Help! A Reach-heavy list w/ only 5 schools?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I need some advice about a number of issues. First of all, I need to figure out if I have enough to apply to and if they are realstic. My list includes:</p>

<p>Pomona College (Early Decision)
Claremont McKenna College
Swarthmore College
Whitman College
UO Clark Honors College</p>

<p>I would be happy at all of these schools, but I feel like I should apply to more schools. Is this necessary? I feel like Pomona is realistic and although it's super-selective, isn't a major stretch. If that doesn't work out, I'm thinking that Claremont McKenna will come through. What do you all think? I'm thinking that it might be helpful to have a match, unless you think that Whitman and CMC are matches? I'm looking for a college that has small classes and offers interaction w/ professors and is less than 5,000. I really love iberal arts colleges and that whole approach, but should I branch out. Ideally, I would like a school that is on the West Coast or not too far from home, but I would be willing to go to the East Coast.</p>

<p>Another slight issue is that I've only taken the ACT. I probably should take the SAT, but I really do not want to have to take SAT II's and all the crap that goes w/ that. Should I just suck it up?</p>

2

<p>SCHOOL STATS:
GPA - 3.98 unweighted/ 4.33 weighted
- I am an IB Diploma student
- major:Public Policy
- Rank: 5/550</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Caucasian
Socio-Economic Status: Middle-Class</p>

<p>Awards:
- Scholar of the Month
- National Honor Society
- Honor Roll
- Duke of Spirit
- Coach's Award
- Congressional Page
- Featured in State Newspaper, Local Newspaper,
News Station for Share the Sole</p>

<p>Extracirriculars:
-Track (4 years) - Varsity Letter, Capt. Senior year
-Cross Country (4 years) - Captain, Varsity, Prestigous Coach's Award for Leadership and excellence on the team, 1 per year
-Mayors Youth Advisory Board (2 years) - Co-Chair, going to Washington DC for a National Conference on it, Historian last year.
-Uganda Club (3 years) - Organized fast for malaria, Co-President (raised $20,000 this year for our Sister School)
- FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) (3 years) - President for 2 years
- National Honor Society, Vice President next year, Fundraiser this year.</p>

<p>Running - 4:29 for the 1500. 2:06 for 800. 17:30 for 5k. Talked to the Coach's at Pomona, CMC, Whitman and am a "recruited athlete."</p>

<p>Volunteer Work:
- 190 Hours at Beaverton Library helping Children
- 40 Hours working at Senior Center
- IB Executive Committee</p>

<p>Summer: This summer, I was selected to be a Congressional Page for David Wu. After that, I am helping a Psychology Prof. at OHSU w/ research.</p>

<p>Hook: Started an Organization/Project that works with corporations and local donors and gets brand new running shoes and donates them to low income High Schools so that student athletes who are unfortunate can have new running shoes and can run without hurting their feet. Named it "Share the Sole." Sp far, 150 pairs have been distributed through out the Metro Area.</p>

<p>ACT: 30 (should i take the SAT?)
APUSH Test: 4
IB Calc: 4
IB Business: 5</p>

<ul>
<li>Starting Essays this summer, should be solid. I am going to get a rec. from my English teacher who says I am one of the most exceptional students she has had in her career, and another from my Psychology teacher (and Extended Essay Advisor). Both should be excellent.</li>
</ul>

3

<p>Pomona is a reach, CMC a match. I would add
pitzer if you must have CA, but let's face it, the vast majority of top LAC are on the other coast.</p>

4

<p>I've looked into Pitzer, but it really doesn't fit me...</p>

<p>In my opinion, the only weakness in my application is the ACT, and I'm shooting for a 31 in September. Do you think that my EC's and Athletic Standing might give me a bit of a boost in the admissions process and make up for that aspect of the application?</p>

<p>I considered adding Bowdoin and Davidson, but I don't really want to go to school in Maine and I don't really feel like Davidson fits me. I've also looked into Amherst, Williams (SAT II's...ugh) and looked at Stanford and Yale, but I feel that those are larger reaches than Pomona. Would it be worth adding Lewis & Clark or University of Portland even if I wasn't too thrilled about going there?</p>

5

<p>One thing doesn't make up for another at schools that could fill their class several times over with perfect stats kids. 31 is not strong for Pomona. If you are unhooked, white or asian and come from a overrepresented state (especially CA), 33 would make me much more comfortable that there's a fit. The 31s will be legacies and from South Dakota.</p>

6

<p>I'm from Oregon and am white, but I'm an athlete that started a non-profit...I know the non-profit isn't a hook, but being an athlete is. It seems to me like LAC's care about more than stats, well I hope at least. I know that 30-31 isn't strong, but it also isn't that weak either. If 32-33 is the median/mean then I'm slightly below average, but the admissions officer said that if all aspects of the application are strong then they would be likely to admit if the test scores weren't as solid. My personal opinion...</p>

7

<p>I think that you show a lot of leadership, and Claremont-McKenna will like that. So will the other schools. Your stats seem to make Swarthmore a reach. I think that your list is OK. Most likely, you will get into the UO program, Claremont-McKenna, Whitman, and I think Pomona. But why not apply to a couple more safe/match schools, to be sure. What about Occidental? What about Pepperdine? What about Colorado College? Yes, I would apply to Lewis and Clark, unless you pick a couple of other extra schools to apply to. All it takes is a little money and time, and it's better to have an extra option.</p>

8

<p>Bowdoin is SAT optional. Also Holy Cross-Top30 LAC located 1 hour from Boston is also SAT optional and a great school.</p>

9

<p>I think if you have one safety to fall back on that you'll be happy at, you're fine with your list. Most likely you'll end up getting into more schools than just your safety. If you'd feel better adding one more safety school, find a school with an atmosphere that you love, so you know you'd be happy there.
Your track/xc times are impressive, you're equal to some of the best runners I know. I think they constitute a hook.
Good luck!</p>