<p>I applied early decision at Grinnell college in Iowa. I don't really know how to go about doing this (I'm new to this site), but I am pretty nervous about getting a response from them. My stats are as follows:</p>
<p>-I go to a small private college prep school in MN (500 kids from pre-k through grade 12)
-About a 3.5-3.6 GPA (We don't do GPA at our school but it's figured in the transcript - it's about a 93 percent overall), probably in top 5 or 10 percent of class (although it doesn't mean much because there are 20 people in my class; we don't report rank)
-The classes I'm taking this year are: AP English Lang, AP French Lang, Philosophy, College Algebra, Astronomy, College computers (haha that doesn't really count though!)
-Last year: AP Art History (4), AP English (4), pre-AP French, American Government, College Algebra 1
-Extra Curriculars: Concert choir, show choir (went on tour), tutoring foreign students (I go to a school where the majority of the student body is foreign), part-time job in childrens' retail
-SAT: 630CR, 530M, 720W (I know math is bad, but I have a learning disability and they wouldn't grant me extra time for it)
-ACT composite: 26 (I didn't send this, it is not up to my standard)</p>
<p>I think my essay was pretty good; it was about my strategies in overcoming an eating disorder. My reccs are as great as possible; I got the director of my school to write one (as well as several department heads a math teacher in order to vouch for me after my terrible SAT scores). I REALLY want to go to Grinnell. I had a good interview and went on an overnight in early October. I really bonded with the students there...They don't really care if they're in the middle of a cornfield.</p>
<p>So chance me please! Sorry it's a little tl;dr</p>
<p>Oh, actually my GPA actually is closer to like 3.8 or something...That's what my counselor told me. And by the way, I am a middle class white female.</p>
<p>OH jeez I keep leaving stuff out...National Honor Society</p>
<p>College algebra is basically math for kids who don't "do" math. It will still enable me to understand the concepts of pre-calculus and that kind of class, but it's a little easier (I did not so great in math when I was in lower grades, but this math fits my needs). Idk is college algebra not that common?</p>
<p>I'm actually not sure if my counselor mentioned my disability. I think my parents decided that she shouldn't, just to simplify things. We decided that I would get my teachers to write recs emphasizing the fact that my math score was really atypical of my performance in general (standardized testing isn't my friend)</p>
<p>nah, my school offers "college algebra" as well, but here it's basically getting college credit for learning how to use your TI-89 calculator...</p>
<p>i think you have a decent shot RD, which means ED your chances are really good.</p>
<p>yeah, that's kind of what it is at my school, but it's made more difficult by a teacher who has NO idea what she's doing, so i guess i can't really gage what kind of pull that class would have on my chances</p>
<p>I apologize for asking more questions. I know that small school can't often offer a depth of classes.</p>
<p>Re: Math. You have had algebra I and II? Geometry? Trig? Statistics? Precalc? I am trying to figure out if the math score was low do to lack of math education.
Re: Science. You have astronomy this year and no science last year. What were your sciences freshman and sophomore years? Any of the traditional biology and chemistry? </p>
<p>"College computers" Is that programming or learning to word process?</p>
<p>Is this class load typical for your school? Will the counselor say you took the hardest courses available?</p>
<p>Your writing score is really good. The other scores are on the low side. Perhaps the essay and recs will make up the difference. </p>
<p>My daughter was admitted last year but with a really different academic profile. She is not attending so it is hard for me to say if someone strong in writing but weak in the math and sciences is a possible admit. Good luck.</p>
<p>oh, it's cool, i am more than willing to answer...</p>
<p>i have had algebra II and I as well as geometry I and II, and college algebra is mostly a combo of trig and precalc but it's a smidge easier. The math at this school is REALLY hard though, i have thought about whether my SAT math score has to do with the math education, but i kinda ruled that out because it wasn't that i didn't know how to do the stuff, it had more to do with time. a lot of my friends at the bigger MN schools would tell me about their reasonably advanced math courses and they always sounded easier than mine...it's pretty tough actually (or maybe i just think that because i'm bad at math?)</p>
<p>for science, i have taken the astronomy, biology, and chemistry. i really should have included that, sorry haha</p>
<p>college computers is learning to word process and a little bit of programming...it's pretty simple stuff but it's useful.</p>
<p>The class load is a little heavier than the average student at ISM, actually...we offer many APs and i haven't chosen to take all of them, but my counselor will probably say i did take a significant course load. the AP art history course is apparently a big undertaking for a junior at my school. but i like history, so i did it (and loved it!)</p>
<p>congrats on your daughter, i am envious :) and sorry for the novel here haha</p>
<p>Thanks for all the details. I am feeling a little better now. As a mom I was starting to worry that your school had not given you a college prep education.</p>
<p>Grinnell wise: I would think it is reach. Perhaps the information from your counselor will tell them you are not good at standardized tests. That math score seems to be odd considering the amount of math you took.</p>
<p>Best of luck waiting for your result. It is really nerve wracking.</p>