<p>Hey everyone, I posted this exact (nearly) post in the chances section but really wanted some feedback specifically with respect to Swarthmore. I was hoping you guys could tell me what you think my chances are. I applied ED1.</p>
<p>I am a US citizen who has been living in Switzerland for the past 11 years. I am currently going to the International School of Geneva and taking the IB. I'm taking the hardest course offered at my school which consists of Math, Physics, and Chemistry Higher, and English, French, and History Standard.</p>
<p>Scores:
GPA 6.25/7 (unweighted) [has gotten progressively higher] {the highest gpa at our school is 6.7}
SAT 780 Math/720 Reading/710 Writing
SAT II's 800 Math IIC/ 790 Physics
my school doesn't class rank to my knowledge.
National Merit Commendation
Honor role for the past two years.</p>
<p>Extra Curricular Activities:
Tennis for 8 years
Guitar for 6 years
Diving for 6 years
Computer Programming 6 years (have taught at a summer program, gone to summer programs for four years)
Student Council
India Project (a project run by my school in which we go to india and help build schools, day care centers etc..)
Tanzania Project (similar to the india project but much more intense)
worked at CERN last summer 9-5 job (CERN is the largest center for nuclear research in the world. During my time there me and this czech grad student wrote a program that's been presented at several conferences)</p>
<p>I think I have at least one outstanding recommendation and two very strong ones.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot. Also, if any of the mods think this is to repetitive feel free to delete. I know i've always applied but I'd still really like some feedback because I've been thinking a lot about whether or not I'll get in.</p>
<p>Assuming that the application does a decent job of fleshing out a few of the things on your laundry list, I think the odds are quite high that you will be accepted ED. </p>
<p>The travel to India and Tanzania would be interesting to Swarthmore. And, the sustained interest in computer programming, tied into teaching one summer and working in that area another summer makes for the kind of focused package that adcoms can wrap their arms around.</p>
<p>Grades, test scores, school, and difficulty of curriculum are non-issues for you.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for your positive feedback! It really meant a lot to hear. I'm really glad I stand a shot because it seems like such an ideal school for me.</p>
<p>Hey...re this Tanzania Project thing...where in Tanzania did you stay and for how long? I lived there for a year and I am going back in like 24 days. Your scores and grades are really strong. I think as long as your essays show the enthusiasm you have for learning and you also show that you have a researched interest in the school in your Why Swat? essay you stand a great chance of being accepted. Feel free to PM me about your Tanzanian experience. I'm really interested to hear about it. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for your reply. It's always nice to get positive feedback especially with the looming deadline.</p>
<p>My Tanzania stay was really excellent. We stayed in Tanzania for two weeks. We started out with a shortish safari during which we also spent time with the Hatsa and the Masai. We then went to the International School at Moshi. While we stayed there we worked on three projects. The first was at a primary school called Singa Boro about a 30-40 minute walk from the international school. Another was at a middle school called JK Nyere again around a 30-40 minute drive. Finally, there was one project at a school in a Masai reserve for people who stayed out there after the safari portion. </p>
<p>They were so much fun to work on and working with local workers was really rewarding. I worked mostly at the primary school in Singa Boro where we built two new classrooms for the students. One of the coolest parts of the trip was something called an 'overnight stay'. In groups of two we stayed with a local Tanzanian family. Even though I'm normally the slightly more reserved type I still loved the experience. Our host was so friendly and really took us into his home.</p>
<p>The last thing we did was to attempt to climb up Mt Meru. Although we didn't have anywhere near enough time we still managed to get pretty high (dont remember exactly) iin the pouring rain so I was happy.</p>
<p>What did you do while you were there? Being there for a year must have been so interesting. I'd love to hear about your experiences aswell.</p>
<p>i had a lot of free time in Tanzania because I was homeschooled. i hung out in dukas (shops) and worked on my Swahili until I was fluent. once i had a command of the language, i worked in two of these shops quite regularly. my family went on vacation to matema beach, ngoro ngoro crater, and my favorite place in the world, pangania beach on the indian ocean. it's hard to explain how much i did there. actually, i wrote my Swat commonapp essay about Tanzania. i'll pm it to you, if you're interested in reading it.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for sending me your essay. It sounds like such an intense/cool experience. It also sounds like you sacraficed a lot to go, do you think it was worth it? Anyway, your essay sounds great. Thanks again for sending it</p>
<p>That is so amazing. It really sounds like one of those experiences that, when it's over, you can't really explain to anyone else because it was just that...big.</p>
<p>you went to Tanzania? Im going to Tnazania this year with a Humanitarian Aid group. How was it? What was the culture like? Was it hard to get by on just english?</p>
<p>How was it? Awesome. What was the culture like? Incredible. Hard to get by on English? Not if your in touristy areas. Not as many English speakers as in...say European countries...but there are enough.</p>
<p>Small world with people on CC connected to Tanzania, wouldn't you say? Anyway infectedmushroom, i'm sure you'll love every minute of it--minus the bug bites! :p</p>
<p>I know this is an old thread, and that you've already been accepted... I just had to comment as your stats are nearly identical to mine.</p>
<p>GPA: 6.26/7 in full IB Diploma (rising trend; expecting a 6.35 by the end of junior year)
PSAT: 232 (78CR/74M/80W)
Int'l school in Washington, DC</p>
<p>Swarthmore is my first choice, and while your ECs are more impressive than mine your post made me feel a lot better about my chances. </p>