Swarthmore, Wesleyan, Reed, Vassar - Razor's Edge or Chopping Block!?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm trying to determine realistically whether I have a snowball's chance in hell of getting into the following colleges (particularly Wesleyan). Please tell me if my applying to these colleges would be ridiculous. Any suggestions are very welcome, and I'll be sure to act upon them.</p>

<p>2 Questions:
1. I only took 2 years of Latin (Latin's the devil). Will the admissions board see this and throw my app out (where for example, Vassar "Requires" 3 years Foreign Language)
2. Do I have to take 3 SAT2s? Should I take a third SAT2 (history), or take the SAT 1 again to try to improve my score?</p>

<p>Here's my short list:
---------------Av. Verb.-----Av. Math
Swarthmore---715-----------710
Wesleyan------700-----------690
Reed-----------700-----------660
Vassar---------700-----------675</p>

<p>My SAT I:
Verbal--700
Math----610
Total----1310</p>

<p>My Sat II:
Verbal---780
Math-----600</p>

<p>GPA:
3.8 W, in top 10%</p>

<p>AP:
History, Econ, English w/ 4s and 5s</p>

<p>Extra Curricular:
4 years Speech and Debate
-Quadruple Ruby (1000 forensic points)
-4 Letters
-Page long list of trophies
-4 week UTNIF debate camp @ Austin Texas
-I judge novice debate tournaments for community service
NHS
Earth Club
Progressives Club
Idaho Boys State
-Elected Supreme Court Chief Justice
Mock Trial
-Outstanding Witness Award
Student Rep. to district Hon./AP directors board
Idaho Business Week
-1st in PowerPoint competition (I've won every PP Comp. (5) i've been in)
8 years of classical guitar lessons
9 years of soccer
-team captain
-high school district champions
Certified Life Guard
Designed corporate web site
-<a href="http://www.blaketrailers.com"&gt;www.blaketrailers.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Thanks So Much!</p>

2

<p>If your school only has 2 Latins, then I don't think it will hurt you. Yes, you need a third SAT II, because they require them. Your math scores are pretty low but your GPA is good. But being from Idaho shold help out and definately being a guy at Vassar would help out. If those are the schools you want, go for them. It can't hurt.</p>

3

<p>I'll be blunt, those schools won't look too kindly upon your SATs. To be competitive at Swarthmore, you're looking at a 1450+ SAT and top 2-3% of your class. Not to say they don't accept students with lower SATs (their average for accepted students is ~1450, though) but you'd really need to impress them with something else <em>big</em>. I was accepted to Vassar with a 1400 SAT (white male) but rejected at Swarthmore. If you can break 1400 on your next SAT I (if you can take it before app deadlines) I'd say you have a shot at Vassar, Wesleyan, and Reed. I'm thinking Swat isn't even worth the app fee...</p>

4

<p>Concerning Vassar, you're just outside of the middle 50% SAT I score range. So you might want to retake that, also, if you want to apply to Vassar, it's required that you have 3 subject tests, so you have to take a third one. Vassar recommends that you have 3 foreign language credits, and since you don't meet the minimum you won't be as competitive as others who have taken 3 or more foreign language classes. You still have a chance, but you should also looking at LACs that aren't as difficult to get in.</p>

5

<p>enviroman: if you were accepted to swat, would you still have gone to vassar?</p>