First one off to college -

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Looking for insight here from more experienced or having gone through this a few times as this is first one off to college. </p>

<p>Some stats - 3.92/4.0 GPA unweighted - school doesnt weight. Strong high school. Mostly Honors and AP classes. AP Scholar for the 4s and 5 received. ACT Score 33 with 36 scence and 34 math. Decent writer and essay's are shaping up to sound pretty original, but not overly polished. </p>

<p>EC - Boy Scouts, Honor Society, Homecoming King, Quiz Bowl, and leadership of local club - assasains...i know it sounds bad but 400 kids particpate each spring, some athletics, and worked last two summers - lumberyard and office environment.. currently employed while going to school. </p>

<p>Live in Minnesota and looking at following:</p>

<p>Macalester
University of Minnesota - Carlson School
Univeristy of Wisconsin
University of Virginia
University of Washingon
Cornell
Northwestern</p>

<p>Figure Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Washington are safeties - Virginia is mid tier, Macalester slightly higher, and Cornell and NU are a stretch. </p>

<p>Kid loves NU and parents both think he would thrive in that environment as he is a well rounded boy, but understand it is competitive....any insight on whether networking with alums who are trustees to provide support or using a good friend who knows NU president well and could get us a meeting would make any difference in the process. </p>

<p>Any help would be appreciated...thanks.</p>

2

<p>He’s probably in at everywhere except UVA (which is a reach, not a “mid-tier”), Cornell, and NU - mostly becaue his ECs are on the weak side. It’s hard to say whether the networking with prominent NU alums/board-members will hold much weight, I would suggest getting a supplemental recommendation if you can. Has he taken the SATII’s (NU and UVA recommend them - Cornell requires them)? Here are my rulings.</p>

<p>Macalester - Match
University of Minnesota - Carlson School - In
Univeristy of Wisconsin - In
University of Virginia - Reach
University of Washingon - In
Cornell - Reach
Northwestern - Reach</p>

3

<p>Thanks for your thoughts…we shall see what happens and get to work on some supplemental recommendations.</p>

4

<p>You have got some real apples and oranges between the really large state schools, and Macalester as a small LACs. Why is U of Washington on the list? Is there a particular program of interest? If not, you might drop it. It does not have the college feel of Madison, and overall is probably not as strong for undergrads.</p>

5

<p>Agreed about the UW - inclusion is that we have family in that area and one of the parents attended there as an undergrad. Limited chance he will attend but he does like the Pacific Northwest.<br>
As we talk more and more and visit - he is drawn towards a liberal college type envirnoment (but not too small a school) but in a more urban environment which is why NU is coming up as the favorite.</p>