English Nerd: Please Tell Me If I Am Worthwhile for My Dream School

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Female
Class of 2008
Private High School</p>

<p>GPA: 3.8 something (unweighted)
Class rank: No idea, must be top 5-10% though</p>

<p>SAT I: Verbal 720, Math 590 (bleh, hope I can bring that up), Writing 740
SAT II: US History 630, English 610</p>

<p>Years of Classes Taken/Will Be Taken:
5 English (doubled Jr year)
4 History
4 Math, high level courses
3 Science
4 Language, French
3 Art
My school offers 4 AP classes, I took 2</p>

<p>EC
Admissions Tour Guide (9-12), Assist. Coordinator (11), Coordinator, (12)
StuCo Rep (12)
Yearbook, Copy Editor (11), Senior Editor (12)
Discipline Committee (11-12)
Wilderness Backpacking Orientation Leader (12)
Spring Trip Canyoneering Leader (11)
GSA founding member
Comm. Service: Grounds/Landscaping (spring/fall, 4 hr/week), (9-10)
Biodiesel (fall, 4 hr/week) (9)
Preschool Volunteer (winter, 3-4 hr/week) (9-10)
Campus Recycling Volunteer (fall, 4 hr/week) (10)
Habitat for Humanity
High Honor Roll, (9-11)
Holden Scholar and Citizen, (9-11)
Award for Academic Excellence, (9,11)
Recreational Telemark skiing,
Ultimate frisbee team
Restaurant Buser (20 hr/week)</p>

<p>My Schools:
***Swarthmore (I want to do ED)
Reed
Kenyon
Whitman
Lewis and Clark</p>

<p>Assuming that my Common App essay goes over well (pretty likely), and the fact that I had fantastic interviews at all of the schools (minus Reed, which was kind of so-so), do you think you can conclude anything from what I've given?</p>

2

<p>Your math score just isn't very good. Going ED at Swarthmore helps raise your chances a bit, but unless your essay is truly spectacular (doubtful) it's not going to turn out well.</p>

<p>Whitman and Lewis & Clark are much more reasonable.</p>

3

<p>Try also Willamette and Puget Sound if you like the Pacific Northwest.</p>

4

<p>Why not try SAT optional schools as well. And you might be a match for Sarah Lawrence which doesn't even ask for SAT's.</p>

5

<p>can you point out your passion for english? I see year book, but that is negated by a 610 on lit.</p>

6

<p>Hmm. 1MX is right, I don't see an English passion in anything. It looks like you are an outdoorsy person and you like helping others. Having a 6 in front of you math SAT score will make all the difference. Even if it is just 600. It's subliminal messaging IMO. </p>

<p>Retake the SAT or try your luck with the ACT. Also, really try to get across the point that Swarthmore is your dream school. You said you've done interviews, which helps. I'm guessing you've done a tour too. Just show that your interested. I think right now its a Reach, but bringing up SAT and fantastic essays will make it a high match.</p>

<p>Reed seems like a low reach now.
Kenyon seems like a high match.
Whitman seems like a high match.
Lewis and Clark seems like a solid match.</p>

7

<p>Swat with those scores just isn't going to happen, don't waste the ED. Read the CDSs people, almost no one with these scores is accepted.</p>

8

<p>I guess your right that I don't have any extracurriculars that show my passion for English. My school doesn't really offer activities that I can apply it to, I guess (it's small enough that we don't have a newspaper, and besides that fact that there are a couple poetry contests each year in the valley, there really isn't anything). I've really been doing all I can with yearbook, and I guess the real passion shows through in my writing (especially my literary analysis; I'm actually a total nerd with it, even if you can't get that from what I've given). I am also an outdoorsy person who likes helping others, and that obviously comes through with EC's, but that just another facet of my personality, and just as important to me as being into English.</p>

<p>I'm not too into Willamette or Puget Sound, and while I didn't visit it, I wasn't so into Sarah Lawrence either. I appreciate the suggestions, but I know that even if I don't get into Swarthmore (or Reed or Kenyon or Whitman), I still have a pretty solid chance for Lewis & Clark. I had a college list of 30+ schools at one point, so I'm pretty set on what I've narrowed it down to.</p>

<p>As for my scores, I'm retaking both the SAT and the ACT this fall. I know the 590 reflects pretty poorly on my math skills, but if I can at least bring it up a little bit and emphasize other things, I feel like I still have a possibility. If Swarthmore can't recognize that I could be a valuable contributor to their community because admissions is too hung up on my low math score, than I can't say I'm as interested in them as I thought. As for collegekid100: I can understand that I have pretty slim chances, but the point is that I still have a chance. Almost no one gets in to Swat with my scores, but maybe I could be one of the few who does get in.</p>

<p>I guess I honestly don't know why I'm asking you for your opinions because I should just figure this out for myself (I already know what's lacking and what's not anyways, and I obviously know myself better than anyone on some forum does). It's virtually impossible to just look at my "laundry list" of ECs and decide my future. Thanks for at least taking the time to try though.</p>

9

<p>I would seriously suggest Sarah Lawrence, SAT optional. My sister had an 800 V and a 500 M, was reallllyyy into english and writing, loves the school.</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
If Swarthmore can't recognize that I could be a valuable contributor to their community because admissions is too hung up on my low math score

[/quote]
That's not how it works. You are in competition with applicants who also could be valuable contributors, but who have, e.g., much higher math scores. Your challenge is convincing these selective schools that you have more to offer than those with higher SATs and GPAs. It can be done, but the likelihood is low. I think we all just want you to be realistic.</p>

<p>Since you mention Reed, have a look at <a href="http://web.reed.edu/apply/news_and_articles/admission_messages.html;%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://web.reed.edu/apply/news_and_articles/admission_messages.html;&lt;/a> it helps to explain the challenge you face. This is the admissions dean telling you how it works.</p>