<p>I know, everyone is sick of these "chances?" threads, but I'm really curious if my son is out of his league at Colby.</p>
<p>Public High School, Boston suburbs, Top 10% (school only reports ranks by decile, but GC told me he is 6th percentile)</p>
<p>GPA:
Weighted (+.5 for honors) All classes: 3.95
UNweighted core academics only: 3.47</p>
<p>SAT:
V 740
M 630
W 710
retaking in November</p>
<p>Coursework:<br>
4 years math (9 & 10 honors, highest class Intro to Calculus/coll prep)
4 years English (11 & 12 honors)
3 years History (9, 10, 11 honors)
4 years lab science (10,11,12 honors)
4 years Spanish (9 & 10 honors, 11 & 12 AP)
3 years phys ed/health
electives - band 9,10,11,12
Economics AP - 12
1/2 yr Contemp Iss Honors, 1/2 yr Sociology Honors - 12</p>
<p>Significant Extra-curriculars:
Eagle Scout, several leadership positions in Scout Troop
National Honor Society
CYO Basketball</p>
<p>i'd also call it a good chance. Eagle scouts look good to adcoms, SATs seem appropriate, andcourses look good-- with a good essay, good interiew, and good recommendations, he should be fine.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. We know not to count on any school that only admits 1/3 of its applicants, but it feels better to know we're not crazy for applying there. What a beautiful campus!</p>
<p>The fact that he has strong verbal scores very much works in his favor. His GPA is a little low, however, so his focus should be on stellar grades his senior year and this semester in particular. An upward trend is always impressive when many of his colleagues will be hit by senioritis!<br>
If I were to choose between the school work/getting top grades versus retaking the SAT, I would definitely focus on the school work. His SAT range is very respectable and I am not sure it is worth retaking if it will dilute his attention away from getting top grades.
If he really loves Colby, he should go ED: last year, ED I students got in at the rate of 50% versus 31% in the regular decision cycle. And with Colby getting more national attention (the new Ivies business) admissions are sure to be even more competitive this year.
On a final note, getting in touch with the school and interviewing is very important as well, Colby likes to size up its candidates and figuring out the fit through the interview. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you! He has scheduled an interview for Nov.</p>
<p>S has 4 schools he really likes, so has wisely decided not to go ED. It may reduce his chances to go RD, but that's honestly the best choice for him. Colby is probably his "reach-est" school.</p>
<p>October progress report -- B+ in AP Spanish, all else A's! </p>
<p>What's worrying me is the essay. He has a rough draft that needs MAJOR reworking, or he's thinking he should get a new topic, but doesn't know what it should be. He's really dragging his feet on it. But he's doing so well with his schoolwork that I should probably get off his case about it!</p>
<p>a good way to write an essay, i find, is (on a night without much homework), to take a pen and notebook, find a quiet comfortable corner, and just start writing.
i have never written as well or as creatively as when i did not have a computer infront of me to distract me.
tell him to try it
and the essay is not something to procrastinate on
it could be the thing that decides whether he gets in or not</p>
<p>He re-wrote the essay and it's vastly improved. Still needs a little polishing, but I think it's going to be ok. Kept the same general topic, but shifted the focus.</p>