<p>ACT: 30
SAT: 2000 (W730, R640, M600)
SATIIs: Lit-760; US History-640
APs: Taking 3--stat, lit, environmental science--currently. took 1 last year--US History--and got a 4 on the test.</p>
<p>GPA: 4.2W, 3.8UW (3.86UW/W freshman year, 3.93UW/4.23W sophomore year, 3.6UW/4.1W junior year...obviously not an "upwards trend" in grades, but I have taken increasingly difficult classes and gotten more involved in ECs each year)</p>
<p>ECs:
Theatre: *Acted in 12 shows (with two more coming up shortly)
*8 awards (4 for acting, 4 for directing) from a Southern California theatre festival throughout high school
*Drama Club for 4 years--leadership in the club junior year
*Comedy Sportz member (11th+12th grades)
Other: *Web manager, Arkonline.com (9th-11th grades)
*Yearbook (9th+10th grades)
*Part time job junior year (20hrs/week), part time job senior year (8hrs/week), summer before senior year copy edited a website for an English-speaking Indian company (8hrs/total)
Volunteer work:
*Crew for 3 musicals for middle school aged students--180 hrs (10th-12th grades)
*Actor/ticket taker for an elementary school haunted house--14 hours (11th-12th grades)
*Relay for Life, 24-hour walk to raise money for the American Cancer Society</p>
<p>Recs: should be good. One from an English teacher (2 honors+ AP Lit) puts emphasis on how I am very creative and how that makes me standout in a classroom. one from my APUSH teacher, don't know much about how that one will go. my counselor knows me and my family situation fairly well and likes me (i think). </p>
<p>Essay: i've had my common app called a "winner" by my english teacher, whose opinion i really value. it discusses my younger brother, who has Asperger's syndrome, and the influence he's had on my life.</p>
<p>Grade wise you're great, and the little grade drop from 10th -11th is negligible and I wouldn't worry. ACT is right on the average from last year's 30.1 but the SAT is a little low. Everything else seems reasonable. If you can raise the test scores that would help. Regular decision admission is harder due to the increasing number of applicants and that last year many more admittees said yes than the school was anticipating.<br>
I had heard for the 08-09 year the final number who chose to attend Grinnell was around 465 - 470, down from over 480 that said yes. I think you have a decent shot but it's seems to be harder each year to get in. Obvviously I don't know your background, but if you are applying through the Posse Program then I think your chances would be very good to excellent. Also, another Californian is a nice addition.</p>
<p>Did you visit and/or interview? At Grinnell, the interview means something. If Grinnell is your top choice at this time, I would recommend applying ED2 (check the deadline). Qualified applicants who apply ED do well in gaining admission. Feel free to PM if you have any specific questions.</p>
<p>SoCalDad is being overly pessimistic in my view. Both your SATs and your ACTs are just fine; your grades are strong; you're plenty involved in activities; and you're from California. Moreover, unlike many LACs the class doesn't fill up so much with ED applicants.</p>
<p>I don't think I was overly pessimistic, but rather, giving a realistic assessment from my viewpoint. The average SAT for the class of 2012 was 1332, which is a combination of M and CR. Since her combined SAT for those subjects is 1240, it is undeniably a little low and that has to be factored accordingly in the anlysis since I recall test scores make up 25% of the criteria for admission. As I previously mentioned, her grades are great. While I still think she has a decent shot at gaining admission, the test scores prevent me from saying anything different. The bottom line is it's getting harder to gain admission. I hope I'm wrong and that she is easily accepted because the school is incredible.</p>
<p>Grinnell will only consider the higher of the SAT or the ACT. Her ACT score of 30 is clearly the higher score. It's also right where it needs to be. Her SAT score is thus completely irrelevant.</p>
<p>I agree her ACT score is clearly the higher score. While a 30 is a good score on the ACT, nonetheless, by Grinnell standards her ACT score is average since last years average was 30.1. It certainly isn't a personal attack, only a fact that has to be taken into consideration when evaluating her chances. The rest of her application is very good.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your acceptance. Get ready for an amazing experience. Will you be playing baseball there and what area of study interests you?</p>