<p>I have a 3.867 UW GPA and a 4.31 W. My class rank is probably in the top 10-15% at one of the top 100 high schools in the nation.
ACT Composite: 32
ACT Math: 35
ACT English: 31
EC: 3 years XC Varsity, 1 year captain
1 year varisty track
1 year school swim team JV
Summer swim league
Volunteered at a farmers' market for 7 hours a week for 12 weeks.
Other various community service
AP Scholar with distinction
Self taught drummer</p>
<p>Lot's of things I read on the internet about admissions are convoluted. I plan to apply to Dartmouth, Cornell, Lehigh, and a couple other safety schools. Can anyone tell me what they think my chances of getting in are?</p>
<p>Your stats are solid. 90% of the kids that apply to these schools will be in the same ballpark. I simply quoted the acceptance rates for each of the schools. To me it looks like you have as good of a shot as most kids, but I can’t see anything that says you’re head and shoulders above the typical applicant.</p>
<p>So basically I’m a little above the acceptance rates due to the few kids who apply there who really have no chance. I guess I’ll try to write a good essay and hope that the randomness of college admissions unfolds in my favor.</p>
<p>I think your stats for those schools are like many others in their applicant pool. You will need something in your application/essay to set you apart. You also don’t want a “safety”, but a match school or two that you can get excited about.</p>
<p>Lehigh is a safety for you, so pick one more in the USNWR 35-50 range.</p>
<p>It looks to me like your stats are at or slightly below the Dartmouth 25/75 ave. So, your stats will not be an issue.</p>
<p>Next, the adcom will need to get a feel for who you are. Among the top 15 or so universities, and especially top 10 where Dartmouth resides, admissions isn’t about stats, it’s about YOU. It’s adcom dating. If they say “I’d like to meet this kid”, then you’re in. If they don’t, you aren’t. See how a lot depends on your essays and your letters of rec?</p>
<p>What I think most are missing here is that the OP may not be top 10%. If he’s not I’d give him an under 5% chance at Dartmouth and Cornell CAS. If he’s just top 10% and has a 32, I’d give him a 10% chance at best. </p>
<p>I don’t think the top 10% thingy is as relevant if in fact OP’s high school is in the top 100 in the country. It is possible the top 10% from such a school all match to top 10 schools.</p>
<p>Every kid here on CC is from a top high school. The thing is, no organization even includes the really top high schools (private and elite magnets) in rankings. Few top high schools even rank. The few slots at top colleges that go to the non top 10% are truly about impact athletes and URMs.</p>
<p>^ Every kid on here is not from a top high school lol. Me and several of my friends from several states and several ‘normal’ PUBLIC high schools (test scores slightly above state average, no national recognition) go on here for info. That’s a major exaggeration.</p>