<p>I'm a rising senior and I am (as you all are) super nervous about the whole college process. As of yet I have a decent list of schools I will apply to, but there are a few empty spots especially in the match/safety range. Any ideas about if I'm being realistic or not would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>schools:
Carleton
Rice
Bowdoin
Wash U in St. Louis
Grinnell
Stanford
Ohio State (safety)
dartmouth (maybe?)</p>
<p>School type: private catholic, sends a few grads to top schools
GPA 3.86 UW/ 4.31 W (school only reports weighted)
School doesn't rank, but probably top 5%
Course load - "most rigorous" for my school. In order to fit 7 APs I had to take 2 classes self study (economics and health)</p>
<p>APs
Latin - 4 (sophomore)
Chem - 5
US History - 5
Physics B
Calc AB
Bio
English lit</p>
<p>also took General Statistics at local college during summer, probably will get a B</p>
<p>Test scores
SAT
CR 800
W 780
M 680 (hoping to get 700+)</p>
<p>SAT II
Math 2 - 740
Chem - 730
US history - 800</p>
<p>ECs
XC + track all years, varsity 2 years
Academic team 3 years
classics club 4 years - officer 3 years
working on developing a water filtration system for a village in Tanzania this summer
5 week paid research program at University of Cincinnati
Service club - brunches for homeless shelter
Orchestra 2 years - play bassoon
On "executive committee" of local IT organization
started a chamber ensemble that meets before school</p>
<p>will be national merit semifinalist</p>
<p>please, please help me! I will try to chance back</p>
<p>I think your chances are pretty good in general. I think you should drop Dartmouth, since you seem unlikely to go there, and if you get into Dartmouth I’d be surprised if you didn’t get into Bowdoin or Carleton. You may want to switch it out for another match school</p>
<p>Good chance of getting into all the schools on your list except Stanford (only b/c your SATs are a bit low & you do not have that many APs). However, your ECs and leadership seem good so you could definitely try.</p>
<p>You look good for Grinnell-definitely a safety/match and your stats should get you merit aid. But make sure you visit. Demonstrated interest matters at Grinnell, and it’s located in a small rural town, about an hour from the city, so you want to make sure that you’ll be happy there. Same is true for Bowdoin and Carleton.</p>
<p>Might look at Holy Cross -1 hour from Boston. HC has great science reputation with new science building. Holy Cross is fairly liberal by Catholic schools and has a strong alumni network. Like Bowdoin, HC is SAT optional.</p>
<p>You have to check out the personality of these schools, too. For example, Carleton is known to have a “nerdy”/“silly” atmosphere. Is that what you’re looking for? Consider this for all of the colleges in the list. Better to know this before so you can save time and $$$.</p>
<p>Where are the rest of your AP scores? I think your Math scores are too weak for Stanford, Rice, Wash U, Dartmouth. How are your Science grades? Not in Math Club? More a Sci guy? Did you do any Sci competitions. Need to understand your ECs better. Sound vague and wishy washy. No financial safeties on your list?</p>
<p>Math score is a little bit weak, but everything else seems good. You should definitely win at least one science competition to be considered for Stanford and Dartmouth. Did you win any awards?</p>