Chances Here

Colleges and Universities A-Z Kalamazoo College
1

<p>I've been reading a lot here for a while now, but I've only just registered, and I figured I'd start posting...</p>

<p>I'm a high school junior right now and I'm just wondering what my chances at some of the Liberal Arts Colleges in the Midwest are. I underachieved quite a bit in high school, but I'm hoping that my essays and test scores will make up for that somewhat.</p>

<p>GPA- 2.96
ACT- 30
SAT- 1980</p>

<p>The schools I'm looking at right now are:</p>

<p>Antioch College (thinking this might end up being too radical for me, as liberal as I am, though we'll see)</p>

<p>College of Wooster (don't exactly know how good my chances at a decent financial aid package or even at admission are here, but I really like the school and I'm planning on visiting in April)</p>

<p>Oberlin and Reed (I realize that Reed is in the Pacific NW, and that both of these are almost certainly out of my league, although it never hurts to dream, right?)</p>

<p>Kalamazoo, Macalester, Denison and Kenyon (don't know too much about these schools, except for that they are very good, although again, they may be a little bit out of my league)</p>

<p>Safety right now looks like U of D Mercy, (close ties with my high school)
and Financial Safety looks like Michigan State or Grand Valley State, which I hear is very underrated.</p>

<p>I realize this is a very long topic, and to any of you who are still reading, thank you! I guess I'm just looking for people's thoughts on any of these schools...</p>

<p>Thanks a lot in advance.</p>

2

<p>Nice scores. EC's matter-- also, the way that they are presented as well as the presentation of your general bio in the app matter a great deal. Ditto for interviews and personal contact.
Kalamazoo has traditionally had a lot of in-staters, I'm not sure if that hurts or helps you. Their national publicity and apps are way up right now, though.
I think personal contact is the way to go. Let the the schools know you and know why they should want you. Time's short.
The schools listed are not all similar in atmosphere, that's for sure.</p>

3

<p>Guess I skipped a line-- I wrote as if you were a senior-- sorry.</p>

4

<p>With regard to Kalamazoo College's class profiles as posted on their website, the average unweighted GPA for three recent entering classes ('07-'09) is 3.64, the middle 50% of SAT's is 1210-1400, and the middle 50% of ACT composite is 26-31.</p>

5

<p>
[quote]
Their national publicity and apps are way up right now, though.

[/quote]

Well, apparently this is the case after the conversation I had with my freshman athlete S. yesterday. His coaches said that recruiting has been really tough this year since apps are up 35%. A recent example...the recruiting coach said he was pushing hard for a particular player needed to fill a key position who had a 3.7 GPA and 27 ACT. Despite having the recruited athlete hook and respectable stats, he was denied by Admissions. The increased exposure of K College might have something to do with the new edition of Loren Pope's CTCL book being released last summer.</p>

6

<p>Just to confirm the percentage stat from your son's coach, someone from admissions told us as an aside in Jan that apps were up 37%. It's a nice place and deserves the attention.</p>

7

<p>GPA is too low. Unless you write brilliant essays and have great recommendations and extra currics, it's gonna be hard for you to get in. Difficult Senior year courses are very important. Best of luck.</p>