<p>^ acceptance rate is not the only factor in admission selectivity. test scores, gpa and class rank are all equally important. i don't think grinnell and macalester are any less selective than bates and colby. northwestern is definitely not a match unless you're a solid hyp applicant. say if your stats are 2200+, 3.6+ gpa, top 10%;</p>
<p>reaches: swarthmore, bowdoin, middlebury, haverford, northwestern, wesleyan, davidson, carleton, vassar
low reaches/ high matches: oberlin, grinnell, macalester, colby, bates
low matches/safeties: trinity, st olaf</p>
<p>if i were you i would narrow my reaches/ low reaches to 3-6 schools while add 2-3 more matches.</p>
<p>The above post is correct. Your two hardest schools are Swarthmore & Northwestern University. Many 2200+ scorers get rejected or waitlisted at Northwestern. Northwestern is somewhat like an elite LAC in its admissions process in the respect that if the admissions committee doesn't see a match & a strong desire to attend Northwestern, then your chances are very scant. Northwestern's 2008 admit rate of 25.3% is high because Northwestern University competes with the Ivies, Duke & Stanford for cross applicant admits. Unfortunately, based on your posted info. in this thread, your chances at being admitted to Northwestern University are not promising--even if you applied ED. Swarthmore & Middlebury will also be tough for you. Consider Bowdoin, Haverford & Davidson. Then look at Bates & Colby if you are comfortable in cold, isolated, small locales as both are great academically. P.S. Carleton & Macalester are great choices for you. Bowdoin is SAT I optional, and you have a good chance if you apply binding ED I or ED II to Davidson--but it is, by far, the most conservative school on your list.</p>
<p>Yeah, I just had a conversation with a few seniors @ my school (who are in the single digits in their class rank) and what they got accepted into and rejected from. Reality sort of dawned on me.</p>
<p>After hearing what they had to say, I have to agree with you guys. I'll edit my list, and hopefully have a new one out soon.</p>
<p>Newly updated list:</p>
<p>Reach: Bowdoin, Haverford, Carleton, Davidson</p>
<p>Match: Grinnell, Colby, Bates, Macalester</p>
<p>Low Match/Safety: Lafayette, Franklin and Marshall, Dickinson, St. Olaf, Trinity U</p>