<p>I'd love to get a sense of whether my daughter is working with a realistic list. She plans to early apply to Brown, and the rest of her list so far is:</p>
<p>Vassar
Pomona
Scripps
Harvard
Yale
Mt. Holyoke
Connecticut College
Indiana University (our state school)</p>
<p>She is an IB diploma candidate in the top 5% of her class of 500 at a large public school in a small town. She is in the running for National Merit, but I'm guessing will be a commended student. She has only taken the ACT, and only once, with the following result:</p>
<p>Composite 32
English 34
Math 29
Reading 34
Science 29
Writing 8</p>
<p>The writing score really worries me (and seems out of whack--she has a paid column in our regional newspaper and writes regularly in other venues).<br>
She has the usual leadership-type ECs (stuco vp, NHS officer, Amnesty Int'l, Model UN) and is very involved with community and school theater. But her real hook is that she's recorded a CD of original songs. </p>
<p>Is she dreaming, or is this realistic? Please Help!!</p>
<p>Did a record company record and market the CD? That would make it a real hook in my mind and give her a much better shot.</p>
<p>Either way, I think the thread a few above this, critique my son's chances, addresses your question where the top colleges are concerned. She seems like a good bet for Scripps, Holyoak, Vassar, CC and Indiana.</p>
<p>My very creative daughter did far better on the SAT 2 in writing (back when it was separate) after she wrote "a boring five-paragraph essay" the second time around. The first time she wrote what she described as "an interesting essay." That type of thing could explain your daughter's writing score. Before she takes the SAT, you might want to remind her that they are looking for very specific things in the writing section. </p>
<p>Be sure to be aware whether her safe bets (I'll defer to zagat on the identity of them as Holyoke, Scripps, ConnCollege and Vassar) are sensitive to demonstrated interest. If so, be sure she does this. (I'm assuming this won't apply to Indiana). And it will definitely not be necessary at the reaches like Brown, Harvard, Yale.</p>
<p>There are some really different colleges on this list. I would guess your D has visited very few of them. If she has, I am puzzled as to the criteria she is using.</p>
<p>Actually, she has visited all these--and quite a few more--schools. These are the ones she could imagine herself attending (with the possible exception of IU--it's way too big, but she did a wonderful summer program there in theater before her junior year). Do people think that she necessarily needs to take the SAT? Can she get by with just the one ACT score (even with the relatively lower writing component?)</p>
<p>Harvard requires SAT Subject Tests in addition to the ACT. </p>
<p>A 32 is an excellent score. If you research the gender specific stats you'll find that it is 99th % tile for females (or at least it was when I checked last year). </p>
<p>A 32 is @ the 50th percentile at the most exclusive schools in America. (25%-75% is usually 30-34). </p>
<p>That being said, have her take the ACT again after some prep on the math , science, and writing. (my D improved her science dramatically with self study for a few hours) . It will take a 4 point increase to get her to a 33 but since she has score choice, why not? my D refused to take SAT Subject Tests so I know kids will draw a line in the sand and say "no more" but your kid has already shown a facility in the area of standardized testing so I might suggest taking the SAT I, also. </p>
<p>But remember if she takes the SAT I, and the Subject Tests all scores go when you send the last test. The strategy would be to see what the SAT I score was, if good send it before taking the Subject Tests (or vice-versa) so if she bombs the subject tests she doesn't have to send them. it would also work to just take the ACT again and with score choice choose which one to send, and take the Subject Tests (without sending them. If they are good , send them . If not ? Don't.</p>
<p>BTW the writing tests are a pile of crap . Just game them the best she can.</p>