College Classification Conundrum (a.k.a. safety/match/reach???)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey, I'm just trying to figure out what qualifies as a safety/match/reach for me. I'm also sneakily trying to draw people in to HELP me via alliteration and multiple question marks. I hope it works.</p>

<p>STATS:</p>

<p>I'm a rising senior at a ginormous school in MD-- 3,000 students total. I'm in at least the top 10% of my class.</p>

<p>GPA: ~3.93
WGPA: ~4.7
PSAT: 235, so I'll at the very least be a NMS Semifinalist
SAT: 2240- 720M, 720W, 800CR
SAT IIs: World- 720, Math II- 770, and I'm probably gonna take Spanish and English Lit in the Fall</p>

<p>COURSE LOAD: I take almost all honors and AP classes, 9 APs by the end of senior year. Specifically, AP Government (sophomore), AP English Lang (junior), AP World (junior), AP Calculus BC (junior), AP Psychology (senior), AP Environmental Science (senior), AP Spanish Lang (senior), AP English Lit (senior), AP Statistics (senior).</p>

<p>AP Gov: 5
AP English Lang: 5
AP World: 4:
AP Calc BC: 4
AP Calc AB subscore: 5</p>

<p>Academic Honors: Nothing special, really. Probably NMS, like I said. They announce MD Distinguished Scholars in August, and I'll probably get that too. Also, I'm a member of the Spanish Honor Society and the National Honor Society.</p>

<p>ECs: My saddest section...
Figure Skating for about 10 years, occasionally competing. I also test for USFSA (about to test for Novice, but that probably means nothing to you ;))</p>

<p>Managing editor of my school's newspaper (wins national awards and stuff)</p>

<p>Writing and publishing my own zine (newer activity, 11th grade on)</p>

<p>Last year I took up harmonica... But that won't get me anywhere...</p>

<p>I volunteer every saturday in the fall, winter and spring to teach basic figure skating to people with mental disabilities (since 10th grade).</p>

<p>I also volunteer tutoring ESOL students during some lunches, and I volunteered for the local documentary film festival and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.</p>

<p>INTERESTS: I'm almost positive that I'm going to major in cultural anthropology (although almost positive in 12th grade may mean very little), but I'm also interested in creative writing, and to a lesser extent, behavioral neuroscience and film studies.</p>

<p>ESSAYS: I write personal narratives for fun, so I hope they'll be good...</p>

<p>Anyways, schools I'm considering (not applying to all):</p>

<p>Brown (obviously a reach...)
Wesleyan
Bard
Reed
Kalamazoo
Hampshire
Oberlin
Lewis & Clark
Middlebury
Beloit
Skidmore
Bennington</p>

<p>Anyways, if you could help me classify, that would be great. Or if I have zero chance at getting into one or more of those, tell me. I just want to know where I stand...</p>

2

<p>Okay, well, I don't have that much "expertise" in this area. Just what I've heard/learned for myself. But your credentials seem pretty great. Your ECs are not bad at all! Here's just what I would guess:</p>

<p>Brown - Reach (just because the stats are so intense as far as admission goes)
Wesleyan - Possible
Bard - Likely
Reed - Likely
Hampshire - Likely
Oberlin - Possible
Middlebury - Reach</p>

<p>I don't really know anything about any of the other schools... But from that list so far, it looks like your chances are good! Good luck!</p>

3

<p>I've never bumped before... I hope I'm following the proper bumping etiquette.</p>

<p>Bump.</p>

4

<p>Please? I'm not quite sure if possible=match and likely=safety, and there are still a couple other schools that I'd like to know (particularly Kalamazoo and L&C... safeties?).</p>

<p>I wouldn't be asking except I feel like my ECs suck, and I'm not sure where that puts me...</p>

5

<p>I'm in much the same position as yourself (and I just posted a thread too). We both have relatively weak ECs (although yours are certainly better) and good grades and test scores, and we both have nary a clue of what would be appropriate safeties, reaches, and matches.</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/538377-decent-grades-sat-not-so-good-ec.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/538377-decent-grades-sat-not-so-good-ec.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>So, I'll give ya courtesy bump :)</p>

<p>Oh, is your GPA cumulative or for the most recent year/semester? It just seems that it doesn't quite match up w/ the # of APs you've taking... (5 courses a year w/ 5 APs would give you a max of 4.33, but hey, maybe your schools weighs grades differently from mine :p</p>

6

<p>Stercus,
Your ECs don't suck. You show a longtime devotion to one activity that requires a lot of time and commitment. You've also used that activity to benefit your community in community service and volunteer work. In addition you've found time for "normal" ECs at school. I think you're exactly the type of person your list of schools are looking for. You obviously haven't been just joining groups to pad your resume. You've used your passion to help others. Perhaps the only schools that won't welcome you with open arms would be Wesleyan and Brown but not because you're not qualified or your resume is lacking, but just because those schools have become such a crap-shoot due to their "Best" list status and huge applicant pool. That doesn't make them "better" or "best" for you! The other schools are much more self-selecting in their applicant pools based on their particular emphasis and reputations. You have a great record and any of those schools on your list should be happy to have you. </p>

<p>Now figure out which ones you really prefer, yourself, and make sure to tell them why you feel that way. Some schools might even think you're considering them only as a safety with a record like yours and could bump you in favor of offering a slot to a prospect they think might actually accept the offer. Make your passion and commitment work for you, no matter what. Good luck.</p>

7

<p>I honestly think you have a great chance at any of the schools on your list (Brown is a reach, sorry!). Solid SATs and GPA, how many kids are in your class? ECs show a centralized focus, maybe you can do even more with ice skating/helping others.</p>

<p>I'm applying to Wharton, do you think you can chance me?
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/534608-applying-wharton-there-any-chance.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/534608-applying-wharton-there-any-chance.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>