<p>I'd like to know what my chances at Vassar are:</p>
<p>rank: somewhere in the top 10 kids out of ~700
gpa: 4.0 uw, 4.8 w
hardest course load possible with 6 APs senior year
ACT: 29- will be retaking. I just can't seem to do well in science (25, any tips?) and everything else was 30+</p>
<p>ECs:
Cleveland Zoo volunteer
hospital volunteer
sec. of Spanish club will be trying for president this year
First chair of my section in orchestra (but I only did orch for 2 years due to scheduling)
Link Crew Leader- freshman mentoring fyi
will start volunteering at my local historical society soon doing research
LOTS of babysitting (I had to take care of my brother and the house everyday after school until 1 am since my parents worked weird shifts)
Office/teacher aide
was a delegate for Buckeye Girls State
I had a job but I'm looking for another so hopefully job as well</p>
<p>other:
trilingual
first generation college student</p>
<p>And I think I'm forgetting some things so maybe I'll update later. That's all for now and thanks ahead of time!</p>
<p>Ok! So your grades are superb. You know that, I’m sure. Vassar really cares about you taking the most difficult course load available, so that’s good too. You’re ACT is a little low for Vassar (I hated the science section too). Have you considered the SAT? It’s a little easier (in my opinion) to game that test. Your community service is really good. So all in all I would say you have a good chance, though your test scores make getting in a little harder. My suggestion? Write really honest essays. Don’t try to box yourself into something. Anything cookie cutter at all is a mistake. Definitely do the your space submission–show them an awesome unique side of you, one that will make them go “So she’s two points below test average? She’s so interesting and cool! We must have her!” And if you really want to up your chances of getting in, if you really love Vassar, early decision is definitely the way to go. This year almost a third of the freshman class was accepted early decision. Good luck! I think you have a good chance!</p>
<p>Thanks a lot Hbananah! Your post was was really nice, helpful and informative! English isn’t my first language so I’m reluctant to take the SAT due to the vocab section and I live in the Midwest so I’m more familiar with the ACT but I’ll take it into consideration! I think I have a really honest essay about how a car accident renewed my faith in God and my relationship with my brother by helping me overcome my germophobia, but I think that might be cliche and somewhat trite?</p>
<p>No problem! I’m glad! I didn’t realize the ACT is more popular in the midwest. If you’re worried about SAT vocab I suggest a book that’s called something like 10000 hot words for the SAT. That essay is not trite! That’s really deep. You just have to be true to yourself in essays and it sounds like that’s what you’re doing. Everyone is different in their essay–that’s one of the best things ABOUT an essay, it’s an opportunity to be unique. There are a million people with good grades and scores. It’s the extra stuff that sets you apart and makes the difference. If you’re worried about sounding cliche, all I can do is suggest that you re-read the essay. Sometimes “smoothed over” areas to make something sound easier or more simple can make the essay sound cliche. If you’re really brave and almost brutally honest it won’t be cliched; it’ll be memorable. Are you planning to do a “your space”?</p>
<p>Yes, I plan on it. And thanks for everything, you were certainly a confidence booster! 
I hope my essay is okay, do you think I could send it to you to read over and tell me what you think?</p>
<p>You’re very welcome! um, wow, that’s so sweet of you. Sure I’ll read your essay! BUT I’m not an expert or anything … but I’ll try to be helpful. ps what do you plan to do for your “your space”? (I’m always so interested to hear what different people did.)</p>
<p>honorstudent, you have fantastic grades (even with a crazy hard course load!) and really interesting EC’s. Though your ACT might be low, it seems like you have a really good chance at getting in.</p>
<p>And since you guys are talking about it, I was wondering what sorts of things people send in for the “your space” section of the supp?</p>