Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Barnard College
1

<p>I’m a junior in high school and was thinking of applying to Barnard next fall. I haven’t taken SATs yet, but based on this information, (let’s assume SAT’s are acceptable) what are my chances of acceptance?</p>

<p>-white, international female
-previously at competitive private school, before moving to US and attending competitive public school
-previous school worked ahead a year, I’m only a junior but am working on senior level courses</p>

<p>CUMULATIVE GPA over past 3 years, 3.8(unweighed)
-fresh GPA - 3.75 u/w
-soph GPA - 3.889 u/w
-junior(1) - 3.857 u/w
-estimate GPA for junior(2) - 3.8 u/w, 3.92 w</p>

<p>-COURSES FOR JUNIOR(2):
-English 12
-Dramatic Arts
-Gov’t
-Trig/Math Analysis
-AP Chem
-Gourmet Foods</p>

<p>-SCHEDULE FOR SENIOR YEAR:
-AP US History
-French 4
-AP Lit
-Physics
-AP Bio
-AP Calculus AB</p>

<p>-EC’s:
-Band ensembles: jazz, concert, senior level(9,10,11a)
-Alkahest Chem Honour Society (11b,12)
-Mu Alpha Theta (11b,12)
-Drama Honour Society (11b,12)
-Cooking/Child Care Club, treasurer(11b)
-participated in numerous theatre festivals
-private music lessons
-horseback riding, not competitively (9,10,11,12)</p>

<p>-HONOURS:
-Duke of Ed, bronze level(silver to be completed very soon)
-Proficiency Award (9,10,11a)
-Music Award (9,10)</p>

<p>-OTHER:
-school exchanges to Japan and England (am v. interested in study abroad and internship opportunities, and Barnard has had great internship placements!)</p>

<p>At prev. school I took the highest level of courses possible, and they did not offer AP or honours classes. My main concern is the rigour of my courses will not look favourable to admissions officers, especially my junior year. Coming into a new country, not just a new school, we were unsure as to where I would be so we withheld on enrolling in more AP’s and honours classes. However, do not get the wrong idea from my junior courses. I am an extremely hardworking student, and will get stellar teacher recs when I apply next year.</p>

<p>Even though it’s early in my college search, I know I really want to go to Barnard. I’m worried I may be too far below their regular admit stats, but I really love the feel of Barnard.</p>

2

<p>Well I can take this lack of responses one way, that my chances are great, or absolutely awful. Hopefully it is not the latter.</p>

3

<p>Your credentials take up a lot of space but don't say very much:</p>

<p>Your course load is good but not outstanding. Your grades are good but not outstanding. Nothing leaps out in your EC's...as presented, they come off as a well-rounded "checklist" without a particular passion or outstanding performance. You don't have test scores to get a handle on.</p>

<p>In short, you're competitive but applications like yours are a dime a hundred. Your chances probably boil down to "good but not outstanding." </p>

<p>Iirc, Barnard was a bit harder to get into this past year than the year before.</p>

4

<p>TheDad,</p>

<p>Thank you very much for your response, I didn't want to go too in depth with my stats, forgot to say that I was taking hardest course load available at prev. school, though they did not offer APs. I left some ECs out as they are more personal indicators.</p>

<p>In short, thank you. I will be working very hard to get the best SAT scores out of me, and will take your comment and try to become a more competitive applicant.</p>

<p>At least I have a smidge of a chance, I'll take 1% to 0 any day!</p>