Please chance and provide recommendations for LACs. Thanks!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, everyone. I'll be applying ED1 to one of these schools, ED2 somewhere else if I don't get in, and regular everywhere else. Please let me know if these schools are reasonable. Stats and extracurriculars are after the school list. Schools are listed in the order that I prefer them.</p>

<p>Bowdoin (possible ED1)
Carleton (possible ED1)
Williams (possible ED1)
Middlebury (possible ED1)
Haverford
Pomona
Swarthmore
Grinnell
Amherst
Whitman
Bates
Kenyon
Colby
Wesleyan
Hamilton
Colorado
Vassar
Oberlin</p>

<p>No legacy: my parents went to a top-20 research university</p>

<p>Male
My high school is the top-ranked public high school in my state (beaten only by charter schools).
My school doesn't rank, but I am ~top ten %
GPA: 4.3/4.0 (weighted) - hardest class load available, nearly straight As, some scattered B+s
APs: European History (5), Chemistry (4), Latin (4), Bio (5), taking 6 more this year. (By end of HS career will have taken all core subject APs - missing some electives like Music, Art, Stats, and Compsci.)
ACT: 36 (one sitting)
PSAT: 233 (recently named National Merit Semi-Finalist, will likely become Finalist)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Editor-in-chief of school newspaper and blog for two years
Won a few local tournaments in quizbowl, qualified for nationals in Chicago for this spring
JV basketball two years (captain second year), Varsity 2 years (probably not captain)
Various academic awards within the school
National Latin Exam gold winner every year since 7th grade
~200 hours volunteering with the nursing station of the cardiac unit my father was sick in
~200 hours tutoring younger students in math, science, and Latin
Independent science research over two years (full time summers) in biochemistry under guidance of professor at nearby Ivy-League medical center. Research was done entirely by me - I will be entering it in Siemens, Intel, etc. (~1000 hours)</p>

<p>Other than just chances, I'd appreciate some input in regards to fit. I'm fairly athletic (could never play for one of these schools, just intramurals), but I am SUPER nerdy. I want the student body to be very academically focused, but not cutthroat and competitive with one another. I am very academically curious, and I find most subjects fascinating. I will most likely be a science/math major, but there is a solid chance I will major in something like Classics or History. Weather doesn't doesn't concern me too much, neither does political leanings of the student body. I prefer rural, outdoorsy and quiet locations.</p>

<p>Any response is much appreciated - If anyone wants more info I will gladly supply it.</p>

<p>(Forgot to mention, I've visited all of the schools above except Whitman, Pomona, and Colorado.)</p>

2

<p>Also - I am very anti-frat. I don’t mind social drinking, but if it dominates the social scene I am uncomfortable. I am not very preppy.</p>

3

<p>Amherst and Williams have a huge drinking culture. You sound like a Bowdoin person to me, though.</p>

4

<p>Tbh, I think Whitman, Bates, Colby, and Colorado are too far below your range.</p>

5

<p>@ChuffedAsHeck Didn’t mention, but I am really into outdoors activities - hiking, canoeing, camping, etc.</p>

6

<p>@ChuffedAsHeck do you think Whitman, Bates, Colby, and Colorado are low enough to count as “low-target” to “safety” schools?</p>

7

<p>Yeah, definitely. I also think you’d really love Carleton. It’s really quiet, “academically focused,” and is very strong in the math and science fields (but certainly not lacking in the humanities). The area’s pretty nice, lots of farmland if you’re into that stuff (I live about 20 minutes from the area). Gotta love the Minnesota weather, though! I know you don’t really mind, but definitely take that into consideration, as the winters are worse than people think (fall/spring/summer are absolutely delightful, though). We have some really awesome places for outdoor activities (especially canoeing, camping) to the north, btw. :smiley: Plus, you can basically hike anywhere with trees. I don’t think they’re that far away (probably only an hour or so), but you will need a car if you want to go anywhere at all.</p>

8

<p>@ChuffedAsHeck
Glad you pointed out the two schools I’m having the difficulty of picking a favorite out of :)>- </p>

<p>I’m going back for overnights at Bowdoin and Carleton - will probably pick an ED from both. The Carleton winter does concern me a bit, not because of the cold but just because outdoor activities might be stopped, which would be a bummer. That’s probably true at Bowdoin, too. I am into farming; ecological sustainability is something I’m interested in. </p>

9

<p>You can wear coats and other thick clothing when you go outside in the winter, possibly. I think Carleton is a good choice.</p>

10

<p>The very smart, slightly artsy, pretty “normcore” people from my school go to Carleton, not that there are terribly many of them. Also, outdoor activities never stop unless it’s literally so cold that your face might freeze off, which is only a threat less than ten days a year, so no worries on that front. The U of M has a really great ag sci department, so you could probably intern there or be involved in research.</p>

11

<p>Btdubs, over half of my college list is on your list. You go, Glen Coco!</p>

12

<p>Yes, I am probably “normcore,” so they sound like my people. I’d consider doing an internship or research project at U of M (Minnesota or Michigan?). Either way, sounds like there are ample opportunities in Northfield.</p>

13

<p>@ChuffedAsHeck
What’s on my list that isn’t on yours? And vice versa.</p>

14

<p>U of M as in Minnesota, which is only 40 minutes away. I’m applying to Swarthmore ED, UChicago EA, Bowdoin, Williams, Middlebury, Haverford, Amherst, Wesleyan, U of M(innesota), Brown, Barnard, Wellesley, and USC. I would apply to Carleton, but it’s too close to home. Are you going to the Fall Open House on Oct. 16/17?</p>

15

<p>@ChuffedAsHeck‌ </p>

<p>I’ll actually be visiting that Sunday and Monday, the 12th and 13th.</p>

<p>I’m also applying to Brown, but I didn’t include it here because chance threads are pointless for that school. I also have legacy there, which makes it more complicated and less helpful to post. Good luck Swarthmore ED! Have you visited? I thought it was awesome when I visited - beautiful suburban campus, perfect distance from Philly, etc. My only con for Swat is the lack of outdoorsy stuff (not going to keep me from applying, though!)</p>

16

<p>@YertleTheTurtle I haven’t visited any of my schools (besides practically growing up on the U of M campus), but oh well. I adapt easily. Sitting on the grass is my definition of sports, so the “outdoorsy-factor” isn’t a huge part of the criteria. I also think Ivy chance threads are a bit unhelpful and very annoying. :|</p>

17

<p>@ChuffedAsHeck‌</p>

<p>I would try to visit a school before you ED, if possible, especially since Swarthmore has a reputation for being cutthroat. Yeah - after a certain point the Ivy chance threads are absurd, but I guess that is true of non-Ivys with similar admit rates.</p>

18

<p>For anyone else who might read this post:</p>

<p>Additional info
Race: White
Parents and grandparents went to prestigious institutions (not any of the ones I’ve mentioned)
I will not be requiring financial aid.</p>

<p>So keep that context in mind - not a URM, not a low-income/first-gen college, and not an athlete.</p>

19

<p>My take is that you don’t need to ED if Carleton and Bowdoin are your top choices. You will get into most of the schools on your list – maybe all if you do a good job on your applications and essays. Although I assume you don’t intend to apply to all of them.</p>

<p>What is your financial situation? If you need FA, I’d suggest you don’t ED so you can compare costs. You will have very good choices.</p>

20

<p>@YertleTheTurtle Yes, that would probably be a good idea, except I don’t have the time and the money, especially a month before the ED deadline. I understand that nothing beats a personal visit, but from what I’ve read online, Swat sounds like a perfect fit for me. I’ve actually heard that it’s not “cutthroat” in terms of overly competitive, back-stabbing students. Were you referring to the academic intensity?</p>

<p>Also, since you mentioned that FA’s not a concern for you, you might as well apply ED if you want to be done with apps early and are absolutely certain of your choice.</p>