pretty close to finalizing my list

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I need to know whether the schools I'm looking at are too high of a reach for me, and whether I should look at more safeties/matches</p>

<p>white male, public school, western MA</p>

<p>GPA: 3.89 UW (school doesn't weight grades)
Rank: school doesn't rank, but I know I'm in the top 5% (of 215 students) and my GC might hint to this on my counselor recommendation
SAT: 2330 (730CR 800M 800W)
SATII: US Hist 770, French 760</p>

<p>Courseload:
-every honors class available
-3 APs junior year (US History 5, English Lang 5, French Lang 4) and 3 senior year (English Lit, Microecon, Physics B). can't take every single AP because of block schueduling, very few students have ever taken more than 3 in one year.
-I'm also taking a 200 level government class at Smith College (one of the top LACs) called "Congress and the Legislative Process"</p>

<p>EC/Community service (I have more, but it's not that impressive):
-Gay-Straight Alliance (President)
-City Youth Commission co-chair (member since 10th grade, co-chair since 11th)
-Co-producer/programmer of radio show on a community-run radio station. this also involves volunteer work because it is an all-volunteer station that requires programmers to help out.
-NHS (requires 20 hours of comm service)
-Member of high school Amnesty International chapter, Academic Team (been in quiz bowl tournaments and high school TV quiz show), United Synagogue Youth
-Counselor-in-training at local arts camp
-Volunteer teaching assistant at local summer school
-Piano for 10+ years, jazz band (grades 10-12)</p>

<p>Awards:
-National Merit commended student
-AP Scholar
-High Honor Roll (highest academic distinction at my HS)
-Holy Cross book award
-Laureat, Grand Concours (national French contest, regional winner)
-National History Day regional winner for documentary about Sojourner Truth</p>

<p>my essay is pretty unique/interesting. my recs I think will be very good, I got one from my math teacher and one from my APUSH teacher. </p>

<p>definite schools:
Bard EA, immediate decision plan
Brown
Yale
Wesleyan
Vassar
Swarthmore
Oberlin
Brandeis
Skidmore</p>

<p>maybe schools (I'll probably add 2-3 of these):
Tufts
NYU
Bowdoin
U Chicago
Bowdoin
Reed</p>

<p>am I shooting too high? any other suggestions of schools I should look at? </p>

<p>thanks a lot, I'll chance you back if you want.</p>

2

<p>Bard does not have a lot of name recognition although I am sure it is a good school. I don't think you are shooting too high. You may want to add one real safety as none are guaranteed although all likely in my opinion.</p>

3

<p>yeah I'm looking at other safeties but I'll decide whether to apply to them based on whether I get in to Bard.</p>

4

<p>bump, anyone else?</p>

5

<p>no one else has anything to say?</p>

6

<p>You have a shot at all of those schools. The Ivies are reaches, the rest are high matches or low reaches. You will definitely get into some of the schools on your "definite" list.</p>

7

<p>Looks like a great, well-balanced list! Wonderful group of schools with some (reasonable) reaches, matches and safeties. You're bound to have some good choices come April. One school that often gets mentioned with those on your definite list is Haverford, if you're looking for one more. You have the stats to try for any school that appeals to you. Congrats.</p>

8

<p>Great list. You may want to add one more safety (maybe Bennington, a school similar in culture to Bard, Wesleyan, and Oberlin), but other than that, I think you have a definite shot at all of your schools. Good luck!</p>

9

<p>thanks for the input everyone. haverford and bennington both sound really small but I'll keep them in consideration.</p>

10

<p>Not smaller than Swarthmore or Bard, though - right?</p>

11

<p>Actually, Bennington is one of the smallest colleges in the nation - only 500 undergrads. It may be small (or more aptly, tiny), but if that is what you're looking for, OP, I think it'd be a great fit.</p>

12

<p>AHHH I have to hand in my list this week!</p>

13

<p>Your SAT scores are significantly high, you should shoot for a higher school. Good chance at all of them cept for Yale, you probably know why.</p>

14

<p>because Yale is really hard to get into or because there's something outstanding that excludes me? my brother went there, if that helps.</p>

<p>my top school is really Brown though. I don't think I need to shoot higher than that</p>

15

<p>having a sibling at yale helps i think.</p>

16

<p>I got into Bard (hooray)</p>

<p>now what?</p>

17

<p>bump again</p>

18

<p>Congratulations! Now you can eliminate all the schools that you like less than Bard. Then you just have to figure out how many other schools you have the time and finances to apply to. Good luck!</p>

19

<p>thanks!</p>

<p>final list:
Yale
Brown
Wesleyan
Vassar
Reed
Swarthmore
Brandeis</p>

20

<p>yet another bump because I'm bored with supplements.</p>

<p>I meant I was applying to Oberlin and not Reed, although now I'm considering adding Reed as well as Tufts, and maybe Skidmore? sigh... I already handed in my list but I could add a few more if I decide this week. I'm not sure, I'm already way sick of doing applications but 7 is a lot less schools than I was initially planning on applying to so I feel like I should add more. what do people think of my chances at those schools?</p>