<p>Im really sorry but this is another chances post -- stop reading if you are fed up. Okay if you are still reading that is good. I've been told that Swarthmore is a major reach for me so I've been kind of putting it on the backburner, but I have nothing to base it on other than hearsay. So can I have some advice
GPA 3.63
Rank 17/422
SAT M 690 CR 740 W 800
SAT II Lit. 740 US His. 640 World His. 670</p>
<p>ECs: Great for the most part, awesome volunteer work
Awards: Less than 10 :( none national
Recs: Outstanding, so outstanding my teacher called me at home to tell me how outstanding it was
Guidance Rec: Very good, 2 pages long, wrote what I told the guy to write
Hook: VERY low-income (poverty-level). Is this even considered a hook at Swarthmore?</p>
<p>a) Yes. Your socio-economic status would be a plus at Swarthmore. </p>
<p>b) Your SATs are about mid-pack for Swarthmore, which means they will be viewed positively given a) above.</p>
<p>c) Your class rank is solid and certainly in the ballpark.</p>
<p>d) Your volunteer ECs will be a big positive, again especially so viewed in light of a) above.</p>
<p>You don't give your gender or ethnicity, so that makes it harder to pin down your chances. And, it is really tough to make predictions without knowing how effectively you communicate a good fit for Swarthmore. All in all, I think you have a realistic shot, which is all anyone can really ask for.</p>
<p>My Ec's are
Theater (leads in numerous local and professioanl theaters with excellent newspaper reviews)
Volunteer Work (work at a women's and childrens shelter every week for three years, part of International High School Mission where high school students travel to third world countries to bring aid, numerous fundraising endeavors)
Math Team (Founder and President)
A plethora of other odds and ends but those were the main ones</p>
<p>I am caucasian and female, nothing really interesting there.
Oh and my essays are quite good I believe (I am a published writer as well)</p>
<p>nothing major, just a stupid contest that publishes a book of its winners. I just wrote a random poem and essay, but I really do write well.
By the way, don't be nervous about your chances in looking at my sub-par stats, try going to the Harvard forums. MAN, talk about intimidating!</p>
<p>College Confidential students consistently put too much stock in the power of "stats". Don't get me wrong. Stats are important to get your app in the good pile, but they aren't typically the deciding factor at schools that have more good stats than they can handle. Read through the acceptances and non-acceptances in the Columbia forum this week for examples.</p>
<p>Yet stats shouldn't be UNDER-emphasized. Because straight-As at my jr high then jr college in 9th grade translated into mid-class at my very tough charter high school in 10th, my parents automatically assumed I was still in the running for a top-college out of high school. I would give something significant to have been told back in 10th grade that I needed to be looking below top-10 colleges... But yeah, I'm tired and argumentative. You're in the running for Swat, original poster.</p>