Chances for Swarthmore/Haverford

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, everybody. I am a white male living in New Jersey and currently I am a junior. Any feedback is welcome. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>Academics</p>

<p>Class Rank: 1/about 350
Unweighted GPA: 4.2 (on a 4.3 scale)
Weighted GPA: 5.7 (out of a theoretical maximum of around 6.0)
International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidate
Math Level: Two-year accelerated (one of four students on this track)</p>

<p>IB Courses/Tests (some projected)</p>

<p>English HL
Spanish HL
Math HL
Physics HL
Economics SL
Latin SL
Theory of Knowledge</p>

<p>AP Courses/Tests (some projected)</p>

<p>Chemistry
Spanish Language
English Language
US History
Physics C Mechanics
Calculus BC
Statistics
US Government and Politics
Macroeconomics</p>

<p>Scores</p>

<p>PSAT (highest combined) - 228 (80 Reading, 68 Math, 80 Writing)
SAT – 2220 (730 Reading, 740 Math, 750 Writing), will be taking test again in June
SAT II's - will be taking Spanish, Chemistry, and Math Level 2 in May
AP Chemistry – 5 (after one year of basic chemistry plus independent study – i.e. without the AP Chemistry Class)
AP Spanish Language – 5 (after only two years of a four year AP Spanish track)</p>

<p>Activities</p>

<p>Boy Scouts – Life Scout (currently working on Eagle Project)
Mixed Choir
Debate - involves about a 10 hr/week commitment from January-April
Science League
Math League
Latin Club - President
Chess Club (I run a chess club for younger children at my local library)
Public Library Volunteer
Literary Magazine/School Newspaper - Contributing Writer</p>

<p>Awards/Honors/Achievements</p>

<p>National Merit Commended Student (predicted)
National AP Scholar (predicted)
Northwest Jersey Debate League - 2007 Novice Debater of the Year
Scorer in the Top Ten Percent of Participants for Chemistry in NJ Science League
ACL/NJCL National Latin Exam Perfect Score (Latin I)
Scripps National Spelling Bee Alternate National Finalist (Eighth Grade)
Boy Scout World Conservation Award</p>

<p>Other Hobbies</p>

<p>Geocaching – Outdoor GPS treasure hunting
Creative Writing - published in several youth anthologies</p>

<p>Thanks again, everybody.</p>

2

<p>i think you have a shot, but your Ec's don't show a passion/focus. what is your passion/focus.</p>

3

<p>The EC that I care the most about and put the most time into is debate. In a given season I probably put in about 90-100 hours of time spent researching, preparing, practicing, and debating. </p>

<p>Outside of school-based programs, my other focus is geocaching. I do it almost every weekend and I've been involved for over a year and a half.</p>

4

<p>that is so baller, geocaching. </p>

<p>as for chances, you a certainly in the ballpark, and being male helps.</p>

<p>BUT schools like haverford and swarthmore have "quirky" admissions. once they see that you are a good academic (which you clearly are) they focus on the other "intangible" stuff. write really good essays. </p>

<p>i do agree with megan that your ecs are kinda bland. that may just be because they are simply listed though.</p>

5

<p>I think that you could be a good match. I hadn't ever heard of geocaching before I saw this and maybe neither have they-- so I wouldn't say that your EC's are too bland for the schools.</p>

6

<p>Unless your school is an abysmal joke, I'd say you're in, just looking at that class rank and those SAT scores</p>

7

<p>i would say you're good at both, although im not extremely knowledgeable in admissions factors at either (only things ive picked up is because i live within 15 minutes of both, and some kids at my school are applying to both)</p>

<p>but your class rank and gpa are awesome and scores are good too...i mean, in comparison a girl at my school got a full ride scholarship to swarthmore and her gpa is either the same as yours or around a 4.0 although i think her scores were a little higher (our school doesnt rank though) and she has tons of awards going for her. but what im getting at is if she can get a full scholarship, im pretty sure you are definitely going to have little to no problem getting in.</p>

8

<p>Swat is a crapshoot...maybe 25% chance, but it has nothing to do with you as a candidate, just with Swat being as difficult to get in to as it is. However, URM status would bring you up to a 50/50, I'd say.</p>

9

<p>Woohoo, why exactly do you say that being male helps?</p>

10

<p>Why do you think you'll only get Nat'l Merit Commended? I'd say at least semi-finalist w/ 228 (which may also be because my scores are EXACTLY the same as yours, in the same areas, too).</p>