my titles are never catchy enough...

College Search & Selection
1

<p><em>I just posted this on the "what are my chances?" board as well. Sorry for the repost, if you've already read the other one!</em></p>

<p>It's time for me to make my final list of schools to apply to, and I could use your help! Read on... First, it's my list, followed by my stats, and finally a couple questions I have. Thanks for your help!</p>

<p>THE LIST:
(Applying to FOR SURE = <em>)
1. Yale</em>
2. Princeton*
3. Columbia
4. Notre Dame*
5. Carleton College*
6. Swarthmore
7. College of St. Benedict (safety)
8. Univ. of St. Thomas (safety)*
9. U. Penn
10. Brown Univ.
11. Boston College
12. Amherst
13. Williams
14. Washington Univ. in St. Louis</p>

<p>MY STATS:
--caucasian female from public school in “no-where” Minnesota
--first generation college student
--G.P.A. = 4.0 UW (4.0 scale)
--Class rank = 1/253
--I’m taking the hardest classes offered at my school:
we only have 4 APs, but I’m doing them all, and 2 of my classes are CIS (college in school)… we don’t really have the option of taking college classes unless you go post-secondary full time, which in my town basically means missing all of junior and/or senior year. I opted to take APs and CIS classes instead of going post-secondary. (at my school it’s about the same level of commitment.)
--SAT I = 640 math, 670 critical reading, 710 writing (it was the first time I took it… I’m making progress toward raising it by at least a couple hundred points)
--SAT IIs = 590 mathIIc, 670 literature, 740 US history (1st time, this fall I will take/retake and expect to get 3 tests up to 700+… hopefully mid-700’s or higher)
--ACT = 32 composite; 34 english, 34 reading, 32 math, 27 science (first try, I may retake it…)
--my intended major would most likely be a liberal arts or humanities discipline</p>

<p>EC’s:
--piano lessons since 3rd grade
--clarinet since 6th grade (auditioned for, and made it into the Wind Ensemble – the top performing group at my school in 10th grade)
--superior rating at MN solo/ensemble contest for clarinet
--Cantabile’ Girls’ Choir (3 years, entrance upon audition)
--National Honor Society (3 year member)
--Project 4 Teens (I was trained to go into 8th grade health classrooms, and teach about abstinence and healthy relationships & help w/transition into High School)
--Teens Against Tobacco Use (trained to go into 4th grade classrooms to teach about negatives of tobacco use)
--swim team (4 years; lettered, received Academic Gold Award)
--nordic ski team (5 years; lettered, received Academic Gold Award))
--cross country team (2 years; lettered, Academic Gold Award, co-Capitan this year)
--2 school musicals (a big deal at my school), once in the Pit Orchestra, once in the Cast
--marching band (2 years)
--school board subcommittee (2 years)
--selected to attend Minnesota Girls’ State
--won a statewide essay contest, which qualified me to attend the Spirit of America Conference in Philadelphia
--received 4 Academic letters
--work part time at Banana Republic (received employee of the month, + many nominations), and will also be working as a Piano teacher beginning this fall</p>

<p>Community Service:
--Sunday School Teacher
--volunteer within my school through prevention programs such as SADD
--train 3-5th graders to be Peer Mediators at a day camp every summer
--various other service activities that add up to a lot of hours all together, but aren’t anything spectacular individually</p>

<p>MY QUESTIONS:
1. Of the schools on my list, which are reaches, matches, and safeties for me? This is really what I would like to know the most...
2. Do I need more safeties?
3. Is 14 schools unreasonable to apply to?
4. Any other advice?
Thanks!</p>

2

<p>question 1:
Here's what I think are reaches match safeties (but keep in mind this is just my opinion)</p>

<p>reaches: yale, princeton, columbia, ND (slight reach), Swarthmore, Upenn, Brown, Amherst, Williams, BC (reachish-match)</p>

<p>matches: BC (reachish-match), carleton</p>

<p>safeties: st. benedict, st. thomas</p>

<p>question 2:
as long as you like your safeties, you're fine</p>

<p>question 3:
if you have the money, apply to as many as you wish, but I think 14 is a bit much (but that's a personal thing) also, some schools limit the number of applications so make sure you'rs doesn't</p>

<p>question 4:
Your list is pretty unfocused, find out what you like and cut out the ones you don't</p>

3

<p>If Yale, Princeton, Notre bame, & Carleton are your sure bets, then may I ask how UPenn or Columbia will fit into that mold?</p>

<p>You have 5 Ivies, and all three Little Ivies...you should think of say, which 5 schools (6 if it's too hard) are really up your alley? I was orginally going to apply to WAS, but hem notice that Williams wasn't right for me, and really, I just liked the school and said if you're applying for 2, why not 3.</p>

<p>I'd keep BC & Carleton, simply b/c you need less reach heavy school, and then cut of 3 of those 8 schools.</p>

4

<p>You need to explore these schools more in depth...I can assure you that you will be able to cut some out. I don't think you need to apply to 9 reach schools...that is absurd. And 5 Ivies? They aren't as similar as you probably think. You NEED more match schools - your safeties are way too low for you and your reaches are too high.</p>

5

<p>I agree. You have nearly all MAJOR reaches, two lower reaches (ND & BC), and two safties (I presume because I don't know these schools).</p>

<p>Your SATs, while PERFECTLY respectable, are roughly at the 25% level for many of your reaches. That is not good. These are not realistic reaches; they are mostly super reaches.</p>

<p>Most admits in the 25% range will have big mitigating factors like URM status, athletic recruiting, alumni connections, etc. Now, if any of the schools desperately need Minnesota 1st generation white girls (and a school in the deep south might fall into this category, actually) it might be a little help, but aside from that....</p>

<p>Why don't you drop some of your big reaches and use those spots for matches?</p>

<p>Think of schools where your stats are more like 50%+ for the school-- and places that admit at least 40%+ of their applicants. Use geography and demographics in your favor for even more help. </p>

<p>If you think you could play D3 sports? That might be a good help too at some of the strong LACs-- research to find out which schools value your sports &/or which need female athletes to satisfy title 9 demands and still have a football team... Ask your HS coaches about whether or not you could compete at the D3 level; check the times on line for swimming & track kids at the schools you identify. You can do research on line (ncaa.com) to see which schools are strong in these sports & where you might add to the team. Email the coaches ASAP as the recruitment is well under way by now.</p>

<p>For geography: maybe Davidson, Rice, Vanderbilt, Centre, Rhodes, Tulane would be places to consider? Some even give merit aid!</p>

<p>If New England is what you want check out the 'Trinity, Syracuse, Wesleyan, Conn College, Vassar, Tufts, Hamilton, Colgate' level for more realistic reaches & high matches. In midwest Kenyon, Denison, etc.</p>

<p>The acronym for super, super reaches (where even a 2400 is not a guarantee) is HYPSCAWS; you have all but 2 of these schools on your list!-- see what I mean? I do not mean to be a downer, but I think your list needs to be better balanced.</p>

<p>IF your GC is very experienced in getting kids from your hS into Ivies, then listen to him/her-- but otherwise you are really looking at an uphill battle. </p>

<p>If applying to this many schools, I'd go for 2 super reaches, 3 quasi realistic reaches, 5 matches (ranging from high to low) and 2-3 safeties. A list like that is likely to give you 5-6 acceptances from which to choose.</p>

<p>If you do not believe me, look at the threads for Wash U, Princeton, Williams, etc from last spring-- where kids who were admitted or rejected posted their stats. It will give you a more realistic view of the landscape.</p>

<p>You have the ability to gain admission at some excellent schools-- if you play your cards right. To use a hearts analogy, right now you are shooting the moon...</p>

6

<p>If you're going into humanities, or social sciences at all, why not Macalester, you have one of the best LACs for social sciences in your backyard.</p>