<p>Good job on the school name, btw.....haha. Where in the Bay Area are you, vossron?</p>
<p>Holy Cross recruits students of all backgounds and might be easier to gain admission versus Bowdoin. Both have strong alumni networks.</p>
<p>Some do find Reed competetive:<br>
"Students remark that the atmosphere is highly competitive and can get the best of some students. "
<a href="http://www.college-admission-essay.com/reedcollegeadmission.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.college-admission-essay.com/reedcollegeadmission.html</a></p>
<p>I've found articles that say Reed is pretty competitive, too. The problem with the article vossron put is that it says only about 46% of students graduate in four years. That could be a deterrrent because I need to be able to graduate in four years for financial reasons. We can't really afford to pay for a fifth or sixth year, or at least my parents will not be willing to. I'm also not into the hardcore drug scene. Moderation, fine, but I don't want to be completely surrounded by pot smokers all the time.</p>
<p>Jackson, could you please clarify your financial situation? It makes a big difference in your ultimate list if you can afford to pay $40,000 a year or if you will need to rely on aid to supplement that amount. If you need aid the difference between need based aid and merit aid is also a significant factor in choosing schools. If you will rely on merit aid to supplement tuition, you will need to cast a much wider net and a much lower tier.</p>
<p>The second question would be whether you intend to consider your sport(s) at the varsity level and if so, if you are good enough to be recruited. You can gain a LOT of forgiveness for relatively lower scores if the coach wants you.</p>
<p>Both of these play a major part in how you strategize your college list.</p>
<p>Your GPA and class standing are somewhat at odds with your score results. This is not disastrous or uncommon (even for the most selective schools) but needs some thinking through. Im assuming from your profile that you are a social studies and humanities kind of kid. In that case, I wouldnt worry so much about your low math score but instead do what you can to compensate by featuring your strengths. For example Id really focus on your creative writing accomplishments in your essays and recommendations. Some schools will accept examples of your work and ask their English/creative writing professors to evaluate. Your 800 writing score will be noticed by schools that value writing skills which is just about all of them.</p>
<p>Id also try to explain why your math scores are what they are. How are your math/science grades in general? Maybe youre just a rotten test taker.</p>
<p>Amherst and Vassar aside from being excellent LACs are quite different in ambience. More along the lines of Vassar, Id suggest Smith, Oberlin, Bard though I wouldnt characterize any of these as especially outdoorsy. More Amherst-like: Kenyon, Hamilton, Skidmore, Middlebury, Bowdoin and Colby. If youre a recruitable athlete Id add Williams, but your scores are a bit on the low side for either Williams or Amherst.</p>
<p>Thanks for the detailed answer! For financials, my parents are willing to pay quite a generous amount, one I am grateful for, but still about $10,000 less than most private schools cost to attend. I'm applying for aid anyway and outside scholarships and looking for schools with merit scholarships, even though I know that most of the places I've been looking at don't really give any. In terms of math - I've been a straight B, B- student throughout high school. Right now, I have a very low B in trig that hopefully won't drop to a C after the final. I suck at test-taking, but I'm not that bad at math. I didn't really study for the SATs, and I wish I had put some time into practicing the problems, but I guess I can't do anything about that for now. I'm taking the ACT on Saturday, so I'll see how that goes before I think about taking either test again.
As for sports - I'm not really good enough to play at the varsity level, at least not at a Division I school. I definitely wouldn't get recruited.
I did have my heart set on Amherst once, but it seems like such a long shot. I haven't completely given up, but as you said, momrath, the scores are a bit low compared to all the other applicants. I won't rely solely on scores and I'll emphasize my good traits, but at the same time, the 560 math isn't going away any time soon. Thanks for the advice.</p>
<p>Assuming (or hoping) I get a 700+ on my SAT II in U.S. History, how much of a boost will that provide?</p>
<p>Hmmm. My feeling is that as a lone data point, a 700 in History won't make so much of a difference in the overall assessment, and at schools where history is more highly valued than at others, an 800 would be impressive. Can anyone else comment?</p>
<p>I doubt I'll get an 800...</p>
<p>I still think colleges are viewing the SAT M & CR as more important than the writing section and would view your score as closer to 1240 old SAT with the equivalent of 800 on English SAT II. A 1240 is below the avg for Holy Cross, Lafayette, Union and even Skidmore. While the SAT is only one component, it may be holding you back from what otherwise would be matches and would take the SAT again.</p>
<p>That's so depressing....I'll see how I do on the ACT, but I know the lack of a guessing penalty isn't going to save me. If I do well on the ACT, will colleges disregard my SAT scores? Do I even have to send them?</p>
<p>Reed, for example, prefers the SAT, but will accept the ACT instead, without your sending the SAT.</p>
<p>My SATS were nearly identical to yours (800 writing, high 600s in CR, and 500s in math). I know how nerve-wracking it is having lopsided scores, but stay optimistic! Based on what you've said, Bowdoin and Bates would be great fits for you. I applied ED to Bates and was accepted. Bowdoin might be reach-y, but go for it! More and more top-tier LACs are going SAT-optional all the time. I believe Hamilton just switched its policy as well. You have an excellent chance at these schools, and being from CA will be a boost, because they're always looking for students from outside NE. Holy Cross is a great school and would also be a match, but it's not liberal or outdoorsy. On the other hand, you said you were considering BC, and BC and Holy Cross have very similar student bodies.</p>
<p>Finally, someone with similar scores! I didn't know Hamilton had gone SAT optional. I was looking at it before and it seemed pretty cool. Right now, Bowdoin seems to be one of the best for me, and I'm glad at least one other person seems to agree! Thanks for the advice, morningview, and congrats on Bates. I'm looking there too - my aunt suggested it a LONG time ago and I only just got into looking at it again.</p>
<p>Quick question for anyone to answer - did Bowdoin have a core curriculum? I just got a pamphlet in the mail that was advertising Bowdoin's "new" distribution requirements. Anyone know?</p>
<p>Not so much a "core curriculum" as just basic "take two science/math classes" type requirements that most liberal arts colleges have to produce well-rounded graduates.</p>
<p>it's hard to say what matches are, they are many times the same schools as safeties. Admissions are so random, there is no guarantee. Just have a broad (in terms of selectivity) list of schools. I will also be applying to schools with similar stats and I think similar interest in schools. I'm looking at: Bates, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Kenyon, Wesleyan, Conn. College, Holy Cross, and Colby. I have to find some safeties!</p>
<p>aloutak - looks like we're in the same boat! Let me know what kind of safeties you're looking at, especially if we have similar stats. I was looking at Bennington today, but I don't know anything for sure yet.</p>
<p>One more thing - if, as I so optimistically hope, I get a 30 or 31 on the ACT, would that be worth submitting to Bowdoin? These scores MIGHT be attainable and would be better than my current SAT score.
Anyway - done with standardized testing for the school year! YES!</p>
<p>I'd recommend Bard as a safety that would most likely offer you mad scholarships for your class rank. It's a very small, intellectual school of the same vein as Reed. 32% acceptance rate, but with your stats (especially because it's SAT-optional) I'd think you would have no problem.</p>