Looking for schools.

College Search & Selection
1

Hi everyone! I’m currently in the process of looking for schools. I have some that I have already applied too, but I’m trying to keep my options open. I definitely want a high-end academic school, but it’s the social aspects I’m slightly worried about. I was initially interested in the small liberal arts schools, but after visiting Pomona, Swarthmore, and Amherst, I realize that’s not for me. I definitely want a mid-size to large school. I also understand that there will be parties at any school I go too, but I’m not a huge partier and tend to be a bit of a workaholic. I also do want a liberal environment since I am gay and ethnically diverse. I’m also tending to lean toward a city school on the East coast.

I am thinking a double major in math and psychology on the pre-med track. I’d like to potentially go into research, or my absolute dream job would be to work for WHO. Currently my top choice is Georgetown where I am a triple legacy and have always just loved the school having lots of family in that area. So I am applying EA there. I’m also applying EA to Michigan and UVA (as targets) and UChicago (as a reach). Additionally, I have filled out an application for NYU as a target, and I’ve also filled out apps for Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Yale, and Stanford - which are obviously reaches. I’m not applying to any safeties because I’ve already been accepted into University of Toronto and University of British Columbia (rolling admissions).

Here are my stats for reference:
Ethnicity: Asian, White - I’m also Buddhist if that means anything at all. If regional diversity is important at all, I live in New Mexico, so not many applicants from here at all.
ACT: 30, I’m re-taking though on Oct 22, I got that 30 w/o studying way back in February, and I’ve been prepping a lot since and usually score in the 34-35 range on practice tests. (Usually 36 on math and reading, 33-34 sometimes 35 on science and english).
SAT: 1300 - though I might not submit this score.
SAT IIs: Math II 730, Bio 760, Lit 800
GPA: 3.4 UW / 3.8 W though my current GPA is 4.9 — I have a very good improvement trend throughout high school
We do not rank at my school since we only have 60kids in my class lol (230 in the whole HS)

Course Load:
Freshman: (H) English, (H) Biology, (H) Chemistry, (H) World History, Spanish I, Geometry
Sophomore: (H) English, AP Environmental Science, AP Euro, Algebra II, Spanish II, Lit Mag, Health
-Spanish III over Summer-
Junior: AP Lang, AP USH, AP Bio, AP Physics I, Pre-Calc, Lit Mag, Ethics & World Religions, Social Psychology
Current: AP Lit, AP Psych, AP Calc BC, AP Computer Science, AP Stats, Lit Mag + Calc 3 at my local college
I started off with iffy grades in HS (with hard classes though) but have had a strong upward trend, especially right now with my 4.9 GPA
I will not be reporting AP scores so I didn’t think I need to put them on — though I’ve scored mostly 4s and 5s with one 3.

EC:
Swimming, When I was 15 I was #1 in the country and on the Jr. National Team - I’ve won tons of awards in swimming, and I train about 40hrs a week — probably important to note I am being recruited by schools, but for Gtown I still have to get in academically. —Though I want to go to college over the academics, so I’m definitely using swimming to my advantage but I don’t particularly want to fully commit and sign with a school, I don’t think I’m ready for that - which is why I’m applying to schools like the normal high school student.
Science Olympiad, 6th place at state 10th and 11th grade, I want to win this year!!!
Co-President of the Queer-Straight Alliance for the 2nd year. (though not gonna lie we don’t do much in the club, but I don’t need to tell colleges that)
W/ Lit Mag; Our magazine is nationally known and considered one of the top magazines in the country; I’m a head-editor this year.
Empirical Research: I’ve done research on hindsight bias, overconfidence, and Cognitive dissonance
Violin: I played violin for 9 years before quitting because swimming took up too much time.
TA: over the summer I am a teachers assistant (at a year round school) and I work privately with 1st graders who are struggling.
Currently I am interning at the university hospital near me; I do that every weekend for about 15hrs a week

I’m very proud of my personal statement and I’ve had my college councilor and English teacher help edit and proofread. I wrote about how with my identity as biracial and being gay I felt like I had to conform to those stereotypes, but I eventually understood how to just be myself. It’s definitely better written than that and not as clichéd, but overall I think it is very well done.

Going to such a small school, I do know my letters of recs will be very good - both from my teachers and my councilor, I know them all very well.

Thank you in advance!

2

Run the Net Price Calculators on all your schools to see if your parents can afford them.

3

Being a recruited athlete could be a plus but I’m not sure how it works if you are not willing to commit to a school. IMO, unless the swimming provides a boost, the schools on your list look like reaches with a 3.4 UWGPA and a 30 ACT (which hopefully will improve). But as long as you would be happy attending University of Toronto or University of British Columbia that is perfectly fine.

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@happy1 As I did say I’m expecting around a 34/35 ACT. It’s also probably important to note that if you discount my freshman year — where I was the #1 swimmer in the country in certain events and had a terrible attendance at school because of all the traveling I was doing for swimming — my W GPA would be a 4.4 with an UW of 3.8. Additionally, I do plan on committing, I’m just not read to commit yet. And as I said, I definitely understand that they are reaches, but for some of the applications, namely the ivies, the coaches have voiced their support and I have received likely letters from Cornell and Yale. Worst comes to worst the UVA coach is offering me an 80% scholarship to attend, or the USC coach is offering me 100% (though I don’t particularly like USC).

5

With that additional information (not provided in first post) it sounds like you are in fine shape. Good luck.

6

Off topic, but please tell me how you swim 40 hrs per week, volunteer 15 hrs a week and take so many AP classes and do well in them? On topic, I would apply ED to a school that seriously wants to recruit you and it’s a school you love

I just saw your other responses. Sounds like you are going to a top school. No worries

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@citymama9 I will definitely take what you said as a compliment! I swim every morning from 4:00-7:30, and train every afternoon 4-7:45, for a total of 6.5hrs a day on week days. Saturday practice we train 5-9AM, and then Sundays we do a morning swim from 6-8AM - that is a total of about 38.5 hours I believe? So not exactly 40, but pretty close. Granted, my team is a rare bunch, many teams tend to practice closer to 25-30hours. Different coaches obviously have different training styles. For volunteering, on Saturdays I volunteer from 10AM to 4PM and Sundays I volunteer from 9AM to 6PM. Classes have never been too hard for me; I just do homework whenever I can. I usually have like 30min before school, I work during lunch, I usually have an hour after school before practice, and then I have time from like 8:15 to whenever I go to bed (usually around 10:30). If I need more time, sometimes I get up at 3:00 to get more in, but otherwise I typically get up at 4:15-4:30ish for practice. Also, I’m not a person that has to study a ton. I tend to retain knowledge pretty well. I also try to get ahead on work during the weekend, so for like my English classes I usually read the novels in advance, or I do my textbook reading in advance, etc… Not going to lie, I don’t have a huge social life outside of swimming and volunteering. All the people I hang out with are other swimmers that have a similar schedules to me. I’ve definitely missed out on some high school experiences; I’ve been to a total of one party all throughout high school, and I’ve never been to a school dance or school function. I hope that explains my workoholic life. Definitely excited for college where I won’t nessacarily have classes everyday and college swim teams aren’t allowed to train over (25?) hours a week per NCAA rules.

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Looks like you’ve got a pretty good list of schools already - you definitely have enough reaches. You could add a couple more matches of schools you like, but if you’re happy with UoT or UBC then really there’s no need. Since you don’t mention cost as a factor, there are lots of big schools you could apply to where you’re likely to be accepted (assuming you score 34-35 on ACT).

I’d maybe just add Brown and JHU, and if you have too many, then drop CMU (unless you really want to go there for a particular reason).

9

Wow!!! Thank you so much for sharing that. You sound very disciplined and mature. No doubt you will get into a very top school. Make sure you choose one that is also the right fit and allows you to enjoy the college experience. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck! College will be a day at the park compared to HS:)

We had a nephew recruited to play hockey at one of the ivies and his stats were much, much lower than your’s. Make sure your GC lets them know what you were doing Freshman yr when your gpa was a bit lower.