Chances for a unsure rising senior - stressing a bit.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Location: Quad Cities, Illinois
Ethnicity: White/Caucasian
Gender: Female
School type: public competitive high school
Class size: 501
Top grads: in the past grads have gone to UPenn, WashU, Smith, Stanford, Northwestern, UIUC, UMich, UW-Madison, Notre Dame, UNC, Vanderbilt, etc</p>

<p>9th grade:
Honors English (weighted)
Algebra
Biology
Civics
Ancient/Medieval history (weighted)
Spanish 1</p>

<p>10th grade:
Accelerated Geo (weighted)
Honors English (weighted)<br>
Chemistry
Modern/European history (weighted)
Engineering Design (weighted)
Spanish 2</p>

<p>11th grade:
AP Chemistry (weighted)
American History
Honors English (weighted)
Principles of Engineering (weighted)
Algebra 2
Spanish 3</p>

<p>12th grade:
AP Bio (weighted)
AP American Gov’t (weighted)
AP English (weighted)
Pre-calc (weighted)
Digital Electronics Engineering (weighted)
Spanish 4 (weighted)</p>

<p>UW GPA: 3.7
W GPA: 4.4
Rank: top 10%</p>

<p>ACT: C=28, E=29, M=27, S=26, R=30, W=10</p>

<p>ECs
Yearbook (9-12): editor-in-chief
Speech and Debate (9-12): competitive member
Spanish Club (11-12): treasurer (11), president (12)
Link Crew (12): team leader
National Honors Society (12)
National Society of High School Scholars (11-12)
Spanish Honor Society (10-12)</p>

<p>Work
10-15 hrs/week for 2 years</p>

<p>Community service
100 + hrs</p>

<p>Misc.
Guitar: 6 years
Piano: 2 years
Published author
Nominated for several literary awards
Finished in top three for state current events competition
Outstanding junior award
Organized local environmental group</p>

<p>Recs and Essays
Recs: strong to very strong
Essays: very strong </p>

<p>Major: English, teacher certification</p>

<p>I know my ACT score is low, but I’ve already taken it three times; standardized tests are horrible. I even bought a study book and used it and all I cam away with was a 28.</p>

<p>So I’m pretty sure my top choice schools are going to be reaches, but I would love to have some feedback other than my own or my parents. Anything would be appreciated!!</p>

<p>On to the schools!
UChicago (EA)
Bryn Mawr (ED)
Swarthmore (EA?)
Middlebury (EA?)
UIUC (RD)
Oberlin (EA)
UConn (EA)</p>

<p>From what I’ve seen and read, Bryn Mawr is my number one choice. However, the only thing I’m worried about is the fact that’s it’s a women’s college. I’m not sure how much of difference this makes. The campus is beautiful and the academics are a perfect fit. If anyone has any experience with this topic, please let me know what you think. =)</p>

2

<p>Well, the thing about women's colleges (or so I've heard-- I don't have any professional experience dealing with them, lol) is that there's only... women. So if you're looking for a relationship and are straight, women's colleges are definitely not the place for you. On the other hand, they can be close-knit communities. Really, it just depends on what you're looking for from your college experience.</p>

<p>I'm not too familiar with any of the colleges on your list except for U Chicago and Swarthmore. Both have low admission rates, and they'll probably be really hard to get into this year. I think you're a strong candidate, so just get really good recs and write amazing essays.</p>

3

<p>You're most likely into UConn and UIUC (Urbana-Champaign, right?), unless you're applying to their honors programs, which for all I know you'd get into too, but I'm not familiar with how honors programs work and would rather not chance you on something I'm not familiar with. Don't know much about Bryn Mawr, but your ACT is a little low for U Chicago, Oberlin, Swat, and Middlebury. Have you tried taking the SAT? Some people tank one and ace the other.</p>

4

<p>i think you have a great shot at bryn mawr, especially ED. according to collegeboard, bryn mawr has a 45 percent acceptance rate, and ED, its more like 77 percent. yet these stats are probably dated and slightly lower now. however, coming from the midwest might be a hook. you have stellar grades. your act score of a 28 is right in range for bryn mawr's 26-30. overall, i think you have a great shot!</p>

5

<p>thanks everybody! I appreciate your input. I'm still unsure about Bryn Mawr, it's a great school and I would love to go there..... it's just the whole women's thing. </p>

<p>Does anyone know for sure--Smith is still a women's college correct?</p>

6

<p>I'm also heavily considering Vassar as ED, if not Bryn Mawr. I'm really looking for a great liberal arts college with strong English programs and a beautiful campus. However, I don't know which better fits my stats.</p>

7

<p>bump (10 char)</p>

8

<p>Yes, Smith is still all women, and Vassar is harder to get into than Bryn Mawr (23.9% to 45%).</p>

9

<p>I hate people who list speech and debate as a EC. Unless you win something it isn't one.</p>

10

<p>I dont understand why youve only taken one AP so far if your high school is "competitive".</p>

<p>Your "miscellaneous" EC's are excellent, especially since it seems like you have 2 or 3 things u are passionate about, and have excelled in, which could translate into a nice essay.</p>

11

<p>Isn't Bryn Mawr right next door to Haverford, or am I mixing that up? If that is true there is probably a lot of mixing between the two campuses. Can't you also take classes at Swarthmore and there is a bus going to all three campuses? If I have that correct I wouldn't worry so much about the women's school issues. There will be plenty of guys around.</p>

12

<p>crackerjacks--first of all, speech and debate is a worthy ec even if you haven't won a tourny. it's about learning to positively interact with other bright students in a public forum; a great learning experience and way to show what you're passionate about.</p>

<p>all-ivy_academic--the reason I haven't taken more than one AP is because juniors are only allowed to take two and I didn't register in time to take AP Amer. History. However, other classmates have taken both and plan on taken all of the same ones I'm taking as a senior. Hence, why my rank is closer to the bottom of the top decile. But we're still a competitive high school, it's just I'm not the "all star" student.</p>

13

<p>Isn't Vassar SAT optional? You might also look into Mt Holyoke-SAT optional. Speech and debate are great-you don't need to win awards.</p>

14

<p>the only reason I'm in speech and debate is for the fun (if that's not an oxymoron I don't know what is) no.. just kidding, but it's fun sometimes and the people you meet are great so the competive edge is kind of secondary to me. I compete to have fun and I usually don't win anything, but I don't take it too hard. Although, my average speaker points are 29; not bad....that's basically why I list S&D. That way I can explain what I get out of it to the admissions officers.</p>

<p>thanks b'smom, I'll look into that.</p>

15

<p>UChicago (EA)- low reach
Bryn Mawr (ED)- don't know much about this one so..........in?
Swarthmore (EA?)- low reach, high match
Middlebury (EA?)- in
UIUC (RD)-in
Oberlin (EA)-dont' know much about this one, so in?
UConn (EA)-safety</p>

<p>just write really good essays and maybe retake the ACT and you'll be fine. </p>

<p>chance me! <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/541438-chances-oxford-gt-wf-cmu-sc-etc.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/541438-chances-oxford-gt-wf-cmu-sc-etc.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

16

<p>I think you have a good shot at most of your college choices, however I think to really get the admissions attention you need to write an amazing essay that pulls your EC's together. Write about your passion, whatever that may be or about perhaps something that changed your life or an obstacle you overcame.
Good luck to you!
chance me back, thanks!
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/545209-valedictorian-chance.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/545209-valedictorian-chance.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

17

<p>I think I'll take the ACT one more time.. just to be sure. My essay is going to be about my passions and where I want them to take me, etc..it's kind of cliche but hopefully I can give some extra drive and uniqueness.</p>

<p>thanks, GSW fan and kmitch09 and everybody. </p>

<p>If anyone has any other opinions about Middlebury or Bennington please let me know. </p>

<p>thanks!</p>