My first post and trying to do this correctly. Would also appreciate any suggestions you have for me!
Demographics: White male
Residence- TN
HS - private, elite (I include this b/c of the rigor of the coursework)
I will apply for aid but will likely be full pay (or close to it)
Interest- English/Film/Humanities
Reach- Pomona, Amherst, Swarthmore
Less Reach -Emory, Wash U, USCa
Safeties- Occidental, Rhodes, Washington and Lee,
Numbers-
Unweighted GPA:
Weighted GPA (5-point scale): 4.28
Class Rank: school doesn’t rank but I’m about 25%
ACT- 32 (took it cold and will retake this fall after studying)
SAT - 1480 (730M 750R essay 15). SAT taken only once, will retake in fall
SAT II - 740 USHIST (don’t plan on more but can if needed)
AP scores- US History [5], Euro History [5], Language and Composition [5]. Upcoming AP French, AP Physics, AP Eng Lit.
Extracurriculars
-Model UN 3 years.
-Track team 3 years (all varsity)
-Founded school Literary Club
-School chamber group 4 years (competitive)
-Volunteering 2 years music camp counselor
-Volunteering for music performance venues/benefits 3x/year
-Volunteer actor for theatre group
-Academic college prep program in US (college credit), 2 summers
-Academic college prep program abroad, 1 summer
-Foreign language culture bowl 2 years
-School literary magazine editor
-Student Council Vice President 1 year (upcoming/sr year)
Honors
NHS, History HS, French HS, English HS. Hopefully National Merit if my state only goes up by 1 index. It went up 5 last year, so hopeful that it won’t go up much more this year.
I’m certain I’ll go to grad school for either MA in film or PhD in English or Film or History. I don’t want to pick an undergrad for that though bc I may change my mind. I can see myself in the film industry (and clearly the Ca schools make sense for that) but I can also see myself as a college professor or teacher.
What is your unweighted GPA? That gives us (and colleges) more of an idea of your grades and academic qualifications, since all schools weight differently.
Okay, as far as I can figure, my unweighted GPA is 3.53. I was not a straight A student; got a split of high Bs and low As. I took almost all Honors or AP courses, for what that’s worth. Grading seems really tough at my school. For example, even in an AP class where I easily got a 5 on the exam, I’d get a B in the course (where maybe 1-2 people got As). My friends at public school are getting straight As with no homework, no studying but scoring 3s on the AP exams and 1200-1300 on SAT. I’m glad I am at my school, don’t get me wrong, but it is frustrating to imagine that I’d likely have a much better GPA at a different school. How much do admissions take into account the reputation of the school?
Some info about my school/students: 100% go to college; students annually accepted to all the ivies and all the top 20 small liberal arts colleges and top 20 universities; of those who take the ACT, >50% score >30; of those taking AP exams >95% score 3+ (>75% score 4+); average SAT is 1260.
Admission does take into account your school’s rigor. Admissions officers take particular regions, so if your school has a reputation for rigor, they will know.
Even considering that, 3.53 is on the low side. If your class rank was higher, it might not matter as much, but you’re below the top 25% of students at your school. That, combined with your 32 (great but not outstanding), will make Pomona, Amherst, and Swarthmore tough reaches. You should still apply, but make sure you love your safeties and matches.
I would also be hesitant to put Washington and Lee as a safety. Their middle 50% ACT for the class of 2020 was 30-33. You’re in range, but not above the 75%. They don’t report average GPAs of accepted students, but they consider GPA important on their CDS. They also consider class rank very important. I think W&L is more of a match.
Occidental is more of a safety for your scores, but their medium UW GPA for class of 2020 was 3.71, which you fall below.
Rhodes’ class of 2020 middle 50% ACT was 27-32, so you’re right at the top 75%. But they also consider both GPA and class rank very important, and they consider applicants’ level of interest. Colleges that consider interest make dangerous safeties, as they may reject you if they think you’re using them as a safety.
Considering all this, I think you should move your safeties up to matches for the time being, and look for safeties that are “more safe.”
Thanks, glittervine, for that very detailed response. Very helpful. I think Rhodes knows I’m interested since I’ve visited twice. And it is a genuine interest, despite being a safety. I’ll look for more safeties though. I’m wondering if a 33/34 and a 1520 or so on the SAT would help balance out the lower GPA.
Run the NPC: if you’re likely to be full pay, don’t apply for aid at need aware colleges such as Emory or USC as it’ll help you.
Talk with your parents (don’t assume anything): what’s their budget? Do they expect you to take federal loans?
W&L is a high match not a safety.
Occidental is a match.
Are you applying to your state flagship’s Honors College? Regardless of how much you want to get OOS, do apply to your flagship - you want to have that possibility.
Add Chapman and LMU-LA for English with film (low matches to safeties), Kenyon and Hamilton for English, seconding Wesleyan.
This is all really helpful. Looked at Wesleyan and added to list. Will look at these others, too. Budget is 45-50k/year for tuition and room and board. When my parents did the MyInTuition calculator and the FAFSA calculator for most of the schools I’ve been looking at, the range given for our contribution was 43-53k. And no I won’t take out any loans. Just looked up “need aware” and now see how aid app would hurt admissions chances; need to check the other schools on my list. Question: to get merit scholarships for the schools that offer them would I have to apply for aid? Also at USC, I know they have some sort of large national merit discount but don’t know how that works (but won’t know my status on national merit obviously till September).
When you guys use the word “match” does it mean basically that I’m the average applicant and so have a chance but should not be hopeful of admission?
I’ll ask my teachers which subject test I should take. Counselor told me I didn’t need to take another one b/c the schools I’m looking at don’t require it. So now I’m down to only a few testing date options. Is the Dec 3 test date too late for those? I am going to take reg SAT in Aug and possibly in Nov, depending on score in Aug. I cannot take the Oct one for various reasons.
I just looked at Sewanee last night! And will see about registering for those two subject tests. Humanities are def my strength.
So I’ve been reading a lot of posts on this forum and keep seeing “hook” so searched for posts about that. I think I have some “hooks” but not sure what counts. Legacy at two different schools on my list (parents), legacy at two more schools on my list (parents but grad school…not sure that counts). At two of these schools, my parent, AND grandparent attended (and my uncle, but I don’t think that counts). Also my grandfather was on the board of trustees at one of the schools. And a family friend is a major donor to one of the schools. Do these things help in any way?
