rising senior; What are my chances at top tier schools/ ivies?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I am going into my senior year and was curious for outside opinions in my chances of getting into my top choice schools. Also would love to know some good idea for safety schools. Thank you!!

Here are the schools I am looking at:

Match/reach:
Georgetown (coach interested in recruiting)
Williams (coach interested in recruiting)
University of Chicago (coach interested in recruiting)
UC Berkely

Reach/goal:
Yale (interest from coach, though I am definitely not a top recruit)
Harvard
Brown

Gender: Female
Ethnicity: White/jewish

GPA: 3.9 (on a 4.0 scale)
ranked in top 10% of student body
received award for outstanding community service

SAT: 2160 (730,730, 690) super score, I know not the best-retaking in fall and working hard to get it higher (should I try ACT?)
PSAT: 215
SAT II in English: 740
SAT II in American History: 690 (retaking)
SAT II in Math 2: 690 (retaking)

AP/Course load:
sophomore year: AP European History
junior year: AP American History, AP Physics
senior year (going to take): AP Physics, AP English, AP Calculous, AP 2D Art

EXTRACURRICULARS:
Varsity swim team since Freshman Year
Team Captain for 2016
Team is Section Champions 3 years in a row
State Championships Qualifier and ranked top 25 in individual events

Club Swim Team
Team Captain for 2016
National Club Athletic Association Junior National Championships qualifier and attender
Speedo Sectionals qualifier

2016 Editor in Chief of school Magazine
freshman staff writer, sophomore section writer

Creator and president of Beach and Ocean Protection Club
founded sophomore year
put a lot of heart and soul into this club-created beach clean ups in my area

Volunteer after school to help less fortunate children with homework at nearby elementary school

Summer:
Lifeguard
Attended Yale swim camp
** THIS summer I am volunteering at the Hillary for America headquarters in Brooklyn** (want to major in diplomacy/government)

2

You’re very competitive for admissions. Are you OOS for Berkeley?

3

Your SAT is on the lower end for UofChicago, Brown and especially Y and H. Are you being recruited a swimmer? I think that potentially that could be your biggest hook, and would assist in distinguishing you from other applicants. Otherwise I would say it would be a strong reach for all of the Ivy schools, but less so for Williams (it being a competitive even in the best of situations).

4

Yes, I’m from NY

5

thanks for the help! Yes, I am being recruited for swimming. I’ve met with the coaches of Williams, Georgetown, Amherst, Yale, and next weekend meeting with UChicago. While I am not a top recruit, they are interested and are staying in contact with me

6

bump

7

Just to clarify, while 2160 would be on the lower margin for admitted applicants at these schools, it would be a score in which, as a recruited athlete, would place you squarely in the mix.

8

If I were to apply w/o being recruited (to one of my reach schools), would I still have a decent chance? Also, do you think it is worth giving the ACT a try? Thanks so much boolaHI for your help, it is really informative!

9

@Rachelemma I think you should stick to retaking the SAT, as it seems like you already know the test well and scored a pretty good score! Also, question about Hillary for America – is it a place you go to a headquarters in Brooklyn to do? Sounds interesting! (I’m looking for more stuff to do in the summer haha)

10

thanks for the help! I actually contacted them because I was interested in interning but they told me there is a law saying you can’t be under 18 and intern and they sent me the info to volunteer instead. def check the website!

11

My daughter was a recruited athlete at Y, and got in with a SAT just slightly higher than your own–I think her ACT was either 33-34. For many, my daughter included, the ACT tends to have a tad higher score.

12

wow! congrats to her. I think I am going to take the ACT as well just to see if I do better. I really loved Yale. The coach only recruits 6/130 girls each year so crossing my fingers.

13

bump

14

I’m inclined to agree with all the others. Have you calculated your UC GPA? It’s probably competitive, but you should figure it out in order to assess your chances at Berkeley (spelling it correctly on application would help, also). They are very GPA-focused, and have imposed a cap on out-of-state admissions for next year. I suspect you’d already know if Berkeley is interested in you for its swim team. Overall, I’d say that swimming is your greatest hook for admissions. You might want to explore some smaller, D-3 colleges as back-up choices.

15

Can you afford to be full pay at Berkeley?

16

^ UCB gives some FA to OOS students depending on their EFC.

17

Whoops, didn’t mean to spell it incorrectly. Unfortunately UCB is literally the best swim team in the US, it is where a lot of Olympians train. However I don’t think it’s a top choice for me, I really like the east coast. Do you have any recommendations for safety schools? I was thinking maybe something in the NESCAC league.

18

bump

19

UPDATE: I met with the coach from UChicago and I am a top 3 recruit…If I chose I could practically guarantee admission. Thoughts?I’m really torn between trying to get into Yale or Harvard early action with no recruiting (which would therefore not allow me to be recruited by another school) and just going with UChicago…would love some help. :slight_smile:

20

UChicago is a great school. Do you really want to throw away a guaranteed admission there for slim chances at Yale or Harvard? And have you talked to the coaches at Yale or Harvard about walking on for the swim team? I’m not really sure how swimming works lol but I’m kinda in the same boat as you as I’m trying to get recruited for basketball. Good luck though!

Chance me?
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1793536-what-are-my-chances-at-the-top-schools-what-is-realistic.html#latest