<p>SAT breakdown:
Overall 2310
800 CR
730 M
780 Writing</p>
<p>That's my superscore. My highest individual score is 2260 with the same scores in CR and W but 680 M.</p>
<p>My GPA is 3.58 UW/3.74W/around the 25th percentile. My school doesn't offer AP's to freshman and only 1 to sophomores. I took the single AP offered in soph year and then 2 out of the 3 offered Junior year. I'll be taking 3 more AP's senior year. Nearly all my classes which haven't been AP have been Honors.</p>
<p>-EC's-
- I've been volunteering at the local children's hospital for three years and serve on the Volunteer's Council with 10 of my peers. I've accumulated about 150 hours of service at the hospital.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>I'm a member of the Transition Project at my school, in which a group of select upperclassmen council freshmen in groups throughout the year. The selection process was rigorous, including a recommendation by a teacher and an interview.</p></li>
<li><p>I attended the Washington Workshops summer seminar during the summer of my sophomore year.</p></li>
<li><p>I have been a member of the track team for 3 years and will continue to run during my senior year.</p></li>
<li><p>I served on my local congressman's election campaign during the 2008 elections.</p></li>
<li><p>I am a member of the Young Democrats at my school and serve on the executive board. I've been in the club since my freshman year.</p></li>
<li><p>I am a member of the Academic Challenge team at my school.</p></li>
<li><p>I started the Financial Investment and Analysis club with a friend.</p></li>
<li><p>I have worked over the summer at my local pool as a lifeguard since sophomore year. This takes up a HUGE amount of my time, as I work 8 hours a day 5 days a week.</p></li>
<li><p>I attend a highly ranked public school which is nationally recognized.</p></li>
<li><p>I have two excellent recommendations from teachers.</p></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<p>I've decided it's time to broaden my spectrum of possible schools and not focus solely on the big national universities. I'm not familiar with many LAC's, so your suggestions are really appreciated!</p>
<p>You have really good stats, and I think you have a good shot at many, many LACs.</p>
<p>Northeast: Amherst, Williams, Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, Vassar, Bard, Wesleyan
MidWest: Macalester, Beloit (more of a safety for you), Carleton, Oberlin
West: Reed, Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Pitzer</p>
<p>Try to figure out what region of the country you like. I’m also looking at LACs and I found one of the most helpful things is visiting. Even just try to visit LACs that are close to where you live, preferably ones in different types of locations like one in a big city, one out in the middle of nowhere. It can give you a good sense of what you like in terms of location. Location really does become really important for picking LACs because many of them are basically…not in cities. So you have to decide how OK you are with that, and go from there.</p>
<p>And think about size. Most LACs are under 2000, but there are a few that are bigger than that, so if you really want that, that will narrow your list significantly.</p>
<p>I would look into Wash U, Emory, Michigan and Vanderbilt. All are popular with New Jersey students. The GPA is on the low end of the average but the SAT score is good. If freshman grades are lowering your GPA, that would enhance your chances at Michigan which looks and the sophomore junior year grades.</p>
<p>Top LACs in or near an urban area and east of the Mississippi: Vassar, Swarthmore, Haverford (latter two are suburban). If you are willing to drive for 35 minutes to get to a city-Bowdoin </p>
<p>If you were willing to cross the river, then Pomona and Macalester</p>
<p>Unholy, your problem is your GPA and class rank. Based on the results of a kid I know who had your precise SAT scores but a higher GPA and class rank, I would say that Williams and Swarthmore are big reaches for you unless they are particularly taken with your ECs. I would look to great schools that are a tick less difficult an admit, such as Bates, Haverford, Macalester, et al. Look below that for safeties. If I were you, I would do some research in the Common Data Sets to see how class rank plays into admissions at each school. If 90% are in the top 10%, you know you have a problem. It doesn’t mean don’t try, but be realistic. But aim for a straight A first semester senior year.</p>
<p>I was in a similar situation. I had a 32 ACT (~2100 SAT) and was at the 20th percentile of my class with a 3.6W GPA (4.2W). With similar if not “better” off EC-wise.</p>
<p>I ended up with over $19,000 in merit scholarships at Beloit College and so far am loving it.</p>
<p>I was rejected from Bowdoin and waitlisted at Kenyon, Oberlin, Grinnell and Macalester.</p>
<p>If you are not in the top 10% of your class and you are not an athlete or URM then I think that nearly all “top 25” LACs will be big reaches. However, there are tons of LACs I think are better or as good. I would never trade what I have at Beloit now and go to my top choice (Grinnell). I feel challenged, but not over stressed and the environment is wonderful. I know people who actually chose Beloit over Wesleyan, Bowdoin, Grinnell and Carleton to come here.</p>
<p>Schools like Beloit may lack the prestige and prowess of its peers, but I promise you will not lose anything by going to a school like such.</p>
<p>Here are smoe schools you should consider that are fantastic academically, that are more under the radar.</p>
<p>Beloit, Knox, Lawrence, Whitman (still a small reach for you), St. Olaf, Hampshire, Illinois Wesleyan, Earlham, Occidental and many others. Most of these are in Colleges that Change Lives, a book I think you should definitely give a look!</p>