You might want to look at Bryn Mawr as a possibility, considering that you like Barnard and Haverford, Penn, and Swarthmore are all on your list. Bryn Mawr is a slightly easier admit than those three because it is a woman’s college. That said, I would still consider it a reach, just not as high.
For matches/safeties, I’d add a couple of options with higher acceptance rates - like Dickinson or Muhlenberg, for example, which have admit rates close to 50% and where your stats put you at, near, or above the 75% mark.
Is that 97.5 weighted or unweighted?
p.s. NEU is not a safety, GW is safer (28% vs 40ish% acceptance rate) Your ACT is at the 25% mark for NEU and roughly the 75% mark at GW.
@mamaedefamilia , I think that is a very good suggestion.
@Lindagaf I’m not really entirely sure how voting changes her experience socially, but I also don’t know your daughter. Was she friends will students older than her? That might be the source of some difficulties. Regarding my credentials, I’m not one to exaggerate or speak proudly of myself and
With the exception of my “unexceptional” SAT scores, I still believe I am a solid candidate. Still, your cautiousness is valid.
@londondad I think it’s really a case by case basis. Is Linda right? Or you? There’s no way toknow
@anxiousham ^ One common thread that I have read several times on this website is that NEU is trying to become more diverse geographically. Therefore, the further an applicant is from the Boston - DC corridor, the better their chances are (all else being equal, which it never is).
Anyway, I think you will have an excellent list if you can add one or two safety schools to the list.
Her younger age was emphasized by her not being able to vote, when everyone else could. That wasn’t the issue. As I said, there are already plenty of kids closer to 19 at her small LAC, and she isn’t 18 yet, though she will be very soon. When you are a teen, the age gap is still pronounced. It might not be an issue for you, as you seem to be targeting mostly larger schools where there will be more kids in all age groups. It might be problematic at the two tiny schools you are applying to.
Yes, you are a solid candidate, like most kids who apply to all of your reaches. But let’s use Tufts as an example. The average SAT score at Tufts works out at about 1490, new SAT. You are currently 90 points from that, so below average.Tufts views test scores as very important. The average GPA at Tufts is really high, about 4.06, and I believe that is unweighted. Tufts views GPA as very important. Your grades are where they need to be for Tufts, but, given your SAT, your test score compromises your application. You are now fighting an uphill battle to get into Tufts, which has an acceptance rate of 14%. Of course, holistic admissions means there are no hard and fast rules for who gets in and who doesn’t, but when the college is that selective, your grades and test scores ideally want to be at the 75th percentile and higher. Yes, students will get in with lower stats than yours. A lot of them will be URMs, first gen to college, low SES, internationals maybe, legacies, geographically underrepresented states, athletes, kids with cool and interesting ECs or special talents, etc…
You asked how will that reflect, and are you doomed. So the not-definite answer is that the low test score in a school that wants high test scores will not reflect well, but it doesn’t mean you are doomed. It just means that you are facing very long odds indeed to get into top colleges. So are most people. Have a look at colleges’ Common Data Sets to see what importance they place on a range of factors such as GPA, tests, special talent, work experience, etc… That will give you a good idea of what each college is looking for and what you are up against. Good luck.
@Lindagaf thanks, best of luck to your daughter