<p>Note: this thread isn't intended to offend people on this forum who were rejected or wait-listed from top liberal arts colleges, especially people with higher stats than me; it's intended to encourage future applicants not to forget the special things about themselves when applying to reasonable reaches</p>
<p>I don't have the greatest grades or test scores. This is mainly because I'm very very strong in the humanities and social sciences, but terrible at math and science. I scored a 24 on the math section of the ACT, a 25 on the science section and most of my math and science grades are C's. </p>
<p>Ever since I started looking at CC during my sophomore year, I thought these numbers would keep me from going to the colleges I wanted to attend. CC is chock full of posts written by students with higher GPAs and ACT scores than me who were rejected or wait-listed from schools like Grinnell, Carleton, Oberlin and Macalester. If these colleges don't accept kids who are so much more qualified, why would they accept me?, I often asked myself. And I wasn't able to think of an answer because I had become so focused on what my applications wouldn't have that I forgot what my applications would have. </p>
<p>I forgot about my extracurricular involvement, volunteering, leadership in and outside of school, close relationships with teachers, writing skills, people skills and unique interests and talents. I forgot that while I didn't have as high of grades and scores, I deserve to go to a selective college. Until last week, when I found out that I got into Grinnell College and Oberlin College. </p>
<p>CC members try to quantify the admissions process as much as possible. This helps members determine which schools are reaches, matches and safeties, but only to an extent because there are some things that cannot be quantified - like personality and leadership, for example - and some things can't be quantified by the measurements used most often in college admissions. </p>
<p>The things that can't be quantified and the the things that can't exactly be quantified are what got me into two of my top choices, Grinnell and Oberlin. My financial need is currently be re-evaluated by both colleges ( it turns out that my parents did make an error on the FAFSA; the FAFSA's formula also made some "errors" and wrong assumptions, too), but I hope to attend one of these schools. And I know I'll succeed because I have the potential and motivation to. I'm glad two of the schools I've always liked were able to see this.</p>
<p>To recap:
With a 29 ACT, 3.6 uw GPA and a class rank in the top 25%, I was admitted to Grinnell, Oberlin, Beloit, the U of Wisconsin and the U of Minnesota- Twin Cities. I was wait-listed at Macalester. </p>
<p>Grades and test scores are really important in college admissions, but other factors (message me if you have specific questions or want to know more about me) can speak much louder. If you don't know if you should apply to a college you love because your grades & scores are in the bottom 25% and you have unique interests, talents and activities, GO FOR IT. If you sense that there's something special about you, there probably is, so don't ride it off quickly -- the right college will take notice.</p>
<p>K peace. Again, feel free to message me with questions.</p>