So Swarthmore is My Top Choice; Do I Have a Chance?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Swarthmore College
1

<p>Hey guys! As of right now, my top choices are between Brown, Swarthmore, and Wesleyan and the reason I didn't apply to any of them Early Decision is strictly financial. Do you guys think I have a fair chance at making it into Swarthmore's Class of 2014? I hoenstly have to say; Swarthmore's application is the one I've spent the most time on, and I feel like my "Why Swarthmore" essay is easily the strongest point on my application. If anyone who has a son/daughter or isn't applying to swarthmore this year would like to read it, please tell me and i'll pm it to you!</p>

<p>Sex/Race: Male
GPA: 4.77 Weighted, unweighted 4.0/4.0
Rank: 7/769
SAT: 2170 (740 CR/ 680 M / 750 W)
SAT II: 790-Chinese / 720-US History / 680 Biology-M / 700 Math II
AP's: US History (5) Psychology (5) World History (5) Biology (5)
Current APs include AP Econ, Gov, Spanish, Calc AB, English
Classes taken: All honors</p>

<p>Activites/Extracurriculars/Awards</p>

<p>-Leo Club (Volunteer Club)- Member all 4 years, secretary 11th, president 12th
-Medicine Club - Member 3 years, vice president 12th
-Energy Club - Co-founder/co-president
-Chinese Corner - Founder (tutor college students who're learning chinese every saturday morning)
-NHS - Member 11th/12th
-Math Honor Society - Member 11th/12th
-Spanish Honor Society - Member 11th/12th
1st Place Regional Winner for AATSP 2009 Spanish Essay Contest
Bronze Award for 2009 National Spanish Exam
-Elementary Language Program - teach elementary schoolers spanish for 10 weeks
-Kumon Math & Reading Tutor (paid job)
-Private Chinese language tutor summer 2009 (paid job)
-Summer@Brown 2008 Participant
-Neuroscience Camp 2009 (all-expenses paid camp)</p>

<p>Thanks for any opinions!</p>

2

<p>I’d say you have a good shot for sure.
(We have the same SAT score :smiley: )</p>

3

<p>Yes. Though certainly not a sure-shot.</p>

4

<p>I’ve heard diversity is pretty important at Swarthmore so consider that as another factor.</p>

5

<p>I give you an 81% chance.</p>

6

<p>really good chance
your SAT IIs are reallly good
and not many 17 y o can speak Chinese hah
I’m applying too! chance me? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/822983-sex-drugs-2.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/822983-sex-drugs-2.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>I suppose he is Chinese…</p>

8

<p>I’d personally guess that you have a decent shot, but Swarthmore’s admissions seem to be nothing if not highly unpredictable.</p>

9

<p>In case of :(, some who like Swarthmore also like Carleton, Grinnell, Oberlin and Reed.</p>

10

<p>Thanks for the input again, guys.</p>

<p>I have an interview with a Swarthmore alumnus next week!</p>

11

<p>Although admissions to Swarthmore is highly unpredictable, I think you have a good chance. Hope your interview goes well!</p>

12

<p>Although your class rank, GPA, and SAT aren’t really that high, Swarthmore definitely puts a lot more emphasis on extracurricular activities and essays, so that may help you.</p>

13

<p>Don’t mean this in a rude way but what has the OP done EC wise that is anything out of the ordinary?</p>

14

<p>@MyBLsflHrt: Just curious, but what makes you say that the unweighted 4.0 GPA isn’t that high? I don’t think you can do much better than perfect.</p>

15

<p>Yes, but his weighted GPA isn’t that high, considering we have several 5.0s at our school.</p>

<p>I think these ECs are quite impressive:
1st Place Regional Winner for AATSP 2009 Spanish Essay Contest
Bronze Award for 2009 National Spanish Exam
Elementary Language Program
Neuroscience Camp 2009</p>

<p>Not exactly out of the ordinary, but at least there is some kind of focus.</p>

16

<p>I see the first two as awards, not ECs. And Neuroscience Camp and Elementary Language Program are interesting and probably were very enriching, but I wouldn’t call them impressive.</p>

17

<p>Neither would I. However, you never know who they will accept. I’m applying too (just in case I’ll get lucky…)</p>

<p>SAT I: 2120 (690/750/680)
SAT II: 800 M II/ 770 WH</p>

<p>GPA: equivalent of 4.78 W</p>

<p>not many ECs, (Scouts, Chess, few others) but some academic achievements:</p>

<p>2nd place in national round of Eurorebus (along with 5th, 9th and 11th place in other years)
3rd place in national round in Mathematical Kangaroo (last year)</p>

<p>3rd place in regional round of Mathematical Olympiad
1st place in regional round of Logical Olympiad (organized by MENSA)
1st place in regional round of Mathematical Kangaroo three years out of last four
advanced to regional round in Physics, English</p>

<p>Prior to 9th grade:
I have participated in History Olympiad (Only one in our region who participated for 3 years in row, because it is only for 7th and 8th graders)
2nd place in regional round of Geography Olympiad
Several achievements in Maths…</p>

<p>Sport - I forgot to mention it in my application, but I have won regional round in High jump competition for HS students…</p>

<p>I dont think I have much of a chance but maybe I’ll get lucky.</p>

18

<p>You look like a really promising student, I wish you luck in applying.</p>

<p>Also, props for presiding over the LEOs. I didn’t know anyone else on here who did. Gives me hope. ;P</p>

19

<p>What are “LEOs”?</p>

20

<p>Keep in mind that the reason people consider the admissions at any school to be unpredictable is that most folks overemplasize the importance of the concrete data (grades, scores, ECs) and underappreciate the importance of intangibles in selective admissions. An applicant with these numbers but average recs, average essays will fare poorly, which seems surprising and “unpredictable.” Outstanding essays, interview, and recs with a few key phrases tip things in the other “surprising” direction (‘How did that person get in and not me when my SATs were higher and my rank was ahead of theirs?’). Admissions to state schools is a science; admissions to selective colleges leans towards “art.”</p>