Chances for Reed College

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Rising senior, here are my stats:

UW GPA: 3.85 - I’ve gotten two B’s my entire HS career (H Spanish freshmen yr and H precalc this year)
W GPA: 5.383
Class rank: top 10%

SAT Scores: 2050
CR: 670
M: 680
W: 700

SAT II: USH 690

AP Exams:
AP US His (10): 5
AP US Gov’t (11): pending, but positive it’s going to be a 5
AP Lang (11): pending, but positive it’s going to be 4-5
AP Human Geo (11): pending, but positive it’s going to be 4-5

Senior year course load:
AP Economics
AP Calculus
AP English Lit and Lang
AP Chemistry
CP Debate (only level available)

I will also be doing an extended learning opportunity next year, which is an opportunity my school offers where students can design their own class on their own or in a small group of peers that “goes beyond the traditional classroom.” Next year, one of my friends and I will self-study AP Euro history, and use what we’ve learned and make a detailed outline/prediction of what we think Europe will be like in the future (we’re looking at 10 - 20 years now). We’ll also sit for the AP Exam, and we’ll get 4 HS credits for it.

I’m not taking physics senior year because I’m doing an internship at a state uni over the summer that entails a college physics class, so I’m looking to get that credit transferred over to my HS transcript.

EC’s:

Local summer camp planning committee (9, 10, leadership: program chair)
Freshmen basketball (9)
Freshmen field hockey (9)
Math peer tutor (9,10,11,12)
Paid job: soccer ref (10)
Model United Nations (11,12)
Newspaper (11, 12, leadership: editor-in-chief)
Youth and Government Club (11, 12)
National Honor Society (11, 12, leadership: president)
Social Studies Honor Society (11, 12)
Link Crew leader (11, 12, leadership: group leader)
Will be reviving the debate team in 12th grade

Summer activities:
Online coursera course on Astronomy through Duke Uni (before 11)
Online edX course on Global Sociology through Wellesley (before 12)
Project SMART at UNH (summer space science program) (before 12)
Web design and planning out the newspaper’s transition from print to online (before 11)
Link crew prep (before 11 and 12)

Awards
1st place school writing contest (10)
NH Humanities Council Book Award (11)
Holy Cross Book Award (11)

School rec letters - I asked:

  • My honors (basically AP) Human Geo, honors Economics, honors International Relations, and future AP economics teacher who I’ve gotten to know very well (because I’ve had three classes with him this year) - knows how hardworking, persistent, and passionate I am about social studies.
  • My former AP US Gov’t teacher who partially runs gov’t club - knows how passionate I am about learning, and she knows me outside the classroom.
  • My former AP Lang and Comp teacher, who also runs National Honor Society and Model UN - knows how much I care about reading, thinks I’m pretty smart, and knows me well outside the classroom as well.

Subjective/hobbies

  • I love reading, stargazing, citizen science project (like Zooniverse), and drawing.
  • Intended major: Political Science, and I definitely want to get a PhD
  • Common App: I’ve written some drafts of my essay, and they’ve all turned out to be about my passion for reading/learning
  • Why Reed: I love the intellectual challenge & environment, I can find other kids who like reading political sci/ history books for fun there, but not at my high school. These are some preliminary ideas, I still have more research to do.

Chances? I can’t have an interview or visit because it’s on the other side of the country, and I plan on applying ED I. I know my SATs and even GPA scores are low, but hopefully recs and essays can make up for it.

2

You seem to be doing everything right to get accepted by Reed! I think a liberal arts school like Reed would like to have you because of your commitment to activities and academics at your high school! Your unweighted GPA is not low whatsoever, you should be proud of everything you have done! :))

3

@ScienceNerd7 your stats are really good and show continued effort to challenge yourself and learn more. They are certainly on par with what can get you into Reed, but don’t forget to be yourself in your ‘Why Reed?’ essay. That will be your opportunity to set yourself apart and get you noticed. Find a ‘hook’ that will show them ‘Why ScienceNerd7?’

Are you an exceptionally gifted harmonica player? Do you have a disability you’ve overcome? Is reading Wikipedia articles while making crepes your morning ritual? It can be quirky or serious, but it should be something that everyone else won’t be writing in the ‘Why Reed?’ essay. Share your uniqueness!

Reedies are all intellectuals with great stats, but they are also all individuals with creative, intellectual curiosities that are not necessarily mainstream. All are there to expand not only their knowledge, but the ways in which they think and relate to one another and the world.

Reed is also interested in your true level of interest in Reed. They want to know that you are committed to learning for the sake of learning, and supporting others around you to do the same. They take a holistic approach to learning, and I believe they do the same thing in the admissions process.

4

{
Looks like you match;
Good luck!
}