I applied yesterday ... where might I get in?

I go to a good (top 10%) public school in PA, am first in my class of 250 with a 4.2 weighted, 4.0 unweighted GPA. Took AP US Gov, AP Calc AB, and AP US History in soph/jr years – 5 on all three exams – and currently am taking AP Macro, Calc BC, English, and Physics … 2270 on SAT (780/760/730 CR/M/WR), 750 on Math II subject test, and 700 on Lit, so no results there. I’m drum major of the marching band, Eagle Scout, editor of school newspaper, president of Model UN, and quiz bowl captain, and have logged about 200 service hours. I also was a National Merit semifinalist, and have strong recommendations, and a good set of essays, I do believe (based on feedback from teachers around the building).

Applied to Duke, William and Mary, Washington and Lee (hopes for Johnson Scholarship?), Gettysburg, Bucknell, and still to apply to Penn (need to finish that essay) … already got in to Gordon.

Where might I get in?

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I think that you have a considerably good chance at any of those schools. Your SAT scores were right around where the more selective schools on your list, like Duke and Penn, hope for. But, they look for more than just that. You seem to have a strong collection of ECs. Honestly, it can always go either way. The more selective schools always have to let plenty of highly qualified students go simply because they lack space, but from this information, It seems as if you have a solid chance. I would check out the student profiles and admission statistics of each school if you haven’t already. They normally have the middle 50% of standardized test scores, demographics etc. I don’t have very much knowledge on the others, so I can’t offer very much there, but I have certainly done extensive research on Duke and Penn as I am strongly considering them myself. Again I will reiterate the importance of student profiles as they will provide accurate admissions statistics. My information may be slightly inconsistent as I am just a sophomore in high school myself, but I hope I have helped and I wish you the best of luck in your application process!

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Application is on par for Duke/Penn (CAS/SEAS). Decent chances that you land at least one of them, can’t confidently say both. Should be in at the rest.

Check Naviance to see where your stats rank, historically, with others from your specific school. Best of luck to you.

You have really strong ECs and stats, so admission to one of your reach schools (yes, they are reaches for everyone) is a strong possibility. But there is also the possibilty, though a lesser one IMO, that a candidate as strong as you could get shut out of Duke, Penn, W&M, W&L, and even Bucknell.

Would you be really and truly happy at Gordon or Gettysburg? If so, you’re fine. If you are uncertain about that, you should look for a few more schools to apply to. Maybe consider Kenyon, Centre or Sewanee, for example?

You’ll likely get into one or all of Bucknell, Gettysburg, W&M. Penn and Duke are too unpredictable, all I can say is that you’re within range.
Gordon seems an odd choice. I’d replace it with Fairfield and/or Providence, which have the same type of atmosphere as the colleges you like (conservative, preppy, study hard/party hard), as the academics would be better. I’d also add Sewanee and Davidson (respectively, safety and high match/low reach).

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By Gordon do you mean Gordon college in Massachusetts? That’s a very odd choice. Regularly makes lists for being one of the most stone cold sober and party free schools in America. Someone that likes the atmosphere at Penn or Duke or Bucknell and the like would be better suited to Providence or another college along those lines.

Well nobody can say for sure. But I think you have a good chance at Bucknell and Penn. You should get accepted at W&L, Gettysburg, maybe W&M and Duke.

But the question is, what is your goal? A prestigious school name? What major are you interested in?

With your stats you could get big merit scholarships at schools that offer it. Most of the schools on your list only offer need based aid and if your family income is too high, it would mean you pay full price.

Wake Forest might give you merit.

My D had almost the same stats and got full tuition at University of Pittsburgh.

That is a good point about merit-based aid … W&L has it, the rest are … shaky.

Is there a list somewhere of decent schools with decent merit money?

And for those asking about gordon, yes the one in MA … I really don’t plan to go there – it was a free application I used to test the waters.

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1678964-links-to-popular-threads-on-scholarships-and-lower-cost-colleges.html#latest

check out some of these links.

Especially automatic full tuition, competitive scholarships, NMF scholarships

You have great stats and ECs and possibility to become NMF, I think your hard work should be rewarded.

If you don’t plan to go to GOrdon, then you don’t have any safety. Therefore, you should apply to several universities listed on this thread (Sewanee, Providence, Fairfield).

How much can your parents pay? Did you run the NPC for each of these schools? Many of these are very expensive and offer little merit aid.

What do you want to study?

There are schools in Texas with very generous NMF scholarships.

spectacular ECs that show breath and leadership. Great GPA and class rank, great SAT score. You’re set for william and mary, washington and lee, gettysberg, bucknell, and penn. You have a good chance at Duke but due to the competitiveness of the school it’s hard to predict. Good luck!
Chance back? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1834470-can-i-get-in-please-help.html#latest

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“Check Naviance to see where your stats rank, historically, with others from your specific school. Best of luck to you.”

How can I do this? I’ve seen this Naviance thing mentioned around here. Is it free and easy to use?