I could use an idea of where I stand...

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So I'm currently a junior in high school who's beginning to get caught up in all this competitive college admissions stuff. I have an idea of where I want to go to college and what I want to do once I get there, but what I don't know is if I can actually make it in to the places I'm interested in. Any advice would be greatly appreciated--thanks!
The schools I'm thinking of: Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, Haverford, Middlebury, Wheaton (MA), possibly Conn. College, UVM, Brandeis, Williams...you get the idea.
My stats:
I'm a white half-jewish female from rural Maine attending a local, semi-private high school.
H.S. average (unweighted): approx. 94%
Class rank: 5/165
Course load:<br>
-freshman year: Pre-AP english, honors physics, spanish, part one of a two-year accelerated (honors) math course, various electives
-sophomore: Pre-AP english 2, honors chem, spanish, the second part of the honors math course, various electives
-junior: AP english lang and comp, AP bio, AP US history, precal, spanish
-senior (predicted): AP english lit, AP enviro, AP spanish, AP calculus, marine science, various electives
Clubs/ECs/Awards:
-I'm currently a NMSQ finalist (did well on my PSATs)
-As for sports, by the time I graduate I should have 4 varsity letters in both cross country and lacrosse and two in indoor track
-NHS
-Spanish Excellence Award both freshman and sophomore years
-I've placed nationally on the national spanish exam for the past two years
-By graduation, I will have played the piano for 11 years, studied voice for 5, and taken horseback riding lessons for 11
-I'm a member of the international and outing clubs at school
-I tutor local elementary students one afternoon a week
-I'm an active participant in my church's youth group (lots of community service) and a lay reader as well (even though I'm jewish...I'm open-minded)
-I did a mini-homestay program in Barcelona last year
-I'm planning on attending a ecology/biology program in Costa Rica sometime in the next year
-As for jobs, I have a lobstering license and have lobstered off of my own boat since I was little and also have experience in a restaurant environment
Other:
-my projected SAT scores were okay, all I know is that I did well on my PSATs (like the SATs minus the essay, which I should nail)
-I attended a small, private elementary school directed by an internationally known author who has completed many best-selling books on her revolutionary teaching techniques, which allowed me many opportunities to enter and win numerous poetry contests and have my writing published in magazines and books, including those by the director. I don't know if colleges care about your elementary school accomplishments, though.
-I should interview okay, get good recs, and I'm confident about the essay
Legacies:
-My grandfather attended Williams
-My grandmother attended Wheaton (MA)
-My other grandmother worked at Brandeis and she and my grandfather are both very influential members of the jewish community in MA
-I have various family friends and relatives that have worked at Bowdoin and are willing to put in a good word for me
-My grandparents have dontated tons of art to Bates's museum and have held art shows there
-I'm from Maine, which Bowdoin deems important: they have a goal of Maine students constituting 10-15% of their accepted applicants each year</p>

<p>Whew. That was long. Sorry, but I want to get the most accurate responses possible. Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Those are all good schools that would probably be matches.</p>

<p>If your SAT's do turn out to be good, I think you can aim for some higher-caliber colleges. Good Luck</p>

3

<p>hey, thanks</p>

4

<p>Does anybody know if colleges look at what you did in elementary school?</p>

5

<p>Your list looks good. You could probably add more reaches if you want. Looks like you're interested in liberal arts colleges but you may be able to get into some Ivy league colleges.</p>

6

<p>Wow, thanks for the confidence-boosting comments!
Any recommendations for Ivies that might want me? I haven't given any the slighest amount of thought.</p>

7

<p>great list of schools, cant go wrong with any of them</p>

8

<p>I highly doubt colleges care what you did in elementary school - unless you were arrested or something really extreme like that.</p>

9

<p>haha, no I managed to stay out of jail.
I was more wondering if they cared if you did something cool.</p>

10

<p>Getting your SAT scores would help with that. The easier Ivy leagues to get into are probably Cornell, Brown, and Dartmouth. But, you may not like Cornell because it's bigger than liberal arts schools. I'd decide which ones you like based on personal preference not on difficulty of admissions, since they're all obviously hard to get into. IMHO if your M+V is over 1500 on SATs, you'd have a great chance at any college you apply to.</p>

11

<p>My grandfather went to Harvard and also went to its law school, but I have a feeling I'm not qualified for Harvard, even with good SAT scores, right?</p>

12

<p>Harvard is a reach for everyone regardless of stats and accomplishments, but I think you'd have as good a chance as any. Your rank is very good. Your extracurriculars look strong. Particularly, if you could get recruited for sports that would be a great hook, but even if not your extracurriculars are stronger than average with varsity sports, a cool job, 11yrs piano, and 11yrs horsebackriding.</p>

13

<p>Wow, this thread is making me feel good!</p>

14

<p>Yeah Harvard is a reach for anyone, its just so random. But if you get good SAT's and your a legacy then i think you should apply. I think you mentioned you were a good writer, so if you have some really good essays you will have a shot. Id suggest you apply.</p>

15

<p>Forgive me for being so naive about college lingo, but could someone please translate what chocolateluvr said earlier in the thread...something to do with IMHO...I'm lost.</p>

16

<p>IMHO= In my honest opinion
Sorry about that, haha.</p>

17

<p>oh, well, I guess I'm just naive about computer lingo in general, then.<br>
oops.</p>

18

<p>Since you guys have been so helpful, do you want to answer my next question? See, I'm thinking about studying biology in college, perhaps going on to optometry school afterwards. Does it make sense to go to a LAC in case I change my mind?</p>