<p>Hello all parents. I understand that there is already a chances thread in which I could post this information, but that area is often frequented by individuals that sometimes are simply misinformed or aren't able to give an accurate enough depiction. Keep in mind, I am a student entering my senior year. I completely understand if you choose not to respond, I am simply trying to get a broader view of where I stand in the process from the people who have already gone through it.</p>
<p>White Male from Northern New Jersey</p>
<p>95 GPA, top 10%
8 total AP courses through senior year, self-taught both AP Economics in junior year</p>
<p>SAT 2260 (780m,720v,760w)
SAT II 740 History, Physics and Math 2c pending</p>
<p>Peer Leadership
Varsity Debate, Captain Junior and Senior Year
Varsity Indoor and Varsity Outdoor Track, 2 years
9 years of piano, including Carnegie Hall performance
Merrill Lynch Internship
NHS, FNHS Officer
Business Club President
West Point Ethics Conference</p>
<p>Yale-EA
Williams
William and Mary
Colgate
Rutgers
Princeton
UPenn
Lafayette</p>
<p>Right now these are the colleges I'm considering applying to. If anyone thinks I do not have a realistic chance of getting in, or I need to tweak my list, please let me know.</p>
<p>Again, thank you for taking the time to read and possibly respond to my post. I look forward to any responses you may have.</p>
<p>I think you have a nicely balanced list. I would want you to be sure to "demonstrate interest" in the schools which serve as your safeties (Lafayette, Colgate...). Sometimes outstanding students get Denied or Wait List from these schools if they feel you are using them as a safety.</p>
<p>btw, is your 95GPA unweighted? If so, does your school weight and what is your weighted GPA?</p>
<p>Are you wide open on what fields you might study/major in (which is fine)? If you have fairly definite plans, you might mention that as it might help for suggestions of other schools to consider.</p>
<p>Looks great. Write a good essay. For Yale and Princeton you really have to stand out, so think about some personal quirks or challenges you've faced or interesting takes on life, or . . .</p>
<p>Although I assume that it is your safety, if you can get into the top 5% of your class, wiith your 1500 m & v SAT you qualify for free tuition, room and board for four years at Rutgers through the Outstanding Scholars Program. If you stay in the top 10%, you get $6000 off per year for four years. I believe many other NJ schools also have similar programs.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your comments. Karp, yes i know, I'm going to attempt to improve my class rank as I am in fact aware of the scholars program you mentioned. Thank you for bringing that up. In response to some of your questions, my 95 GPA is weighted, and i have an unweighted GPA of 93 due to my very difficult course load. Currently, I am looking at studying in economics. In fact, the reason I self-studied for both AP Economics tests was because I was interested in learning more about the subject while my school did not offer a course in economics. Finally, would the fact that my senior schedule required special dispensation from the principal because of our 2 AP max policy help me in the admission process? Thanks again!</p>
<p>Suggest you 1] take the SAT again in Oct- your scores will probably go up from your JR year score, just from the additional knowledge you will have obtained by then , and 2] write you essays this summer! The college application process in the fall of your Sr year is like having a part time job in addition to doing all your class work, I kid you not! The first application is the hardest to do, so start thinking about what you want to say in your essays now, especially if you are trying for Yale EA. And yes, taking the hardest courses offered at your school will be a factor in admissions decisions. Good luck!</p>
<p>sportsman, you have a balanced list. I'd reinforce what has been mentioned above and caution you not to shortchange your safeties: devote as much energy to them as you do to the most selectives.</p>
<p>Yale EA or RD is EXTREMELY selective. You have excellent credentials -- both academic and personal -- and definitely stand a chance, but there's just no guaranteeing or even predicting what will happen. Same goes for Princeton and only slightly less so for Williams.</p>
<p>Being a white male from an area that sends a lot of applications to these selective schools is your major obstacle. You can't change that so you need to concentrate on what you can control -- for example, your essays and your recommendations.</p>
<p>If you intend to participate in track on a varsity level do contact the coaches now. And by all means plan to submit a recording of your piano playing. Your music could just be the hook that gets you over the wall so don't underplay this EC. These schools have plenty of smart, articulate athletes, but not so many who are also accomplished musicians.</p>
<p>I know several white males from New Jersey who've attended W & M (and liked it very much). It's not a safety school by any means, but I think it's a comfortable match for you because you fit the profile of their OOS students and they'll like your Y chromosome, too.</p>
<p>Have you visited W & M yet? I'm fairly certain the school doesn't track interest, but a visit will tell you a lot about whether you'd feel a good fit there. I suggest writing an excellent optional essay with a creative twist. Best of luck - I don't think you're out of the running at any of the schools on your list. Nice stats!</p>
<p>The list is indeed balanced. To echo others, the essays will be key to set you apart from other qualified applicants. I would not suggest retaking the SAT. Once you crack that 1500 mark I really don't think that another 20-30 points will make you stand out. But a unique essay that ties your application together will. Spend your time on that. Good luck.</p>
<p>SAT: I don't think you need to retake in Oct. Once you hit the 1500 threshold, the extra points don't make a difference. Your time will be better spent working onapplications.</p>
<p>Your ECs are great and while you should/could get into the top schools you listed, being white & from NJ certainly doesn't help. Sad,but true.</p>
<p>Most of the schools in your list are in the top tier, then you have Colgate, and then there's a big dip to Lafayette. I suggest adding schools more similar to Colgate. It seems like you don't want to go too far away. What about Tufts, Emory, Hopkins, Columbia & Cornell (not similar to Colgate, but not out of reach)?</p>
<p>You were not clear on your intended major - is it business? I see that you have some business related ECs. If so, Emory is a good choice. Perhaps UNC or UVA (although both are very tough to get into). UMD and Penn State have good business schools and excellent honors - programs and my offer you money. Wake Forest and Boston College also have good programs. You have a shot at the top Ivies with your record, but I agree that you should find some matches and safeties to love. Good luck!</p>
<p>To clear up a few questions and concerns- I am leaning towards majoring in economics. In addition, I agree with many of you who think I should not retake the SAT- if they (adcoms) won't take me with a 1500, they weren't planning on taking me regardless of my score. In addition, I have visited all the schools I've listed, including William and Mary, and have found myself to be comfortable and all of them.</p>
<p>Question: Is it better to receive a recommendation from a teacher that taught you freshman year but you've had extended invlovement with in other activites or a teacher that has taught you more recently in junior or senior year?</p>
<p>Thanks again for your responses, they are greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Funny momrath, I was going to say that the successful NE white male EAs to Yale that I ahve known have been stand-out legacy athletes. Stand out athletes trump all has been my observation.</p>
<p>Music is the most common EA of Harvard apps--I would imagine it is also the most common among Yale apps.</p>
<p>Are you a legacy?</p>
<p>Do you have national or intl prizes in track and business--the equivalent of the Carnegie performances? </p>
<p>It is better to get the rec from the teacher who can articulate why you were among the best students in their career.</p>
<p>cheers, I agree that being a recruited athlete is at the top of the pecking order, but I don't know whether or not sportsman is on a recruitable level for the most selective schools on his list. </p>
<p>In that case I think that sports as an EC can still play a significant role at some colleges, especially when combined with academic excellence and artistic talent -- kind of a trifecta of contribution to the campus community. </p>
<p>For LACs with a strong sports characters (like the one's on the OP's list) this is certainly the case. For the super selectives like Yale and Princeton, being a non-varsity athlete is probably less of a factor, that's why I would concentrate on music as the major EC focus.</p>
<p>I am a huge sports fan, so a campus with a student body that is highly involved in sports, but doesnt necessarily have to be D1, is a big plus. As for my own athletic achievement, I will not be a recruited athlete.</p>
<p>Sportsman, I agree that the most important factor in asking for recs, is to pick people who can write fairly well, and can write you a good rec, with specifics. I think it is a good idea to play off your strengths, balance science with humanities, and, if possible, use someone who knows you both inside and outside the classroom - all that is a tall order, but the most important is someone who can write a good, specific recommendation.</p>
<p>We are going through this list building process also. So you have:</p>
<p>Yale-EA
Williams
William and Mary
Colgate
Rutgers
Princeton
UPenn
Lafayette</p>
<p>Is it fair to say that Yale, Princeton, Williams and even Penn are "reaches" just because of their selectivity?</p>
<p>Rutgers is a true safety. Can Lafayette be considered a safety?
W&M and Colgate are "matches" ? Your stats are great, but I would be a little cautious about calling Colgate a match. You have to have a worst case scenario plan! </p>
<p>So my question is, would you be happy going to Rutgers? We had a nice visit, but upon reflection we were put off by the bus riding and I am uncomfortable with the uncertainty surrounding the proposed reorganization of the colleges. Also funding of merit scholarships might be cut. My son has found other safeties that he would be happier attending.</p>
<p>NJres, the reason I am applying to Rutger's is simply merit-scholarship based. Since I would already apply for a substantial amount of money from Rutgers, I figured I should be applying there as the most safe safety. In the end, I most likely add one more safety, however I am strongly pushing to limit the number of applications I send in to 8-9, as I do not wish to contribute to the rampant inflation in the number of applications being sent in. There is simply no reason to send in applications to 15 schools if you have no intention of attending 7 of them.</p>
<p>For another saftey, consider UMD, Penn State or UDEL. All have good honors programs (especally PSU) and all give some money to top students. The honors programs also help to make the schools feel a bit smaller. All have great sports programs too - especially Penn State and UMD. THere was an article in the Phila Inquirer today on the SEVERE budget problems NJ state schools are facing in the coming years. It included reference to bigger classes, loss of scholarships, reduction in grad assts, etc. Seems pretty grim.</p>