Stats for a Reach

<p>My son is applying to Wesleyan and we consider it a reach. Here are his stats. GPA 3.4 , Rank 77/451<br>
SAT M 620 W700 CR760
US Hist. 700 World Hist. 720 AP Hist. 4
2 AP classes(school doesn't offer many) 5yrs. of French
Key Club,Presidential Candidates' Club, All sorts of Music: band,marching band,orchestra,pit orchestra and jazz ensemble. Boy's State<br>
Wes is the top choice but it looks like a crapshoot at best. Any comments?</p>

<p>Wesleyan is definitely a very high reach for your son, but one never knows at any school. I read in a book about a football player with a 2.9 GPA that got into Harvard.</p>

<p>I'd call it a reach, but not so "high". It could go one way or another...</p>

<p>I'd call it a reach, but not so "high". It could go one way or another... Some on CC seem to have a penchant for coronating themselves ambassador to the school to which they were admitted this past December... Take what you read here, everything you read here, with a grain of salt. We're not AOs, just neurotic teenagers/parents/students.
Your son's math score is a little low, but I hardly think that's a black mark. His rank is probably average for Wesleyan and his activities are not terribly distinctive, but contrary to popular belief, not all admitted students spend afternoons and weekends tracing oncogenes. It is disgusting for me to say your son looks like a sound if undifferentiated student but such is the nature of the process. If he had an interview and if his essays reflect something special about him, I'm sure Wes/other schools to which he is applying will recognize this.
Many of us, myself included, "look better on paper", and still, Wesleyan is a crap shoot. Unfortunately most of us are qualified for so few spots. Good luck to your son (and the rest of us)!</p>

<p>PS- Sorry for the partial double post.</p>

<p>froghorn, I unfortunately have to disagree with you about many things. For instance, the rank and scores are below average for Wesleyan, though his activities certainly are not lacking.</p>

<p>Thanks for the feedback. I think my son is in the part of the applicant pool where you need some luck. He had a good interview and I thought his essays were good. Given the quality of the pool I'd be the first to agree that he hardly seems distinguished. There will be easy acceptances and easy rejections and not enough room left for everybody else. I think he's in with "everybody else". We'll just keep our fingers crossed</p>

<p>I totally agree, "he's with everybody else", which is to say, he is a talented, smart kid whom Wes would be lucky to have... Hopefully he'll get that chance.</p>

<p>I think his GPA and not being in the top 10% of the class will hurt him, though his math SAT score could be overlooked. Definitely a reach - though a possibility. But best of luck to him, at Wes and all his other schools! :)</p>