<p>I've already posted a chance thread on CC however since then I have narrowed my search. I visited/interviewed at Macalester and Grinnell a few weeks back, and really liked both. Any responses will be greatly appreciated. </p>
<p>Race: Hispanic (half Mexican)
Class Rank: (not yet published) probably top 10-15% </p>
<p>Stats;
GPA: 3.73 unweighted, 3.85 weighted (A's in all classes except Math and Chem Honors)
8 AP Classes: US History, World History, English Lang, English Lit, Comp Gov, Psych, Euro History, Macro Econ (2 Honors: English II, Chem)
Three Years of Spanish (technically two, but finished at accelerated Spanish 3 level)
SAT I: 2080 (800 CR, 580 M, 700 W with an 11 on the essay)
SAT II: World History 800, Literature 710
ACT: 28 (I took it again this May, new score pending)
I'll probably retake the SAT II Lit and SAT to bring Math above 600 </p>
<p>Awards:
National Hispanic Merit Scholar
National Merit Commended (don't know yet, but scores well within state range)
School Phi Beta Kappa Book Award
Department AP US History student Award
Published in School Literary Magazine</p>
<p>ECs:
Model UN (4 years, including international conference at the Hague and University of Virginia)
Debate (3 years, Excellence Degree from Public Forum and Lincoln Douglas formats)
Staff Writer for school newspaper Junior year, will be guest writer Senior year
School Delegate to Anti-Defamation League Conference Junior Year
Senior Member of School Honor Council (upholds student honor code and passes judgements on violations)
Tutor for underprivileged (mostly Hispanic) primary schoolers from local elementary school
Volunteer at local parish library during the summer
Leader in Training at Summer Camp freshman year </p>
<p>Special Circumstances: I have a non-verbal learning disability, whoch has greatly hindered my proficiency at Math and requires me to take 50% extended time on tests. </p>
<p>Schools:
Grinnell
Macalester
Reed
Emory
U. Chicago
New College of Florida
Pitzer</p>
<p>I think you have a lot of great points. In your essay I would emphasize how you tutored kids and really emphasize any personal growth you had through your activities. I’ve never chanced someone before, but I think you have a good shot at most of the universities you listed. As for U. Chicago, when you apply I would focus on personal growth. My cousin got in and he deff focused on that in his essay.</p>
<p>Right, emphasize personal growth. Also, don’t mention stuff that you did for only 1 year. Other than that, you hae a good chance at all of them. Good luck. Chance me:</p>
<p>Thanks for chancing me. As mentioned before, you have many strengths for your application. I think you have a good shot at all the schools, except for UChicago which I would rank a low reach. With essays on your personal growth, you definitely have a chance for UChicago.</p>
<p>I think the entire issue is the inherit subjectivity of the process. I don’t think anyone enjoys essentially being judged personally and intellectually by a group of people you never met while you can’t defend yourself, so people try to gain as much control over the process as possible. Since all the best efforts will never allow you to see into the heads of an admissions committee, it becomes termed a random “crapshoot,” rather than a deterministic process inherently veiled to us.</p>
<p>Yeah, my point is that I don’t think it’s subjective as people make it out to be.</p>
<p>First of all, a lot of the top schools have multiple reviews of each application before it goes to an adcom.</p>
<p>Second, only about half the application is subjective, and even those parts of the application, if the admission counselors are taking their jobs seriously enough and being careful enough (which I suspect they are), can be reviewed relatively objectively.</p>
<p>The only college you mentioned that I know a ton about is Reed since I live right nearby there. They tend to look for people who are very unique and excited about some aspect of school. It seems like your reading and writing is so strong that you shouldn’t have a problem getting in. In my area (very close to Reed) it has a bit of a druggy reputation but it has cool aspects like an outdoor ancient greek-style theatre area and a very active juggling club (that’s what I’ve been involved in with it at least). Strong essays have gotten some of my friends in who did not have grades as good as yours. Hope that helps a bit!!</p>
<p>Thanks Powell, much appreciated, Reed always seemed to be sort of the stretch of the liberal arts college pool I looked at. I’m glad to hear they’d value my writing ability seriously in the application. </p>
<p>To imasophmore, I think you’re right the process itself hinges on deterministic factors with exaggerated random variability. I just think calling the process a “crapshoot” is something of a psychological label we put on a process we have little control over or input in (in the same way a medieval serf would see an airplane driven by “magic” rather than jet engine)</p>
<p>Hi! Thanks for chancing me, though I can only help you with 2 schools. Emory, I think you have a bit of a chance in, and it’s not because your SAT is too low, but because of your GPA. I know a girl who went there with similar credentials, and she had a disability as well, but had a 5.3 W GPA. So that might greatly lower your chances. As for the New College, it is the same thing. Do you know about what percentage in your class you may be? I know someone from my school (I live in FL), that was accepted who graduated Suma Cum Laude (top 5%). You may have a shot, I’m not sure how great of a school it is but I know it’s competitive. You have great volunteer (especially tutoring) and your SAT scores really help you. I hope I helped a little.</p>
<p>I think you have a decent shot at them. UChicago can be very tough depending on the department and Emory tracks interest (make sure you visit). GPA is a little below average for most probably, but you do have a slight disability so its probably understandable. Same with ACT/SAT, but without math scores are pretty good. I’d guess you’d get into most others too.</p>
<p>Chicago and Emory are probably the only real reaches. Your disability and Hispanic background definitely improve your chances, but you still might be a low reach for a few of the other schools. Overall, I’d say Emory and Chicago are your two mid reaches, the rest are high matches/ low reaches… all depends on your essay and how well you can convey your story.</p>
<p>Just in 30 on ACT though no writing scores yet, I know it’s not quite as high the SAT result, but given the score ranges of colleges I’m looking at it’s still helpful isn’t it? should I retake (got 26 on math without studying)</p>