, Yale, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Williams, Dartmouth, Colby</p>

<p>Here are my "stats":
White, female, public high school, California
GPA: Until last semester I had an unweighted GPA of 4.0 forever, but I got a B in Honors Chem last semester and I probably will this semester too. It will be weighted on my GPA though.
APs: 1 sophomore year, 2 junior year, 6 senior year, lots of "honors" classes every year
SATs: I haven't gotten my results yet, but I got a 222 on the PSATs so I'll hopefully be National Merit on that at least</p>

<p>Extras:
Environmental Club-President
-started ink cartridge recycling program
-started planting flowers at community center program
-started watershed awareness where we teach young kids and adults</p>

<p>Interact Club-Co-President
-Co-Chair of Special Ed Relations Committee (we throw parties for special ed kids so they can meet other students that aren't in special ed)
-Co-Chair of Feed the Hungry Committee (we package and distribute food to needy families)
-Volunteer at Renaissance Charity Tea
-Volunteer at Community Grand Openings (like bridges and parks, not stores )
-Volunteer at Rotary Business Galas to honor generous community members
-Campus clean-up days</p>

<p>California Scholarship Federation-Treasurer, I will be a lifetime member when I graduate
FBLA-Incentives Director, Chair of News Committee
Aeronautics Club-Vice President
Sierra Nevada Alliance Newsclipper (I send local environmental newspaper articles that are put in a weekly e-mail newsletter)
Volunteer 4 hours every 2 weeks at hospital
Tutor at my school 1-2 hours a week
Mock Trial- Individual Achievement Award for Best Witness and Best Defense, we went to States but didn't place
Peer Court
National Society of High School Scholars, Whos Who--I know, I know, I shouldn't even put these down
Shasta Academic Awards-one for every semester--yes, these are lame
Summers: Cambridge University College Programme, Rotary Camp Royal (it is a locally prestigious leadership camp), volunteered for a few weeks at an elementary school</p>

<p>I know I was rather wordy, but I really appreciate your help. Please feel free to be brutally honest!</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

2

<p>Your GPA is stellar, your stats are decent. You have a decent chance eveywhere. More specifically-
Colby- safety
Brown- Match
Yale- Reach
Princeton- Reach
Bowdoin- match
Middlebury- Match
Dartmouth- Slight Reach
Williams- Slight Reach</p>

3

<p>Thanks so much varsity1AC! Did you have an opinion on Swarthmore? And also, how do you define reach, etc.? Would a reach be like 1 in 50 or what?</p>

4

<p>Hey Jaime, Swartmore is the same as Dartmouth, Williams, and Brown (a reach/ slight reach).</p>

<p>I think you have a good list, Yale and Princeton are probably going to be difficult, but one or more of Dartmouth/ Brown/ Williams/ Swarthmore should come through. The rest you are likely in. </p>

<p>Good list and good luck! Another school you might also look into is Pomona.</p>

5

<p>Yes, my mom is pushing Pomona (she wants me to stay on the west coast), but it just doesn't have that ivy, brick, gothic college look. I know that shouldn't influence me that much, but from what I've seen of Pomona it looks like a big high school. It is a great school though. Anyways, thanks for your encouragement slipper1234. I hadn't really been counting on Yale or Princeton, but I would be pretty sad if I lost all of Dartmouth/Brown/Williams/Swarthmore.</p>

6

<p>Please take some time to read through this year's results on the individual college boards. Many with your stats got in and many did not. On the parent's board the is the story of a 1550 brillant kid rejected from all of his schools including Oberlin where this board would say you were safe.</p>

<p>Colby is a match, not a safety, the ivies are becoming more of a reach for everyone and all of you need some real attention to what the new safety really is. There are a lot of really surprised people this year. All that said, you have good stats and good luck!</p>

7

<p>zagat, I am aware that there are absolutely no guarantees, or "safeties", in college admissions anymore. I have perused the different college boards where some outstanding candidates did not get accepted. You can be assured that I am not about to apply to any of the aforementioned colleges thinking that I can easily predict their decision. However, I was just looking for a general idea if I had the chance to be competitive at these schools. What schools would you consider safeties?</p>