Help? I don't know where I stand in the admissions game....

College Search & Selection
1

I’ve been looking at schools like Kenyon, Hamilton, Gettysburg, Sciences Po/Columbia program, Georgetown… Looking for any suggestions on where I may be missing/ should definitely apply?

White, Jewish male- Philly Suburb Public High School
Strong EC’S
Pres/Cofounder MUN
Alternative sports club President
Ultimate Frisbee Club Secretary

Interned in tenth grade for a state senator

Track team all four years- not very good, but stuck with it

Worked part-time job junior year

Boy Scouts- Eagle Scout- currently lead 60 member troop

No awards besides Honor Society and French national exam award

Sat: 690 Math, 760 CR

Sat 2 USH: 750
SAT 2 WH: 780

Ap’s: WH:5, EH: 5,

GPA: 3.5 Unweighted, will increase decently semester 1 sr yr
Currently taking 5 AP classes

Money is a factor

My intended major is International Relations

Thanks!

2

Is money a factor because you cannot pay your EFC or is it an absolute low number? It matters. If you can’t pay your EFC, then places like GTown are out (no merit). Do you think you will qualify for FinAid or will you have to hunt merit?

3

My EFC is pretty favorable, but definitely looking for places that meet 100% demonstrated need (explains the LACs)

I would be willing to forgo that for schools like Georgetown, but either way if you have any suggestions I’d greatly appreciate it/

4

Just remember, GTown recommends 3 SAT II’s. You have two but they are both history.

5

Yes, was thinking about that? I’ve seen many kids without three get in, what’s your opinion on the matter?

6

Take a non- history subject test

7

GW for International Relations, and Dickinson in central PA has strong international focus, worth a look, gives merit awards up to around $20,000 range.

8

How do I stand applying RD to schools like Hamilton, Kenyon, Macalaster, American? My GPA will go up at least .3 by the time I apply- are my odds favorable?

9

To clarify, what year of HS are you in? If you can improve your GPA by that much, it would seem you must be a junior.

10

I’m a senior, but am taking 5 AP classes this year and expect to get A’s in at least 4/5 of them.

11

About your GPA: You might ask your counselor if it gets recalculated when they do your first-semester report. It might not, and even if it does you’re not likely to get an extra .3 from one semester. But colleges tend to look at the grades themselves anyway, and if you do as well as you say this semester they will note your trend from B+/A- to A-/A. That will help.

I second the idea of Dickinson. Georgetown will be very tough. My D had a similar profile except that she had about a 3.85 unweighted at the end of junior year. She thought she probably wouldn’t get in, and she was right. But if Georgetown is one of your few higher reaches, it’s worth a try. Particularly if you’re interested in the School of Foreign Service.

12

@gman123, I agree that American, Gettysburg, Dickinson and similar schools are going to be more likely. i think Kenyon and Macalester will be difficult and Hamilton unlikely.

13

I second GW. They do give out pretty good merit aide.

14

I second GW. They do give out pretty good merit aide.

15

@gman123
Great Schools for Political Sciences/Government

American University
Amherst
Bard
Bates
Bowdoin
BYU
Bryn Mawr
Carleton
Claremont McKenna
Clark
Holy Cross
Columbia
Connecticut College
Davidson
Dickinson
Drew
Franklin & Marshall
Furman
George Mason
George Washington
Georgetown
Gettysburg
Gonzaga
Grinnell
Harvard
Kenyon
Macalester
McGill
Princeton
Scripps

Source Princeton Review