Chances for "Final" College List

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

hello, people of college confidential. i believe it is time i make a proper chance me thread on this website after being quite… frightened to do so for many, many months (lol). this post will contain quite a bit of information; however, it’s all needed in order to assess my real chances at all of these schools.

Ethnicity: white
Gender: male
Residency: east tennessee

GPA: 4.00 UW (my school did not weight our GPAs)
Rank: 1/278 (this is weird though. since my school didn’t weight my classmates’ GPAs, anyone who maintained a 4.0 was valedictorian. there were probably around thirty of us. i’m still proud of being one though, lmao.)
ACT: 30 (35E, 32R, 26S, 25M… audible “yikes” at the last two, i know.)
SAT IIs: I took the SAT II for literature recently, so i’ll update with the score as soon as i get it back.

APs: this is where i get frustrated. my school, after my freshman year, changed our entire curriculum and began offering AP courses for the classes i had already taken. because of this, i didn’t get to take AP Human Geo, AP U.S. History, AP Enviro Science, etc. i was only able to take AP Calc AB my senior year because APHG and APUSH were underclassmen classes, and my schedule wouldn’t fit APES because of my AP Calc class. my school did offer dual enrollment, but i opted not to take the classes because i simply didn’t feel the need to. (shame on me to be honest. i really messed myself up for doing that. i think it was a semi-good thing though because if i did take the dual enrollment class for math then i wouldn’t have been able to take AP Calc.) the situation in and of itself is quite complicated, but this is the best i can explain it at the moment. anyway, since that ^ situation happened, i’m self-studying AP Human Geo, U.S. History, Psychology, and Environmental Science by myself on my own time during my gap year (which i am currently pursuing).

Extracurriculars (i did more than i’ll list, but these are the most important to me, so i’ll mention only them for now):
– coding themes for tumblr (9-present): i taught myself HTML and how to make themes for tumblr when i was, like, 14(?). i don’t do it for money or anything, i just do it because i genuinely love doing it, lol.
– poetry (10-present): basically, i began writing poetry in tenth grade but didn’t create a blog for it until this year. i’m also in the process of publishing my own poetry book through amazon which, if you ask me, IS SUPER FREAKING EXCITING.
– advice/college/etc. blog (12-present): i know, this sounds super weird, lol. basically, i created a blog my senior year that follows my experiences from ages eighteen until twenty-three because those are some of the most five important years of a person’s life, so i thought, “why not have my experiences documented for the entire world to read?” lol, it sounds lame and uninteresting, but i think it’s cool. it started off as an advice blog, but it morphed into what i love it being as now.
– tutoring my little brother (9-present): my little brother has ADHD, so i tutor him in math/any other subject area with which he needs help.
– job (11-12): i forget the name of exactly what i did (wow, i’m so intelligent), but i basically worked for this woman around her house, took care of her animals, etc., so i was basically an assistant, if you will? lol, ANYWAY, the pay was under the table, so i’m not sure if it counts, but i still consider it a job i worked.
– helping my sister with her cleaning business (gap year expedition): my sister started her own cleaning business, so i help her whenever she needs! i, of course have the free time on my hands, lol.
– teaching myself french/korean (THIS SEEMS SO ARBITRARY, LOL, SO LET ME EXPLAIN): i took up to french iii in school, so i have the backbone of french. i discovered korean music my, like, sophomore year, and i told myself i really wanted to learn the language one day, so i started during my gap year! i’m not even sure if you would define this as an extracurricular, but i love teaching myself new things (even if i’m terrible), so by golly, i am including it!
– the rest are school clubs/community service based organizations/etc. i feel like every applicant has a form of on his/her application.

Common App Essay: should be/is very well written and (i believe) unique to me as an individual. it’s about how i take ten minutes at the end of every week to write about things that have frustrated/worried/angered/etc. me, crumple up my “worries”/“frustrations”/etc., and trash them because a new week brings a new beginning. it sounds so cheesy, but it’s something i believe adds to my personality and whom i am as an applicant, haha.

Recommendations: should be really, really good. one is from my twelfth-grade honors english teacher who absolutely adores me. she is, hands down, my all-time favorite teacher. the other is from my AP Calc teacher who, even though I had for a year, came to be one of my favorite teachers i had while in school. she really taught to teach, and i respect(ed) that a lot. we had/have a really good relationship.

School List:
bates college*
bowdoin college*
carleton college
case western reserve university
colby college
connecticut college
grinnell college**
hamilton college***
kenyon college
macalester college
middlebury college
oberlin college
occidental college
reed college
rhodes college
university of rochester
vassar college

  • = schools i'm applying test-optional ** = school i'm applying early decision ii *** = school i'm considering removing

some schools i’ve been thinking of (re-)adding:
tulane university
union college
wesleyan university
university of richmond
new york university
williams college
swarthmore college

Hooks: first-generation and gay (though i’m not sure if the latter fact is a hook)

i have shown interest in all of the schools i listed (i’m not kidding… my mom is about to kill me from how many college packets i have received/continue to receive, lol. i’m requesting interviews for all of the ones to which i apply as well, and i email my admission officers quite regularly.).

anyway, thank you for reading this (utterly) long post and chancing me (if you choose to do so). if you have any other things to say or schools you think i should consider then don’t be shy to say so!

(p.s., be brutally honest but in a delicate, realistic way, please, lol.)
(p.p.s., yes, i DO have safeties, i just didn’t list them)
(p.p.p.s., yes, i do realize sending in the applications and financial aid information are expensive which is why i have money saved up in the bank and money that i will be receiving during the holidays to put towards the finances if need be, ahaha.)

2

I think you need to narrow down the list. Have you and your parents carefully considered finances and cost-of-attendance? You might find that some of these schools are not going to work out financially. You definitely don’t want to pick up a lot of student debt–it will haunt you for years. Also, you have to really consider what you want out of your college life. NYU is right in Manhattan, while many of the other schools on your list are kind of in the sticks. Very different environments, and yes, it’s possible to love them all, but I bet you can make a choice if you force yourself. Why not do that now, before spending $1000 (and a lot of work) on college apps? As for your chances, I think you have a good overall record and you show exceptional enthusiasm for, and interest in, writing and literature–you’ll get in to plenty of schools. Now I’ll leave it to others to figure out which schools are a good match for you.

3

tulane would be great! i don’t think you need to apply to as many schools as you listed maybe narrow down based on the field you want to go into or what they offer since a lot of those schools are similar but if you have the money to apply to all of them you should go for it!! but maybe take off the ones that are similar to each other or you’re just applying to to apply if that makes sense. you will get into at least one of them!!

4

hi, everyone! so, this is my final college this:

bates college*
bowdoin college*
carleton college
case western reserve university
colby college
connecticut college
grinnell college**
hamilton college
indiana university (i understand this is an outlier, but i actually really, really love IU even though it’s much, much different from the rest of the schools on my list)
kenyon college
macalester college
middlebury college
oberlin college
occidental college
rhodes college
union college
university of miami
university of rochester
vassar college
wesleyan university *

  • = applying as test-optional (still unsure about bates though) ** = early decision two applicant

do i have a shot? thank you.

5

You have a shot at all of these schools and will certainly get into at least a couple. Also IU is a good school especially if you’re applying for biz

6

@kalons, good luck as you apply to your ED2 and RD schools!

As a First-Gen hooked applicant, yes you will have that considered - LBGQT isn’t a hook though. As many of these schools are highly selective with some as matches and others as either reaches or high reaches, you’ll also want to make sure you have safeties as well.

Regarding re-adding schools, think Tulane, Union and NYU make sense as you profile there, but the others especially Swarthmore, Wesleyan and Williams are a huge reaches.

Of your “School List”, Bowdoin, Carleton, Grinnell, Hamilton, Middlebury and Vassar will be reaches to huge reaches as well as you are at or below the bottom 25% Accepted Student ACT for these - Bowdoin 31-34, Carleton 31-34, Grinnell 30-33, Hamilton 32-34, Middlebury 30-34, Vassar 30-34

Are you needing financial aid as that will impact those on your School List that are need-aware?

7

@kalons - I think you should apply to Wesleyan (probably, RD, since you will need to compare FA packages.)

8

OP, missed the last one on the “School List” - need to add Wesleyan to that reach/super reach bucket given median Accepted ACT was 32-34.

Assuming you are applying for need based aid, you should sort the schools by those that are “need blind” and those that are “need aware”, just so you don’t get surprised by any “need aware” school decisions as RD’s come in.

That said, good luck on your ED2 choice of Grinnell - amazing school!

9

I like Wesleyan’s geographic diversity. About 8% of the Class of 2021 is from The South.

10

@Chembiodad thank you for the good luck! if I applied test-optional at bowdoin and wesleyan, do you think I would have a chance? in my opinion, I just don’t think my test scores—particularly my scores in math—reflect my capability to do well, and it worries me they will affect my decision. I have been deciding whether or not to go through with applying to middlebury and hamilton for a long time because, like you said, i’m either at (super-scored) or below (composite) the 25th percentile of test takers at both of those schools. I removed swarthmore and williams (two very, very hard decisions) because I came to the reality that being accepted is just not likely. I am applying for financial aid. the reason I removed NYU is because the tuition and application fee is just so, so expensive. I know if I was accepted I wouldn’t be able to afford it, as I hear they’re a little stingy with financial aid, but I could be very wrong. I also removed tulane because i’m from tennessee, and I know tulane loves its geographic diversity. I felt as if I was at a bit of a disadvantage, so I thought to not apply. but, again, I could be wrong about that as well. all of that being said, do you think my chances at the others are okay?

11

@circuitrider I actually spoke with my admissions counselor over the phone to allow him to answer my questions, and at the end, HE asked ME questions, lol. he was like, “so, how did you hear about wesleyan? I know we don’t particularly have a strong reputation in tennessee, so i’m interested.” he was really nice!

12

Well it seems like a realllly looong listtt - maybe you want to cut it down a little? Think making sure all choices meet demonstrated need would be a good way to whittle down.

I think the key will be how you tell your Gap Year story…

Swarthmore and Williams - agree that eliminating is probably right.

Bates, Bowdoin and Wesleyan - I don’t know a lot about “test optional” selection, other than knowing if you pursue that path you need to have great grade and EC’s. Bates - why unsure as it seems like a fit and you profile?

Case Western, Miami, Rochester and Union seem very different than the others - what attracted you to these?

13

@Chembiodad i’ve been unsure of bates because i know they care deeply about demonstrated interest, but i feel as if i haven’t done enough. i’m unable to visit since i’m from tennessee, but i put myself on the mailing list and e-mailed my admissions officer regularly, so we can hope for the best. i also didn’t know if my test scores aligned with those being admitted who sent them vs. aligning with those being admitted who didn’t.

case western and rochester weren’t on my list until i stumbled upon threads comparing the two. they both have great psychology/cogsci departments, the student bodies seem warm and welcoming but not overly competitive. they’re also medium-sized universities (even though i fell in love with IU, lol) which i prefer just as much as liberal arts colleges. case western is actually one of my top choices as of right now.

miami was recommended to me by my aunt who lives in miami (lol), so i researched it and loved it. it’s medium-sized and you can’t go wrong with the weather or the academics (or the school spirit).

union is another one i really like because of it’s larger liberal arts style but small liberal arts feel if that makes sense. they psychology department is really good, and i can double major (or minor) in neuroscience if i wanted to. the only thing that gives me an “eh” feeling is the fact it’s so greek heavy, and i haven’t found any good threads about the LGBT quality of life on campus. i don’t know if any fraternity would be open to having a bisexual brother, lol.

i know i, as an applicant, am very esoteric with my school choices, but i genuinely would be happy anywhere, wether it be in sunny miami florida with pervasive school spirit or cold connecticut college where football isn’t even offered. i’m not very picky except about a few things (whether my programs are offered, not too huge [IU being an exception], and a solid LGBT+ quality of life).

14

hmmm. Still feels like there’s a school vibe where you would be happiest at as Miami, Kenyon and Rochester are soooo different - have you read Princeton Review’s or College Niche’s student body descriptions?

15

@Chembiodad i have read the reviews about each one! they all seemed perfect to me, which is why i suppose they all made my final list :frowning: hahaha

16

Before you finalize your list, know thyself.

17

@Chembiodad lol, very true, but i really do think i’ll be happy at any of them. the only differences are location, size, and weather: three things about which i’m super lenient. as of right now, i think i have a decent chance at occidental, rhodes, conn, indiana, miami, and maybe kenyon, but i’m not sure about the rest!

18

Oberlin and Union should profile as well - all great schools.

19

@Chembiodad thank you so much for all of your help thus far. i’ll be sure to update my thread(s) when decision dates rear their ugly heads! :stuck_out_tongue:

20

Best of luck