Chances? (long,but stick with me) UChicago, Vandy, Vassar, WUSTL

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>There are only 40 kids in my class, and less than 175 in the entire high school-so I don't have all that many opportunities (no ap's honors, or anything of the sort). I'll likely be the first person from my school to even be applying to some of these places.
Ahhh... here it goes</p>

<p>GPA (unw 5.0 scale)-4.88
Class Rank-5 of 40 (this will go up by first quarter next year, however)
PSAT-196 (signed up for June testing)
ACT (projected)-31 (or there abouts, according to my PLAN scores, I'll have actual results before long)</p>

<p>Classes: (I'm just giving yearly avg.'s)
Freshman
Band-A+
Algebra I - B+
Biology-A
Business-A+
English I-A
Typing/Formatting-A
Government-A
Driver's Ed.-A
Career Develop.-Pass</p>

<p>Sophomore
Band-A
Algebra II-B
PreChem-B
PrePhys-A
German I- A-
Accounting I-A
English II-A
World Geography-A+</p>

<p>Jr.
Band-A
Alg III-B (ugh i hate saxon math)
German II- A- (hopefully:)
Automated Acct. - A+
English III- A+
Botany- A+
Zoology- A
Am. Hist.- A+
Speech- A
World Hist.- A</p>

<p>Sr.
Acct. II
Journalism
Psych.
Sociology
German III
English IV
Trig/PreCalc
Band
Yearbook (only option for that hr. vs. SH)</p>

<p>Recs.
-I have business teacher who has tough 35 years+, who loves me and will be thrilled to write me an essay
-I have a English teacher (who happens to be the drama club sponsor also) who knows me and my abilities well, and is a very talented writer
-I work as a mentor for 6th graders at a local library (teaching computer skills and being a positive influence), and the library director and I get along very well;I can't count on her for an well-worded essay also.</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars
-Drama Club (Three major roles in spring musicals, EXTREMELY time-consuming) was Treasurer and will be Pres. next year
-Work at local lib. as a mentor for 6th graders
-Student Orch., Jazz and Marching Band. ( I'm first chair soprano sax in Orch and March and am first tenor in Jazz Band)
-NHS (a big deal at my school-highly selective) Treasurer this year (headed multiple volunteer committees) and will be Pres next year
-4-H-I've been either VP, Sec, or Treas for the last five years of one of the largest clubs in the state (9 yr. overall member)
-Business Club- Headed many fundraising committees and am vieing for sec. next year
-Teens4Life-Publicity Chr. Organized Coloring Contest for Grade school, etc.
-Fr. Class Tres, could be Sr. Class Pres next year
-etc.</p>

<p>Awards
5 Time State-Superior Public Spkr
Yearly Eng III, Biology, Eng II,World Geo., Botany, Am. Hist,Acct., and Typing awards (each only given to one student)
Selected as DARE role model
Numerous Band Awards
Receieved 3rd plc in State for Am. Legion Essay COntest
-and others...</p>

<p>I'm looking at</p>

<p>UChicago
Vanderbilt
WUSTL (a low reach maybe?)
Vassar
Swarthmore (I dunno about this one...)
Amherst (A definite reach, I know, but everyone should have one, right :)
Butler
Sewanee: The Uni. of the South
Lake Forest
DePauw</p>

<p>Possible Majors: Int'l. Bus. or Relations, Anthropology, Art History</p>

<p>Pheww... made it
Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Have I done something wrong?</p>

3

<p>And I thought my son was at a small school -- 330 in grades 9-12. I definitely would play up that aspect on any application.</p>

<p>Your ECs are strong. You'll have a better indication about your chances with colleges when you have test scores in hand. There will be many schools interested in your talents in the arts -- should you pursue them.</p>

4

<p>Agree with Momreads: Without test scores, no one can really give you an estimate of your chances. One important thing to note: Some of the schools you are considering require or recommend SAT Subject tests in addition to the ACT or SAT, so be sure to plan accordingly. If a school recommends subject tests, I'd definitely try to take them if you have not taken any AP or honors courses. If you haven't already taken either the ACT or SAT, it might be hard to fit in all of the testing, and give yourself enough time for retests.</p>

5

<p>Thanks, for the adivce: I've never been sure how colleges view the whole small school aspect (I HATE not being able to take any AP's--I feel so in competitive), but when they look at the opportunities I've had, and what I've been able to do with them, I think I've done decent.</p>

<p>I took the ACT at the end of April (as part of state standardized testing-but it still counts as an actual administration), so I should be getting those results before long. I'm signed up for the June SAT.</p>

<p>About the subject tests-Everyone on my list accepts the ACT (plus writing), w/o the subject tests. But do I need to take the subjects tests in order for colleges to even consider my SAT? I hate to expose my weak areas, if I can avoid it. I'd probably want to take the Lit. and World History-but does that make me look too one sided?</p>

<p>I'm a fairly good saxophonist (I can play the bari, tenor, alto, and sop(my fave)), but I wasn't sure about the usefullness of it, since I don't plan on pursuing music into a major or career (I would love to be part of wind ensemble, sax quartet, or jazzz band in college). Is that a major selling point? I love being part of our drama dept. and I definitely want to pursue that in college.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help!</p>

6

<p>Again, without the actual ACT vs. SAT 1 scores, it's premature to say whether you'll be able to rely on JUST the ACT or whether you'll need to send your SAT and subject scores. My rule of thumb is that if you think you may be applying to colleges which consider the subject tests, unless you know for sure that your ACT is going to be strong enough to use only that, I'd count on taking both to give yourself maximum chances. It would be fine to take both the English Language and History tests, by the way --- unless, of course, you're thinking about majoring in engineering. :)</p>

<p>In terms of the EC's, one mistake people make is thinking only in terms of what they've done, and not in terms of what the activities they've participated in show ABOUT them. In general, admissions committees don't care as much about what you've done as they do what your activities show about who you are -- in other words, dedication, ability to deal with challenges, hard work, intellectual curiousity, team player skills, creativity, etc. So, spend some time this summer thinking about the characteristics your EC's have helped you develop, and how you might convey that in your essays, your recommendations, and your other application materials. Good luck!</p>