<p>Jackson... I think sometimes these boards are too score-obsessed. My daughter has been admitted to Barnard, RD, with SAT scores lower than yours. Even her SAT II bio (also taken in 9th grade) was lower. She just doesn't test well. She had about a 3.8 GPA UW/ around 4.1 weighted. My daughter is white; from a well-regarded urban public school; both parents are college grads with advanced degrees. She does not play sports. No individual awards during high school. Never elected "President" of anything. </p>
<p>In other words, her test scores are below median for the schools that accepted her (also accepted at Chicago & NYU) and she is not "hooked".</p>
<p>Yes, test scores are important, but the advice that you get about needing to be at the top 75% of the range is simply wrong. People post that sort of stuff all the time on these boards, and then you also see people amazed and distraught when they or their kids end up waitlisted or rejected at the colleges where this formula was applied -- they were so certain that their scores would get them in.</p>
<p>Test scores are important, but they are only ONE piece of a puzzle, and the colleges do look at the scores in context of where they are coming from. They will not expect you to have the same level of scores as kids coming from east coast preps. Your biggest problem isn't going to be your scores; its going to be making sure that your high school g.c. knows to include a school profile that explains how weak your high school is. </p>
<p>If it is available anywhere nearby, I would advise that you take the ACT. Then you can choose which scores to send. My daughter sent in only her ACT - she had a score of 28, which wasn't that great, but at least it was within the median score range of her schools, even though it was near the bottom. </p>
<p>Now I am not saying you will get into Vassar. Vassar is still a real reach for you. You should apply to Vassar but also apply to other colleges and LACs. I would suggest that you apply to a couple of reachy schools like Vassar and then a bunch of colleges that are match/safety type schools so that you will have a lot of good choices. </p>
<p>But the point is: you should apply if that is where you want to go. You can't get in if you don't apply. You might get in if you do. Even if it is only a 10% chance that you get in, its worth taking the chance. </p>
<p>Now in hindsight, I know why my daughter got into Barnard. My daughter is a perfect fit for Barnard - she had a great interview, great recs, & great application. But before we got the fat envelope, I honestly didn't expect her to get in. Partly because I had been paying far too much attention to bad advice about stats, test scores, and "chances" perpetrated on this board. </p>
<p>So: ask for advice, but don't ever ask anyone on this board to tell you "chances" again. They don't know. All they will do is discourage you over something you do not have much control over. </p>
<p>We already know Vassar is a reach - but it is not an impossible reach. They take at least one out of every 4 kids who applies. Focus on making your differences into an asset - for example, a humorous essay about your experiences at your small rural school might be the sort of thing that grabs their attention and also reinforces the point that you have not had a lot of educational opportunities. It looks like you take a lot of initiative and that you are a real leader at your school --and one advantage of a small school is that you should be able to get some great recommendations from teachers who know you very well. </p>
<p>You might also want to look at Bard & Sarah Lawrence -- both are test-optional schools, so you don't have to submit SATs. They would be good backups for Vassar.</p>