Chances at Macalester, Carleton, Middlebury, Wesleyan and some more

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Hello, everybody. I guess the point of my post is obvious. <em>grin</em> So I hope I can get some help from people who would know (as in from the colleges themselves so they have their own anecdotes or those who've done more extensive research than I have.)</p>

<p>But before I go into that, my high school history was rather checkered. Moved around a lot and changed from an American to British to American system and consecutives schools didn't have the same EC choices so I'm lucky if I have anything lasting for 3 years. I'm 19 and going to uni/college at 20 because I thought I could handle living by myself when I was 16 at this college taking a pre-uni course (A Levels). How wrong. So now I'm living back with my parents.</p>

<p>As such, I'm in "13th" grade since I had enough credits to graduate in May but need to finish the damn IB Diploma. 11th grade was practically nonexistent.</p>

<p>SAT I: Old version: 1330 (CR: 710, M: 620)
New version: 2030 (CR: 730, M: 690, W: 610)</p>

<p>SAT II: Biology (with Ecological Emphasis): 740
Chemistry: 650
Math IC: 670
Writing (before March 2005): 630 (I went DOWN!!)</p>

<p>TOEFL: 290 (out of a possible 300 on computer), 667 (out of 677 on paper)</p>

<p>Taking Math IIC or IC again and Literature on October 8th. Unsure whether worth it is worth taking the SAT I again since I think my Writing could be offset by my TOEFL and transcript (A/A- in IB English A1 HL) and actual IB Score - a measly 5.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.6 UW, 4.0 W
Rank: N/A (We only have 30 seniors)</p>

<p>IB Results from May: English A1 HL-5, Biology HL-5, Chemistry HL-5
Final transcript grades: English: A, Biology: A-, Chemistry: C+</p>

<p>IB Predicted: IB History European HL - 6, Math Methods - 6/7, IB Spanish Ab Initio - 4/5
(As you can see, I am somewhat not linguistically inclined but I would REALLY be interested in learning Arabic.)</p>

<p>E/C's:
Basketball: 9th -hs, 10th-hs, 12th-jv and 13th grade-hopefully jv captain
Volleyball: 9th, 10th
Soccer: 10th
Band-baritone: 9th, 10th
School paper: 9th, 12th
Student Council: 12th - Treasurer, 13th - Secretary
Rotary Club: International Director: 11th
Community Service (little ones like helping shelving books or helping out at school events): 9th, 11th, 12th, 13th
Peace Village (home for Agent Orange victims): 9th
Heifer Foundation: 12th
Victor Babes Hospital (AIDS Hospital for kids): 13th - organizing comm
Drama/school play: 10th, 13th</p>

<p>Academic Awards: Dux Award(highest GPA overall in grade): 10th </p>

<p>Languages: English (fluent), Malay (able to understand conversationally), French (it's rusting. Took it for 4 years until 10th grade), Spanish (beginners)</p>

<p>I think the only 'hook' I can really say is that I'm an international student and I've lived in Malaysia, USA, Indonesia, Vietnam and Romania. Diversity, anybody...?</p>

<p>So...that question: What do you think my chances are, given my stats?</p>

<p>The colleges I'm thinking of applying to are:
Bates
Carleton
Macalester
Mount Holyoke
Middlebury
Wesleyan (as a Freeman Asian Scholars, but I doubt I'll get it as preference's given to those who live in their home country)
Wellesley
Cornell COLLEGE
Drake Uni
Kent State Uni</p>

<p>And in Canada: UToronto
York U
Carleton University
U of Waterloo
Brock Uni</p>

<p>Thanks, anybody and everybody! (Still racking brain for some targets/matches and better safeties, but...oh, well...)</p>

<p>Izzy J.</p>

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<p>I'm confused about the band experience--aren't baritones usually male? Putting that aside for the moment, I think you have a clearer shot at some of the midwestern LACs on your list; I'm thinking of Macaleser, in particular, because of its emphasis on internationalism. Carleton would be a bit of a reach, but not outrageously. I think the others, like Wesleyan and Middlebury, you would have to think seriously about applying ED in order to boost your chances.</p>

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<p>I'm taking Arabic this year. It's really, really interesting, and not nearly as hard as everyone says it is, though, apparently, I'll always have the equivalent of a lisp in Arabic -- my tongue is deformed, so I'll never be able to roll my Rs. If you're really interested in taking it, factor that into your decision -- a lot of schools don't even offer classes.</p>

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<p>Johnwesley: In band, a baritone is a musical instrument, not a voice range. It looks like an euphonium or a tuba. I wish I could apply ED anywhere, but I haven't a clear choice and there's always the concern about finances when applying ED. My family can't afford around US$40,000 a year for me alone.</p>

<p>tkb6: Are you in high school taking Arabic or a college/uni? I had a friend last year who was Sudanese and she spoke Arabic fluently and it sounded so hard. I tried learning the alphabet from her, but it fell through between us. <em>grin</em> I know Arabic is offered at Middlebury, at least.</p>

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<p>Shameless bump. <em>cringe</em> Sorry, everybody.</p>

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<p>I'm taking it at a college -- they don't offer it at my high school, though they are starting to offer it at some private schools.</p>

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<p>Thanks, tkb6. I suppose a reason I'm interested in taking Arabic is so I can finally understand my friend. And there's probably some reluctant religious reason hedging in there.</p>

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<p>Macalester might work for you - international, and all. Scores are a little low for them, from what we've heard. Carleton might match also. Don't see a problem at all with Cornell College.</p>

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<p>Thanks, hws56. I'm hoping I'll get accepted for most of the ones I applied to.</p>

<p>Last year my best friend got accepted to Carleton (int'l kid, too) but her SAT scores were around 1100 but one co-valedictorian (int'l) got waitlisted (high SAT's. Perfect 800 Math and 600+ Verbal) while the other valedictorian (int'l) got accepted, too... So I'm all confused about Carleton. But <em>hopping around</em> I'm wishing and hoping! "Reaching" for the goal. Gah, how corny.</p>

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<p>From what I've hard, Carleton waitlists a lot of kids and chooses some that you wouldn't think would've gotten in (as per your example).
What's your motivation behind Cornell College? Visited it this summer and daughter liked it. Just curious.</p>

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<p>I'd say you're in at Macalester, it's a match. The other schools are slight reaches, your SAT might not be enough to please them.</p>

<p>You've got great stats though, good luck.</p>

<p>If you get a chance, I'd love for you to reply to my thread.</p>

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<p>hws56: Carleton is indeed a reach. I find myself wavering between Mt. Holyoke, Macalester (has full Kosher Plan, too. I'm Muslim) and Middlebury. Gah. Too many "M's" there.</p>

<p>Cornell College: A senior last year got in and I was thinking "ooooh, safety" and turning my nose up at it. But I read Loren Pope's book "Colleges That Change Your Lives". I also realized since this year started that I REALLY prosper better in a small-ish environment with close advisor-advisee relationship. I also like their One Course At A Time system. I'm horrible with procrastination, sometimes, and this forces me to pay attention. Sometimes my attention wanders and I skip from one project to another (I attribute it to my Gemini nature. ;))</p>

<p>Godfather: I've read your threat, actually, but I felt like it was a bit beyond me since I didn't do much research in those top/high-tier schools. But I will look again. I'm hoping, as Mt. Holyoke is SAT-optional as is Bates, that my GPA (with exception of Chem) would be enough.</p>