RD Chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey guys! Just waiting on decisions from my regular decision schools. I’d like a little bit of reaffirmation. Chance me?

I go to a small private school in NYC. I’ve taken a total of 7 AP classes (the greatest amount that my school’s administration allows us to take) and I’ve been in a number of honors and college level classes. I’ve maintained about a 3.8 UW GPA and a 4.0 W. I’ve gotten two 31s and a 32 on the ACT, but, if super-scored, I have a 33. 35-29-36-31 = 33.

I’ve been on my school’s varsity swim team (9-12); We’re the defending city champions if that’s any help. I’ve been apart of a USA Swimming club team since 2012. That’s essentially 20+ hours of swimming per week. I’ve also coached elementary school swim teams, and I’m a lifeguard. I’ve been a part of my school’s soccer program for two years. I’ve worked in summer camps. I’ve volunteered at special needs elementary schools (I want to study neuroscience and look into secondary education), and cared for children with muscular dystrophies, down’s syndrome, intellectual disabilities, paralysis, and autism (both verbal and non-verbal). I’ve preformed in professional shows and been a part of my dance studio for over a decade. I’ve served as a tutor, and worked to provide for veterans and poverty-stricken local residents. I’ve also been affected by Hurricane Sandy so I’ve worked within my community (NYC) to provide relief whenever I’ve had the opportunity to. I’ve lost two houses and moved 5 times within the past 4 years. I’ve played the sports, done the service, spent my time in the theater, taken the AP classes, and enjoyed all of it. Not sure if this means anything to anyone, but I also skipped a grade in elementary school. I will not turn 17 until March.

So here’s my list, if you wouldn’t mind offering your input:

Brown University (RD)
Dartmouth College (RD)
Trinity College (RD)
Brandeis University (RD)
College of the Holy Cross (RD)
Macaulay Honors College
College of Staten Island of the CUNY
CUNY Hunter College

2

In my opinion…

Schools like Brown and Dartmouth are extremely hard to get into. I think you have a good GPA and cool extracurriculars, but you will need to focus on one of them and really stand out. Many who are applying to those are captains of everything and 4.0 students. That being said, your essay is your time to shine. I really think that if you highlight something that unique, you could have a shot. I don’t know much about the other schools, but I think if you write essays that are very unique about the field you plan to go into or even the hurricane, you could have a shot at at least Dartmouth. I don’t know much about some of the other ones. Brown will be harder.

3

Also, these schools like subject tests. If you did well on those, that can be important, especially with an ACt in the middle of their range. \

4

@will999 In writing essays, I chose to emphasize personal growth and my love for the pool. I chose to focus on academic ambitions and my desire to travel. I also highlighted aspects of my own Caribbean culture. I’m not a recruit so we figured that pushing my relationship with swimming wasn’t necessarily the best of ideas. I’m not a one-trick pony in the sense that I can contribute so much more than hundreds of laps.