matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I am a middle-class midwestern caucasian female (no bonus points there...) in 11th grade. I am looking for a school with a great liberal arts program. I would love to attend one of the elite LACs (Amherst, Haverford, Middlebury <em>swoon</em> Georgetown) but I'm not sure my application is strong enough. Which schools are matches? Which schools are maybes? What schools will laugh at me for even trying?</p>

<p>GPA: Unweighted: 3.9
PSAT:207
SAT: 2120
-CR: 750
-Writing: 720
-Math: 650 (wish I could say this is an anomaly...but no)
ACT: 32
SAT II's: Will be taking Literature, Spanish, and US History
Class Rank: 84/850 at a school well known for being extremely competitive. Hopefully I can bump this up a few places by the end of the year.
AP's: US History, Comparative Government
Next Year: AP English, AP Statistics, AP European History, AP Spanish</p>

<p>Taken AP Tests in: US History (scored a 4, would have been a 5 if it hadn't been for the !@#$ French and Indian War) and Comparative Government (still waiting on this score)</p>

<p>EC's:
Young Democrats - (10, 11, 12) President
Minnesota Student Human Rights Commission - (11, 12) Chapter President
NHS: (11, 12) Committe Chair
Competitive Speech Team: (10, 11, 12)
Intramural Sports: (9, 11, 12)
Class Council (11, 12)
Piano (9, 10, 11, 12)
Church Youth Group (9, 10, 11, 12)
Participated in 2004 Washington DC Close-up Program
Election Judge in 2004 Presidential Election
Elected Student Representative to City Council for 2005-2006</p>

<p>Volunteering:
Tutor: 4 hours a week (11, 12)
Cook/serve at a homeless shelter: 30 hours/year (9, 10, 11, 12)
FMSC package food to be sent to 3rd world nations: 20 hours year (9, 10, 11, 12)
Chairperson of annual church silent auction to benefit youth fund: 60 hours/year (11, 12)
ACS Relay for Life Team Captain: 30 hours/year (10, 11, 12)
Mission Trips
Chicago (2003) - 1 week
South Dakota (2004) - 1 week
Puerto Rico (2005) - 1 week
Box Out Homelessness: This is a special project that I started with a small group of peers during my freshman year. Every year we choose a weekend in early winter (I live in Minnesota so .... brrrr) and spend 30 hours living in cardboard boxes at the side of the street to raise money for a local food shelf. It has been featured on the local news several times and has grown significantly each year.</p>

<p>Facts that don't fit in anywhere else:
- I have had short fiction and poetry published in several magazines and literary journals
- I am pretty good artist (and modest, too!), so for schools that allow applicants to submits samples of artwork along with applications .... I'm golden
- I will be starting an internship at a law firm this summer</p>

<p>and... how much is it going to hurt me that I am AWFUL at math? I pulled of pre-calculus with an A-, but I'm not planning on taking calculus. Will AP Statistics somewhat compensate for that, even though its not <em>technically</em> considered math class?</p>

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<p>I think it'd be better to take Calculus and not look like you're backing out of it. I think you have pretty good chance for the LACs. Rank hurts, but if its known to be competitive....yeah, it hurts. Pull that up, and SATs and you should be fine. I like your ECs.</p>

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<p>Actually, you do get points for midwest and female...</p>

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<p>the boxout thing is creative. write about it in a personal essay. it's very unique.</p>

<p>your standardized test in math could be better and class rank, but your ECs aren't bad.</p>

<p>your GPA is pretty good, too</p>

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<p>find me a find, catch me a catch!</p>

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<p>Thanks for the advice, everyone. The math thing is kind of a catch-22. If I take calc it will take me an inordinate amount of time to pull of a decent grade (I'm truly not exaggerating -- I'm talking about a couple hours a day) which would mean cutting back on ECs and volunteering which is what I'm truly passionate about. Is it worth it? I don't know...</p>

<p>But I definitely agree that the math SAT needs to go up . . . what's a standard math SAT score for the elite LACs?</p>

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<p>An afterthought...</p>

<p>How much weight does class rank hold? I know 84th sounds awful, but with a 3.94 GPA I think that it's artificially low. There are THIRTY valedictorians in my class, so there's not much I can do about that one...</p>

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<p>gravedigger!!! when you dig my grave can you make it shalloooooowwwwwwww!!</p>

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<p>Female, great LAC -- try Wellesley, Smith, and Mt Holyoke. Just as good and more accessable. Smith and MHC are part of the consortium with Amherst. Don't count them out until you visit.</p>

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<p>hahaha I'm starting to regret the title of this thread...</p>

<p>Thanks bandit, I'm not sure I can do the all-female thing. That much estrogen in one centralized location never made anyone happy...</p>

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<p>that song is the first thing that came to my head when i read the title</p>

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<p>I would disagree about the calc thing. don't overwhelm your senior year just to tick off a box on a college application (i'm learning this from experience). i don't think your taking AP stat will be the reason a college accepts/rejects you...</p>

<p>There are a lot of east coast LACs (ie. bates colby bowdoin wesleyan) with varying degrees of selectivity. I'd look around them (I think the book Colleges That Change Your Life highlights some good ones...) and see what strikes you.</p>

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<p>I'd be a little concerened if the title made you think of anything but that song :) </p>

<p>I'm glad to hear someone doesn't think calc is a defining aspect of a college application. I was starting to get a little worried. I still am, actually. But less so. <em>sigh</em> if it wasn't for the existence of math, my life would be so easy. So very easy.</p>

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<p>Ok, last question and then I'll shut up about myself (scouts' honor):</p>

<p>What about these seven:</p>

<p>MacAlester
Middlebury
Haverford
Brown
Northwestern
Dartmouth
Duke
University of Chicago</p>

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<p>actually, i think that you have a chance at all of them.</p>

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<p>really...</p>

<p>ok. what if I aimed for a step above those? Still a chance?</p>

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<p>Ok, last question and then I'll shut up about myself (scouts' honor):</p>

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<p>if you're looking at elite LACs you can't leave Williams out...</p>

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<p>Hey lemonteacake. I think you have a very good shot at any schools you wish to apply to. I suggest you shoot for Princeton or Dartmouth - they have many of the advantages of an LAC but few of the disadvantages.</p>

<p>Although your stats aren't 'perfect,' by the way you present yourself here, you seem to know what's what.</p>

<p>I give you my seal of approval. ;)</p>

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<p>Ok, last question and then I'll shut up about myself (scouts' honor):</p>

<p>Yes, well, that was a blatant lie.</p>