Chances?

<p>Thanks for taking the time.</p>

<p>White male, Overland Park, KS (suburb of Kansas City)
Top 5% of class at very competitive public school ("public private" if you will)
GPA: 3.97 UW 4.5 W (only B is in P.E.; don't ask). Circa 350 or 400 kids in class
Tests: ACT: 32 (retaking this fall) SAT: 2230 (720 M, 740 CR, 770 W)
PSAT: 215 (hopefully national merit semi for kansas)
AP: English Comp:4; Euro Hist.:4; US Hist.:5; Psychology: 5 </p>

<p>EC's: Soccer since freshman year, Track (11, 12), VP of Ping-Pong club, Pres. of NHS, Pres. of Spanish Honor Society, Officer/Founder Young Democrats Club, Science Olympiad (went to state last year), Presidents Volunteer Service Award (100+ hours), among other things I can't remember I think. This summer I went to Spain with a group from my school, attended the National Association of Student Councils Conference (which my school is hosting in 2007), and am shadowing doctors and possibly doing volunteer work at a hospital.
Senior schedule: AP Calc BC, AP Chem, AP Bio, AP Gov, AP CA 4, Spanish 5, Enrichment </p>

<p>If I do get in, will I have any chance of getting merit money?
Thanks again!</p>

<p>patrick, a couple of questions.</p>

<p>are you planning to apply early decision? That can make a difference.
Are you taking two science classes your senior year?
What's AP CA?</p>

<p>I may be wrong, but I believe the financial aid is need-based only.</p>

<p>Yep, fin aid at Swat is need-based only. Generally, if you are in, Swat fin aid is pretty generous and tries its best to take care of you. They look at a lot more details than most private colleges and offer reasonable packages. The fin aid ladies are very nice and spend hours on the phone with you trying to help you out.</p>

<p>There are maybe two or so 'merit' scholarships, but it is unlikely you will get them. That's a small handful of the thousands of applicants considered for them, and Swat has something of the best applying for it already. Plus, there's no real way to apply for them... the admissions ppl choose them on their own preferences. Personally, I think scholarship admissions is even more random than regular admissions...</p>

<p>to answer your questions andi:
It's not likely that I'll apply ED to Swarthmore (or any other school for that matter)
I am taking two science classes next year
AP CA = Advanced Placement Communication Arts (AP English Lang - Literature, I think it is)
Thanks guys!</p>

<p>Patrick:</p>

<p>Your stats look fine for Swarthmore. That won't be an issue.</p>

<p>Whether you get in or not will depend on the quality of your application: how well you communicate some "spark", who well you communicate a "fit" in your "Why Swarthmore?" essay. It's really hard to give "odds" for that sort of stuff.</p>

<p>Merit aid: I think that it is pretty unlikely that a white kid from Overland Park would get one of Swarthmore's merit scholarship. I don't know for sure, but my impression is that the merit scholarships generally go to students who further diversity on campus and/or bring some special viewpoint or experience to the party.</p>

<p>I read on the Swat adm. site yesterday that one of the top majors for the class of 09 was physics. D is planning on majoring in physics; I wonder if being a prosepecitve physics major would diminsh her chances of acceptance at Swarthmore. Comments? Thanks.</p>

<p>I don't think it would matter whether your daughter applied as a physics major or as being undecided. This is the least of your worries when applying to swat (at least i think it is). Also, students go in declaring a physics major and they soon learn that it is not for them so that the number of real majors diminishes.</p>

<p>Momma:</p>

<p>I think that a female expressing an interest in Physics(supported by the application in its entirety) would be a plus from an admissions standpoint.</p>

<p>Physics and Engineering are both heavily tilted towards male in the student body.</p>

<p>BTW, the Physics department has two female professors: Amy Bug and Catherine Collins. Prof. Bug, in particular, appears to be quite active on "women in science" issues.</p>

<p>
[quote]
BTW, the Physics department has two female professors: Amy Bug...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Shouldn't she be teaching entomology?? </p>

<p>Sorry, couldn't resist :)</p>