<p>Hi all!
I'm currently a High School Junior and college is definitely stressing me out. As of now, I have a 32 on the ACT but I'm working to bump that up to a 33 or (hopefully) a 34. My school (I got to a top private school in the nation incase that matters at all -- no idea!) does not report GPA or class rank, but for my freshman year, I got all A-s with the exception of 1 B+ and one A same thing goes for Sophomore year (all honors classes both years). Junior year was a bit harder, however. My school only offers APs to Juniors and Seniors so my grades suffered a little as it was my first experience with them. As of now, I have 2 A-, 3 B+s, and am taking AP Physics and AP U.S History (hopefully I will get a 5 on each and the rest of the classes are all honors). As for extracurriculars, I'm the head and founder of two clubs as well as a member of another two. I've played the guitar since I was 8 and am part of a group at my school. I also am a member of two varsity sports and am interested in the arts and have taken many extra art classes. During the summer, I intern as a research assistant in Namibia, and I work as a soccer coach at a camp for Namibian kids as well. I'm very interested in biology specifically ecology and zoology; the summer job had a strong ecology focus and I started the science club at my school. I also won the biology award at my school. I was selected to be part of an extra science class at my school for those who have a passion for science and excel greatly in it. I also went to a two week intensive bio-technology course at my school at the end of 9th grade. This spring I'm also trying to get started a Science tutoring program with a middle school in the area. Anyway, I'm looking at schools with a strong biology program, that are relatively small(I'd prefer under 8,000), rural, and are just overall positive, enjoyable environments to be in. My college counselor recommends I look at schools like Skidmore, Dickinson, Grinnell, Union, Colgate and more. My parents and peers seem to think I should look at more difficult schools to get into like Tufts, Bowdoin, Pomona, Middlebury, Dartmouth and so on. My college counselor is pretty inexperienced and doesn't have the best track record at my school but I still value her opinion greatly, I'm just confused! What do you all think? Do I have any chance at the harder schools or should I just stick with my college counselor's safer list? Any advice would also be greatly appreciated!
thanks :)</p>
<p>MODERATOR NOTE: Please post all Chances threads on the What are my Chances? forum.</p>