<p>Hey guys! I'm a female from NY state... applying to: Cornell (CALS), Brown, Penn, Columbia (have strong relationship with a dean & obtained a letter from her), Tufts (applied ED, was deferred), NYU (have legacy), Skidmore, GW, Colgate, and a few others...</p>
<p>GPA: 3.9ish, probably top 11% of my high school (which has a phenomenal relationship with many colleges & is one of the top high schools in the country)
SAT: 730 verbal, 670 math (I seriously cannot do SAT math, but I get 4.0s ad 3.5s in all my advanced math courses)
SAT II: 730 writing, 720 biology, 660 U.S. History (mehhh)
Senior year courses:
AP Calculus AB
AP French
AP Biology (99 average & 100 on the midterm!)
AP Environmental Science
English electives
Social Studies electives
-- Midyear report EXCELLENT, have always done phenomenally in school with advanced, challenging courses
-- Last Year's APs: US History (4), AP Physics B (3)
ECs:
Tons of volunteerwork at farms, veterinarians, MS society
Steady job
Summer experiences working at camp and attending Tufts vet summer program
Musical/artistic talent (sent art slides... have taken many art courses at high school and have had my work showcased)
President of unique club with volunteerwork
Member of various other clubs
IBM Science Research program helper</p>
<p>Good essays & great recs... I show an extreme interest in veterinary medicine, yet I show I am very well-rounded and a good hard-working student.</p>
<p>What do ya think?</p>
<p>It's going to hinge a lot on the strength of your school. Surprising that you were deferred ED from Tufts if your school gets kids in that calibre of school, as my son's school got all of their ED Tufts kids in, some of whom are not so top grade. Cornell is tough, and I don't know if they will look at your school as a regular. I know when I lived in Westchester, nearly all the kids who applied to Cornell from Scarsdale that one year got in, and my D's school also did well with Cornell. It can make a difference. Otherwise, it may be a tough run for you as you tended to focus on schools that New Yorkers cluster to. GW is your best bet in my opinion. If you were not from NY, your chances at Skidmore and Colgate would be very good. From NY 50/50 in my book. You have taken a strong slate of classes--any AP test results yet? And that excellent midyear report is going to count a lot; hopefully it will do it for Tufts. Not many kids getting that these days. Good luck, and let us know.</p>
<p>Yes, my high school's rated number 2 in Westchester, and is extremely competitive and known to produce great students. Being at the top of my class, which is an incredible class, I feel like I would have a bit of an edge.</p>
<p>Also, the competition for Tufts ED was intense, with legacies and coveted varisty players... I think that's the only reason they didn't pick me, because the previous year only one student went to Tufts.</p>
<p>Your highschool's record for getting kids into these schools is going to play heavily in this, Flippydippy. Because Westchester is so overrepresented in the selective college pool, it is more difficult to get into the NE schools when you are from there. You would do well in other areas of the country with your resume. Why don't you pay a visit to our counselor, and see if a note from him could give you a boost. That midyear report is certainly something to mention, given your tough classes. Did your counselor ask Tufts what the issue was? The interest was certainly there with your summer classes and the ED commitment. Did many get into Tufts early from your school, and where did they stand relative to you? Give your counselor a visit and get the scoop from him.</p>
<p>The other students were either relatively equal to me or I would say lesser. I called Tufts myself and asked what the problem was, and the admissions person said she can't see why I didn't get in, haha. My counselor basically just says that you can never tell anymore..</p>
<p>Flippydippy, I don't believe the regional officer who handled your app would have answered your GC that way had he inquired about your status. I don't know who you got at the admissions office, but I have never heard an adcom answer something like that, and from Tufts, in particular. If your school sends a number of kids there each year, than your GC would know the regional officer and can get some specifics and an idea where you stand there. He can also tell you where you stand with respect to the other kids in your school who have applied to all of the other schools as these schools are faves of Westchester kids, not an advantage to you, as you are one of many and they are not about to fill their classes with kids from that area, something they can well do. Both Brown and Columbia are quite frank about this. The fact that you are from Edgemont, Scarsdale, Bronxville, Rye or Chappaqua will helo, but will also make it a little bit more predictable where you stand, and it's not just this year's kids that give you that idea, but a history which your school will have if you come from any of those schools. Talk to your counselor and have him call the regional reps. It could make a difference.</p>