Chancesss?

<p>I go to an okay school in NJ.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.2 (out of 4.3) UW
Rank: 4/370ish
SAT I: 800 CR / 780 M / 690 W
SAT II: 730 USH, taking Spanish & Math IIC next week</p>

<p>I'm probably taking the SAT again in October to see if I can pull up my Writing, too.</p>

<p>Our school's not so great wiht APs. They split APUSH into two parts, so I had APUSH I soph year, and APUSH II this year. Senior year I have AP Lang, AP Calc, AP Spanish, AP Stats, and AP Macro on the schedule. (I plan to major in PoliSci.)</p>

<p>ECs: Editor of School Newspaper, Editor of Lit Mag, PR Head for Save Darfur, probable Co Capt for Acadamic Team, Concert Band for two years, Chorus, etc.</p>

<p>Awards: NHS, SHS, prob NM commended, Tri M Music Honor Society, published in a Creative Communications anthology</p>

<p>Summer stuff: Dickinson Young Writers Workshop, 75 hrs. volunteering at a local library, internship this summer at the state senators office.</p>

<p>I already visited Swat and I think it's amazing :]</p>

<p>Any feedback/advice is appreciated!</p>

<p>I think you have a fairly good shot, but it would be even better if you would raised your writing score on the ACT.</p>

<p>All the APs are good, just make sure you show Swarthmore what your passion is and what you are dedicated to. Alot of the selective liberal arts college seek -in addition to a challenging school courseload, good grades, and good test scores- dedication to a passion. Just make sure you make that evident. Write a good essay too.</p>

<p>Your stats look good, no need to retake the SATs... Put together a good application, write good essays, and you'll have a good shot.</p>

<p>I don't do "chances" because there are so many factors at play including ethnicity, gender, Early Decision, etc. I can't lie; the competition is fierce from Jersey and 59% of Swarthmore's acceptance letters this year went to ethnic minorities and/or internationals. So depending on your particulars, it might not be fair to go beyond "you have a legitimate shot".</p>

<p>You have the stats. So it will really boil down to successfully communicating your interest(s) as a match for Swarthmore's campus culture. The most important thing for you to do is learn as much as you can about Swarthmore. </p>

<p>For example, go to the school newspaper site (The Phoenix) and do some searches for "Darfur", "Genocide Intervention Network", etc. Some Swarthmore undergrads started the Genocide Intervention Network and helped organize a rally in Washington along with lobbying congressmen and senators. A rising Swat senior, Stephanie Nyonbayire, gives speeches on Darfur and was one of the three MTV correspondents traveling to Africa for a Darfur genocide TV documentary.</p>

<p>Connecting things that interest you to specific things at Swarthmore is a really good way to start thinking about your essays and application. Fundamentally, the goal is to allow the admissions office to visualize you as a Swattie, contributing to the campus in some way. So the more you can understand what makes a Swattie, the better.</p>

<p>"For example, go to the school newspaper site (The Phoenix) and do some searches for "Darfur", "Genocide Intervention Network", etc."</p>

<p>Unfortunately, The Phoenix's archives only go back one year.</p>

<p>Another option would be to check out the Daily Gazette: daily.swarthmore.edu/ . We don't limit our back archives.</p>

<p>Oh and, to make it clearer, I'm an Asian female.</p>

<p>I had read up on the Genocide Intervention Network before and that was actually one of the things that sparked my interest in Swat- I love the sense of social activism.</p>

<p>Read Swarthmore’s mission statement, think about how you would help Swarthmore advance that mission, be honest and sincere in your thinking. If you think you can add to Swarthmore’s mission and you still want to go there, read more about Swarthmore. Get a copy of the book The Meaning of Swarthmore read it, go on line and read through the last 10 or so Swarthmore Bulletins. </p>

<p>Re-read the mission statement, think some more, write an essay that reelects who you really are and how you think and feel you could advance the type of things Swarthmore talks about in their mission statement. </p>

<p>It is very important when writing your essay that you be absolutely honest with yourself and Swarthmore.</p>

<p>Click on Interesteddad and go to his other comments regarding Swarthmore…his is a fountain of information about a lot of things but especially Swarthmore.</p>

<p>i got in off the waitlist with worse grades, same sat's, similar extracurrics. </p>

<p>my essay was the key. your numbers put you in if not ahead of the game, so just focus on your app.</p>

<p>and conveying your swattiness.</p>

<p>swarthmore isnt for everyone, and im very happy i didnt choose it. </p>

<p>make sure youre comfortable with the inordinate amount of unattractive, nerdy people. i love my brother's friends and i love many of the people there, but i just wouldnt have fit in well.</p>

<p>(my legacy probably played a huge role in getting me off the WL, since little else could have set me apart as a caucasian from ny.)</p>

<p>good luck to you</p>