small-school valedictorian evaluating chances at high-caliber schools

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I vowed I wouldn’t post a “chance” thread a long time ago, but, alas, I have given in. My school is incredibly small and I don’t know if schools will assume that I’m just a “normal-sized fish in a teeny, tiny pond”. Though it’s small and doesn’t offer AP classes, my school is rigorous. I feel I’m just as prepared as my friends who go to larger schools, but I don’t know that colleges will be able to identify that.</p>

<p>Caucasian female, class of 2009
34 ACT, 1 of 70 class rank
4.0 unweighted, 4.26 weighted
Exhausted my school’s college credit course offerings: Calculus, Chemistry, Theatre, Biology, Western Civilization, Liberty and the Law, and English.
Haven’t yet taken the SAT IIs, though I plan on taking Biology, Chemistry, and US History
I love writing and have won multiple awards for it. </p>

<p>*Vice President of my state’s thespian society (an elected position for which I had to deliver a speech in front of an audience of thousands. I am now in charge of planning my state’s thespian conference and leadership summit), 2008-2009
*President Student Council, 2008-2009
*Vice President Student Council, 2007-2008
*President Thespian Troupe, 2008-2009
*Vice President Thespian Troupe, 2007-2008
*Winner of the International Thespian Festival Stipend
*Honor Speaker Toronto State Thespian Conference
*Speaker at my state’s thespian Leadership Conference
*NHS, 2006-present
*Bank of America Student Leaders Summer Intern at a non-profit international refugee intake organization. I’m currently in the process of creating a photo documentary of eight refugees from around the world.
*Extensive volunteer work through student council, including raising a large sum for humanitarian aid to Darfur
I worked at a girl’s clothing store for a year, then as a busser in an Italian restaurant for a year.</p>

<p>I love photography, theatre, politics, and am an avid reader. I’m not entirely certain what I am majoring in yet, but I’m leaning towards political science, international relations, and journalism.</p>

<p>My stepfather, who was my father figure after my parents divorced, died my sophomore year. I had a horrible bout with anorexia in late middle school/early high school. It was mostly related to my step-father’s illness and moving around a lot, but I am now, thankfully, recovered!</p>

<p>I have three wonderful teachers who’ll be writing my recommendations. Each of them have been like parents throughout my high school career and are well aware of the trials I’ve been through.</p>

<p>The colleges I’m interested include, but aren’t limited to: Harvard, Yale (grandpa attended), Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, Pomona, Wellesley, Barnard, Carleton, Claremont McKenna, Vassar, Wesleyan, Williams, Amherst, and U of Chicago.</p>

<p>My safety is the University of Missouri-Columbia (for journalism).</p>

<p>Please asses my chances at these schools!
Thank you.</p>

2

<p>Tell us more about your school. Is this a public or private school? What kind of community do you live in? There’s a big difference between Lower Western Iowa High School and Fancy Massachusetts Private School.</p>

3

<p>Excellent Chances at all!</p>

<p>You seem like the type of person that Harvard, Yale, etc. is looking.</p>

4

<p>My school is a public school in a major metropolitan city in the Midwest.</p>

5

<p>looking solid!!! Since you don’t have APs…i suggest taking 4-5 SATII tests in different areas to display your all-round academic ability. (just a suggestion) although cant you take AP exams anyway, even if your school doesnt offer the course? (im international, so pardom me if its a stupid question)</p>

<p>as i said…i think you look great… HYP are reaches for everyone, but I think you would make one of them.</p>

6

<p>well most schools don’t even care about AP scores until you get in and your lack of AP courses is balanced by your “college-level” courses but you should take some extra SAT IIs just in case.. and make them varied.. you might want to try literature and maybe a language test??</p>

<p>other than that you are looking great! you should also apply to carnegie melon</p>

<p>good luck! :)</p>

7

<p>If your courses really are college-level, you might want to take some AP tests. You can wait and take them after college admission decisions, but they might help you with placement in college.</p>

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<p>I think you have a good chance below HYP and maybe in at Yale with legacy.</p>

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<p>Could you please classify these schools as safeties/matches/reaches?</p>

<p>I have a bit of trouble viewing the college admissions process in shades of gray… gray signifying matches.</p>

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<p>And also, are you actually considered a legacy when you have a grandparent who attended?</p>

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<p>anyone?
hahah oh wow. Now I understand what “10char” means.</p>

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<p>You should probably take math II if interested in Stanford.</p>

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<p>You might want to add Georgetown, as you can apply EA.</p>

14

<p>Wow. I just realized I wrote “asses” instead of “assess” in my first post. Haha. That’s surely not Harvard/Yale material!</p>