<p>BC sounds like match, not reach.</p>
<p>If it helps, I'm number one in my class (will most likely be between 1-2 next year). I go to a really tiny school though, so that might not mean very much. I'm definitely interested in Bowdoin. I've been doing some research and it has A LOT of the qualities I'm looking for. Now Holy Cross - what kind of religious affiliation could I expect? I'm agnostic, so.....I could go either way, I guess.</p>
<p>Since your class ranking is very high, and since you would not have to send your SAT scores to Bowdoin, there is no reason not to apply. It is still probably a reach, but a not unrealistic reach. Bowdoin accepts about 22% regular admissions and accepts between 30-35% of those applying ED I and ED II. Its a great school, good political science department and very outdoorsy. Most kids I have spoken to who visit the schools in Maine find that Bowdoin is less remote than the others, because it's close to Portland. Bowdoin also considers interest and encourages interviews, so if you have any interest I would recommend that you visit if possible or at least get on its mailing/email list.</p>
<p>Holy Cross is an excellent school, but I'm not sure that it meets two of your criteria--outdoorsy and liberal.</p>
<p>My new SATs came in:
CR: 680
M: 560
W: 800, 11 essay
Total: 2040</p>
<p>Overall, a 50-point improvement. I didn't reach my goals in math and critical reading, but it should count for something, I hope? I didn't study (although I intended to) and I think I could have done better on the math if I had.</p>
<p>Oh, I've heard of several Vassar acceptances where the SAT was low, but everything else was good (on CC). Anyone have specifics, especially as compared to my new score?</p>
<p>If you are male, Vassar would be a match.</p>
<p>female...damn.</p>
<p>How about Goucher?</p>
<p>I think Vassar is only a slight reach. It is considerably easier to get into than say Bowdoin, Middlebury, Williams, etc. Take a good look at Bowdoin since SATs are optional, I'm going there with slightly higher, but more balanced SATS (though I didn't submit).</p>
<p>I can't believe no one has suggested Skidmore! It would be a good match.</p>
<p>Reed College in OR sounds perfect for you</p>
<p>It's ironic; Reed won't use your 800 W (they'll see it, and it can't be ignored!), but your essays are more important than SATs. Reed is 3rd in the country for future PhD production in Poli Sci (the usual caveats for this statistic apply) behind Swarthmore and Haverford. Outdoorsy and liberal. Expensive list price, but will cover after FAFSA EFC, guaranteed for four years. GPA is fine. Tiny school probably helps. There are a few Reed undergrads on the peninsula. Same timezone, non-stop flights!</p>
<p>I've already been looking at Reed, and it looks pretty great, but I've heard the atmosphere is super competitive and intellectual, like Swarthmore. Is this true at all? What about Whitman up in Washington? Those are the two Oregon/Washington schools I've looked at.</p>
<p>Oh - it sucks that Reed wouldn't use the 800! It's the only redeeming factor in all the SATs I've done.</p>
<p>Reed's campus is way awesome. Portland is the best city in the world.</p>
<p>willamette? check out willamette board, they claimed to be the oldest and the best school on the west coast! many kids turned down stanford and pomona... questionable...</p>
<p>I would say that Reed is intellectual but <em>not</em> competetive. Have a look at
<a href="http://web.reed.edu/parents/parents_of_prospective/3.html%5B/url%5D">http://web.reed.edu/parents/parents_of_prospective/3.html</a>
Students don't compete for grades, and don't even talk about them.
Your W 800 should mean that you'll write a killer essay, which is more important to Reed.
Whitman is another excellent choice. Our D also liked Willamette, but she ultimately chose Reed, and loves it.</p>
<p>One of my teachers is also in love with Reed. Thanks for the link - I'll definitely be looking into it more. Any other suggestions?</p>
<p>Maybe U of Puget Sound, U of Washington.</p>
<p>Did you take a majority of AP and Honors courses offered by PHS?</p>
<p>Yes, and that has amounted to exactly two....but I decided to get a third course by going online and that worked out nicely. I'll still only have three AP/honors courses this year and one from the year before. Hope that doesn't count against me.</p>