<p>Hey everyone. I'm a senior about ready to send in my applications. Three Claremonts (Pitzer, Pomona and CMC) top my college choice list with no question, and I'm wondering what my chances are for Pitzer. Being the least selective of the 3, where do I stand at Pitzer?</p>
<p>ACADEMICS
-taking all honors/ AP classes available
-scores: Euro=4; Lit&Comp=3 (possibly retaking this year); Physics=5; U.S.=4
--this year I'm taking AP...Chem, Macroeconomics, American Govt, Lang&Comp, Spanish and Calc BC
-GPA: weighted = 4.83 unweighted = 3.87
-class rank: weighted = 10/516 (1.9%) unweighted = 28/516 (5.3%)
-National Merit Commended Student
-ACT= 34 (did not take SAT...might that hurt me?)
-SAT II (think they would help?)
--Math 2 = 760
--Physics = 720
--U.S. History = 690</p>
<p>EC's
-i skateboard just as much as Varsity team players practice/ play
-IM basketball (11,12)
-Photo Club (9, 10)
-Theater Guides (9,10)
-in my school's presidential debate (11)
-Student Congress (12)
-STAND Anti-Genocide Coalition (11, 12)
-NHS (12)
-Boy Scouts (K-12), holding positions of Troop Bugler and Troop Scribe at different times
-internship at Fermilab over summer. wrote my short answer on commonapp about it</p>
<p>AWARDS
-High Honor Roll (highest ranking given) = every semester
-Medella de Bronce in National Spanish Exam (10)
-National Merit Commended Student
-Eagle Scout
-expecting to be National AP Scholar</p>
<p>WRITING
-i'm a good writer, so i'm hoping for a boost through my essays (also Pitzer's essay is dead on perfect for me)
-my counselor always seems impressed by me, so i'm also hoping for a boost from her recommendation letter
-GREAT rec letters from teachers</p>
<p>Thanks for taking the time to check this out. Please let me know your opinion on where I stand...</p>
<p>I think you stand a decent chance at all three schools, but none of them are a sure bet. I would apply to all of them and use the next few months to try and decide which one you would really like to attend should you get accepted.
Do you need financial aid? Have you visited the schools yet?
Your ACT is fine; I don’t believe not taking the SAT will hurt you. Pitzer doesn’t require test scores from students like you, but I don’t think it would hurt to submit them.</p>
<p>I will be looking for financial aid (family income varies, but generally around 80k). Aren’t they need-blind admissions though? And yes, I went out last spring to look at a few schools (I’m from Illinois), and fell in love with the Claremonts.</p>
<p>Also, does applying earlier on really help my chances? I was planning on sending them all in…tomorrow, so I beat the rush of kids applying during Thanksgiving weekend and right before the Dec. 1st merit scholarship deadline (which I know applies to at least CMC). Would it look better to get it in before the rush and show interest or spend a bit more time going over my essays?</p>
<p>I can speak from what I know about Pitzer: Admissions at Pitzer are not need-blind. The implications of this I cannot speak to. I don’t think applying earlier will necessarily help your chances; if you feel you have the strongest application you can possibly write, than submit. If not, work on it until you feel that way, and then submit. </p>
<p>As for merit scholarships, Pitzer only offered 86 in the total 822 applicants they accepted last year; much of the aid is saved for need-based students. </p>
<p>Have you visited/interviewed? The interview is very important for most small liberal arts colleges, especially Pitzer. That shows interest more than submitting the app early; remember Pitzer does phone interviews and comes to many various cities across the country later in the year. </p>
<p>As for a piece of advice, remember that the Claremont Colleges are all extremely different institutions with various cultures and academic strengths/styles. If you can, even after you have applied, try and visit. </p>
<p>Credentials wise, I think you have a shot at all three. </p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>