<p>Senior at a top 10 public high school in California
GPA: 3.45 UW/ 3.65 W (upward trend with the most challenging curriculum)
SATI: 1410 (700M/710V)
SATII Writing: 800
SATII Literature: 690
SATII US History: 650 (bad day)
By the end of senior year, I will have taken 8 APs and 1 honors class (AP Music Theory, AP Psych, AP Euro, AP US History, Hon. English, AP English, AP Gov/Econ, AP Stats, AP Calc AB)
I'm probably going to major in Classics and either English, History, or Poli Sci
I got 4's on the AP US and AP Psych tests </p>
<p>-Member of Junior Statesmen of America- 4 yrs
-Mock Trial- 2 years
-Vice President of Philosophy Club
-Member of Amnesty International- 4 yrs
-Member of History Club
-Member of the school district's Diversity Committee, which works to combat such issues as homophobia in the school environment
-I'm starting a book club with a friend of mine, so I'll be a co-president of that
-I work closely with the local Democratic club and do outreach work with my school through the organization
-Member/Volunteer at Feminist Majority Foundation
-Leading Volunteer/Organizer for John Kerry for President/ Kerry Campaign Writers Bureau/ Students for Kerry (about 15 hours a week)
-Participated in National Youth Leadership Forum for Law in Washington DC this spring
-Nominated to be my high school's representative for the US Senate Youth Program
-Won the underclassman award at my school 2 years in a row, once for English, once for Precalculus (each teacher picks one student from years frosh-junior to give an award to for academic excellence)
- Won the California Governor's Scholars Award for high STAR test scores
- National Merit Commended Scholar
- I'm in the Gifted and Talented Education Program (GATE) at my school
-Took classes at UC Berkeley every summer I've been in high school (got straight A's in them)
-Taking classes at local community college as well
-I'm taking an evening dance class
-During budget cuts, I led a letter-writing campaign among the students to protect the teachers and programs that had been put in jeopardy
-Wrote a novel (unpublished) and 2 plays, one of which was performed at UC Berkeley
-I don't know if this will factor in at all in assessing my grades, but my mom has been unemployed for a year, on top of which there was a death in the family, the combination of which made for a stressful junior year to say the least. :-( However, my grades have definitely rebounded significantly.
-I'm a very strong writer and am getting wonderful recommendations </p>
<p>200+ hours of community service</p>
<p>If someone could let me know what you think my chances are, that would be great!!</p>
<p>Tufts (ED I)...Very Good
Haverford...Good
Claremont McKenna...Okay
Wesleyan...Okay
Bowdoin...Good
Reed...Very Good
Barnard...Very Good
Macalester...Very Good
Oberlin...Very Good
Mt. Holyoke...Excellent
Colorado College...Excellent</p>
<p>You'll want to add a UC or two, or a school like Pitzer, Bard, and or Skidmore to have absolute safeties.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the great feedback! Do you think that I'd have a better shot at Claremont McKenna or Wesleyan? It seems like they're about equal admissions-wise, but it's hard to tell. Regarding UCs, I was originally going to apply to Berkeley, Davis, and Santa Cruz, but I think I'm only going to apply to Berkeley even though I know I won't get in (although my summer classes there should help) because I'd rather go to a small school, and I have a feeling that I'll get better financial aid at most of the private schools to which I'm applying. Just a hunch, though. I may decide to add Davis to my list (I'd imagine that would be a match). </p>
<p>Hellhathnofury- What do you think of Reed so far? What has your experience been with their financial aid? I've heard really mixed comments about Reed's financial aid packages...</p>
<p>blaineko- it's funny that you mentioned Pitzer and Skidmore, becuase they were both on my list up until when I found out last Friday that I got a 1410. Would you recommend one of them more than the other? I'll probably add one of them if I don't get into Tufts ED. Do you really think that I have a solid chance at Barnard? That's so comforting!</p>
<p>I'd be suprised if you didn't get into all those that you mention.
I also agree that a UC would be good, incase cost gets out of hand at those other colleges.</p>
<p>I got just enough, I'm hoping for more next year and so on. They don't have Harvard type cash but they don't want you to drop out because you can't afford it. I'll graduate probably with about 40,000 in loans.</p>
<p>Might want to look at Holy Cross- slightly liberal student body, very good LAC that produces several noted writers(Edward Jones Pulitzer winner). HC likes to recruit California students and is a 100% need-blind school.</p>
<p>Your chances better at Wesleyan (than McKenna) because you bring geographic diversity to the mix. I'd go with Pitzer (rather than Skidmore) since you can take classes Scripps, McKenna, Pomona, and Harvey Mudd--although the smog might get to you at times. If I were you, though, I'd go to Skidmore to see another part of the country (and some snow)--just something different. Barnard (you can take classes at all the Columbia schools) and Mt. Holyoke (where classes at Hampshire, Smith, UMassachusetts, and Amherst are also accessible) would be awesome for you too, as you have very good to excellent chances at those schools. Personally, I like Bowdoin (I'm applying) over Wesleyan...but they are both great schools with a similar feel (except that Bowdoin is more laidback and less militant). </p>
<p>Again, good luck on the search and application process. Have a good one. :)</p>
<p>Do you think I'd have a better shot at Wesleyan or Haverford? Wesleyan seems to be a slightly better personality match, but I don't know if there's a real difference in what they look for or their admissions standards. I'd seriously consider applying to Wesleyan EDII assuming I don't get into Tufts, if that makes a significant impact admissions-wise.</p>
<p>Applying ED II to Wesleyan increases your chances by about 15%. If Wesleyan is a better fit for you, I'd definately apply to the college over Haverford. I'm also applying to Haverford, and it is a more intimate atmosphere--although being able to take classes at Bryn Mawr, Swat, and UPenn are also benefits.</p>
<p>Good luck with Tufts, and with Wesleyan. I'll be crossing my fingers.</p>