Scared...my chances at Barnard?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Barnard College
1

<p>Hi! I’m looking for some feedback on my chances at Barnard. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>17 year old Jewish white female from Albany, NY. </p>

<p>SAT: 1520 (730 V, 790 M)
SAT II: 790 Writing, 720 US History, 720 Math IC (hoping they don’t look at my two Math IIC scores of 630 and 640)
GPA: 3.8 unweighted at extremely competitive public high school
School does not rank, presumably in top 10% though</p>

<p>Classes taken: AP Calc, AP US History, AP World History, Advanced Chemistry, Advanced Spanish, Biology, Earth Science, Pre-Calc, 1st chair alto saxophone in Band, Choir. </p>

<p>Senior classes: AP Statistics, Physics, Economics, Participation in Government, Contemporary Literature, Expository Writing, etc.</p>

<p>I know my class schedule doesn’t look super impressive but I basically took every honors/accelerated class I could. My school doesn’t offer a ton of APs and the only ones I haven’t taken are the ones in sciences and AP English (I’m just not a science person…)</p>

<p>AP Scores: World History-5. US History-4. AB Calc-2 (long story here…my teacher got very sick and left school so all of our AB Calc classes had no teacher for about 3 months, leaving us all screwed for the exam. 75% of students in my class got 1 on this exam. An explanation of this situation is being included in my guidance counselor’s report). </p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
12 years piano lessons
5 years alto saxophone lessons
3 years voice lessons
Started internet business in early 2003, current revenue exceeds $10,000
Some summer acting programs
Community service at local library
Temple “Mitzvah Day”
Raised over $200 for local human society through sale of plants
School Yearbook Committee
Student Council
Saxophone Quartet
Marching Band
Job at Local Dog Groomer
Summer Theatre Productions</p>

<p>National Merit Commended Scholar (1370 PSAT)
Johns Hopkins Talent Search State Award Winner
Selected for All-Area Choir
NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) competition grades of 98 and 99 on soprano voice.
Participant in several other invitation only voice-competitions
School High Honor Roll every quarter</p>

<p>Probably some other stuff I can’t think of right now as well…</p>

<p>Essay is about my love for tuna fish (weird I know)
Recommendations from Chemistry, AP US History, and Choir teachers</p>

<p>Also, 6 other girls from my school are applying to Barnard! I think 5 of us have a legitamite shot…so I’m very nervous. Please give opinions!</p>

2

<p>I assume you applied ED and, if so, you sound eminently qualified to me!</p>

<p>Just out of curiosity, where else are you thinking of applying?</p>

3

<p>No, I am applying regular decision, that's why I'm scared because I know I have less of a chance. I am also applying to:</p>

<p>NYU
Boston U
George Washington U
Columbia
Tufts
Northwestern
Georgetown</p>

<p>Any thoughts on my chances RD?</p>

4

<p>Weird, I had that EXACT same thing happen with my calc class in high school. Without the benefit of the explanation to colleges, though.</p>

5

<p>Primefactor-
That is weird! That teacher ended up retiring, but not before totally screwing up an entire year of calculus classes. Anyway, any thoughts on my chances for admission? I am absolutely in love with Barnard, having just visited this past weekend. Thanks for any input!</p>

<p>Kiki</p>

6

<p>kiki81ny, I just checked the stats at my d's school's website--it shows the history of applications and results at each college. Three students with stats like yours applied RD to Barnard and all three were accepted. Hope that helps!</p>

7

<p>xtx-
Thanks so much for your help! That gave me a lot of confidence; I'm just so nervous about all of these other people from my school applying there, and Barnard is definitely my first choice school. The only reason I'm not applying ED is because financial aid is an issue and I need to weight my options after acceptance letters come.</p>

<p>Again I appreciate your input!</p>

<p>Kiki</p>

8

<p>Any more opinions? Please!</p>

9

<p>You're being silly; your application lacks nothing. Unless all of your teachers secretly hate you and wrote you terrible letters, you're probably in. Barring some fluke in the mysterious admissions office, or something you're not telling us.</p>

10

<p>Primefactor-
Thanks for the vote of confidence, I just know that my extracurriculars are not super stellar and I have heard that Barnard cares less about test scores than other top schools. There's nothing I'm hiding; no school suspensions, no F's on report card, no criminal record, etc. I'm just an insanely stressed out high school senior who is in love with this school.</p>

<p>Anyway, thanks for your opinion, coming from a Barnard student it is very valuable to hear you think I have a good chance.</p>

<p>Kiki</p>

11

<p>Sure, Barnard cares more about that stuff than test scores. But it takes its share of "number people" (e.g. me). Other than Academic Team and NHS and stuff like that, the only thing I was involved in was some community theater and drama club (pres.). Your music and voice stuff is way more impressive and dedicated than that; don't sell yourself short.</p>

12

<p>Prime-
I'll try not to :-) Thanks for your comments!</p>

13

<p>kiki-
why didnt u apply ED? Your chances would have been that much better</p>

14

<p>Because financial aid is a concern and I need to see if I get a great scholarship anywhere else I applied. Otherwise I probably would have applied ED.</p>

15

<p>xtx,</p>

<p>would you be able to give the website that lists the acceptances/rejections? There are lots of colleges for which I'd be interested in seeing the statistics. Thanks.</p>

16

<p>dadnj, The website is tcci.naviance.com. It's a service the individual high schools subscribe to so that students can compare their stats with alums from their schools in order to determine matches, safeties, reaches.</p>

17

<p>I've really, really started regretting not applying ED to Barnard because even though you guys say I'm qualified I feel really shaky about my prospects for admission. I want to go to Barnard so badly and I feel like I made a really bad decision by not applying ED. Any encouragement for RD chances? I know you've all already said everything but I am feeling so stressed out and miserable right now that anything you can say will help. Thanks.</p>

<p>Kiki</p>

18

<p>I can say that if you're that enthusiastic about Barnard, it probably came through on your application and in the interview. Don't underestimate how much that matters--every school wants to build a class not only of grades, SAT scores, and extracurriculars, but of people who will be happy, active, and thriving there.</p>

19

<p>Kiki,
I feel you. I've been pretty angsty with the not knowing, and feeling that I haven't done enough and all that i can to show my interest. Ever sicne I've been on CC, the stress level has sort of elevated because I can't stop thinking about it. But since I've taken a miniature break from it, for a brief time I had relapsed back into my lackluster "non-colelge" mentality.</p>

<p>Primefactor,
please tell me, is it an absolute "no" for anymore local interviews? Ok, i'm still not over it.</p>

20

<p>Saysua-</p>

<p>Ugh I hate feeling like this. And I haven't even sent in my Commonapp supplement yet because I keep thinking it's not good enough and revising it again and again. I've also decided to send in a CD of me singing so I hope that will help. Either way it's going out on Monday, Priority Mail, and from there it's out of my hands. I'll be praying for both of us! :)</p>

<p>Kiki</p>