<p>I'm a upcoming HS Senior and have just recently started to seriously look for colleges to apply to. Heres a little background:</p>
<p>3.4 GPA UW Upward Trend (F-3.0 Soph-3.1 J-4.0)
1300/1910 SAT I
SAT II: Math II-740 US History-690 Lit-700
ECs:
German Club (2 years)
Link Crew (1 year)
Independently studying and writing poetry seriously for 2 years.
Taught Self Latin to about decent proficiency. (My school did not offer it.)</p>
<p>So basically what happened is that up until last year, my junior year, I was not serious about my studies. I always understood what was being taught but often times blew off HW and the likes for Video Games, TV, Computer, etc. Around the second half of my Sophomore year the realization of the importance of it all hit me. I started to study harder and more actively participate in school. My Junior year I took 5 AP classes and one honors and managed a 4.0 that year. I'm hoping that this will show colleges that I have matured.</p>
<p>What I'm looking for is a college that is strong in Academics and has a student body that is there because they want to learn. I would prefer a LAC and I'm planning to double major in English/Classics, so hopefully a school that has strong departments in both, although if I had a choice I would choose a strong English/Weak Classics over Strong Classics/Weak English.</p>
<p>Some to possibly check into are Beloit (WI), Knox (IL), Fordham, Wooster (OH), Denison (OH), Rhodes (TN), Sewanee (TN), Centre (KY), Dickinson ¶, Willamette (OR), Lewis & Clark (OR) and St. Olaf (MN).</p>
<p>I agree with poi; Franklin & Marshall is probably the first to come to mind. Others with good English/Classics, some of which have been mentioned already:</p>
<p>Bowdoin and Vassar are both significant reaches. Yajirobe’s grades and test scores place him/her in the bottom 25%ile for both schools. </p>
<p>Take a look at Grinnell, if a rural location works for you. Strong English and Classics depts. Still a bit of a reach given your grades, but the rising trend, and your story about getting your act together last year, might give you a second look, especially if you are a guy (LACs tend to be a bit more generous to male applicants because there are fewer and they want balanced classes.)</p>
<p>I’ll second St. Olaf - amazingly awesome Classics profs, don’t know anything about English though. I’d assume at least average for LACs, but not Kenyon caliber. It would be more of a match for you. If you stay on the upward trend & emphasize that in your essays, I think Kenyon, Grinnell & similar schools could also be high matches.</p>
<p>I would second the nomination of Kenyon and also suggest Oberlin as reaches, but I think you definitely have a shot (actually, I know two people, both future English majors, who are going to those schools with similar stats to yours). In addition, I’d recommend looking into St. Olaf and Dickinson.</p>
<p>Grinnell would be a reach as much as Oberlin, Reed, and Hamilton, it has gotten significantly more selective. Male does not give that big of an advantage.</p>
<p>My son is getting a degree in classics at Bard and adores the faculty. It’s a small department, but awesome teachers and students. And the English department at Bard is as good as any, imho.</p>