WANTED: Advice. Thoughts. A Chance.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<hr>

<p>Here goes:</p>

<p>Gender-female
Location-deep south
Status-rising junior
High school-private</p>

<p>Freshman year: </p>

<p>Biology-A
Honors English-B
Geometry-B
World History-B+
Honors Spanish III-B+
Chior-A</p>

<p>Sophomore year: cue the jaws music. </p>

<p>Chemistry-B
Honors English-B-
Algebra II-B
AP European History-B+
Honors Spanish IV-B
Theater-A</p>

<p>Junior year: (can only provide course load)</p>

<p>Anatomy
AP English
Pre-Calculus
AP Us History
AP Spanish V</p>

<p>Senior Year: (again, can only provide course load)</p>

<p>AP Chemistry
some form of calculus
AP Government
AP English Lit
AP Spanish VI</p>

<p>*My high school is quite challenging, much more so than your typical public school. Crazy block schedule with hour and a half classes. A ton of work. single-sex. Few "As" are awarded. We may not take Advanced Placement courses until the eleventh grade. European History was an exception. Grades listed are, thankfully, unweighted. All of our classes are technically "honors"and will be listed on my transcript(even those not designated here) as such. Classes listed above as "honors" are accelerated honors courses. Grades are printed unweighted. GPA is listed weighted (as on transcript). </p>

<p>Test Scores (haven't taken SAT/ACT)below predictions based off sophomore psat)</p>

<p>Math-will probably be upper 500s to mid 600s
reading- 700+
Writing-700+</p>

<p>Awards:
2nd place overall writing competition.
Honorable mention writing competition
Finalist for guest editor position with national magazine.
honor roll, high honor roll</p>

<p>Community service: summer reading program at library- 100+ hours.
Teaching Spanish to elementary students.
Will begin volunteering at hospital this year. </p>

<p>Main Extra-Curriculars:</p>

<p>Newspaper (9th-present)
Literary Magazine (9th-present)
Yearbook (9th-present)
Student Council (10th)
ultimate frisbee (10th-?-will likely continue)
International Thesbian Society (9th-present)
Miscellaneous clubs requiring minimal time commitment. </p>

<p>Just for me:
Guitar(9th- present)
piano (6th-present) </p>

<p>Summer: </p>

<p>summer@brown
Art classes
summer reading program</p>

<p>Honesty, please. Carleton is at the top of my list. I absolutely Love the idea of being surronded by a bunch quirky, bright, unprententious kids in MN, all while reaping the benefits of a top notch academic program. Suggestions, concerns, and questions are all welcome. I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Enlighten me.</p>

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<p>Even though you have quite a bit of time left to be worrying, your resume is excellent so far. You definitely have a good shot, I would just suggest that you really try to bring up that math SAT, because that’s definitely a weak point. Keep up with all of you activities, especially ultimate frisbee since it’s your only sport. Since your passion is in writing, I would enter as many writing competitions as possible, maybe try to get some articles published in a local or other newspaper, maybe consider working on a novel, but publishing that is much more difficult. Good Luck!</p>

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<p>The List: (complete)</p>

<p>-Carleton (most likely early decision)
-Reed College
-Tulane University

  • Kenyon College
  • Hamilton College
  • Colorado College
  • Sewanee
  • Whitman College
  • Grinnell College</p>
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<p>Thank you, Sirensong!
I am working to get as much exposure for my writing as possible. Like you said, not being a jock, I’m glad I have something to advertise…It’s kind of my “hook”, as they say.
What do you think about my grades…kind of my main concern. {gulp}</p>

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<p>Just make sure that your junior grades are good, and you should be ok. Note, though, that I’m basing your chances off the assumption that you are somewhere near the top of your class. If you’re top 10% or somewhere around there, I don’t think you’ll be held back too much by your grades.</p>

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<p>Sirensong, </p>

<p>I’d say I rank (an estimation, as our school doesn’t publish class rankings) in the top 15%. Certainly no worse than the top twenty- after a really bad week. Top 12-15%, really, is probably the most accurate.</p>

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<p>Carleton (most likely early decision)-reach(assuming your SAT scores, youre gonna need a higher math score)
-Reed College-reach(raise math score)
-Tulane University-In

  • Kenyon College -Match
  • Hamilton College-Low reach
  • Colorado College -Match
  • Sewanee -In
  • Whitman College-In/Match
  • Grinnell College-Reach(raise math score)</p>

<p>Please chance back</p>

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<p>You have a good shot at all those schools. Carleton may be a bit of a reach compared to the rest, but work on improving your SAT score and keeping your grades up. Good luck!</p>

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<p>I agree, Carleton is your biggest reach but you certainly have a good shot at all. I suggest taking the ACT to see how you fair their versus the SAT. As you can see schools may have higher SAT’s but lower ACT’s than one another and vice versa. Best of Luck!</p>

<p>2008 Data:</p>

<p>Carleton College
Test Name High Low Avg.
SATCombined:1,490 1,310 1,400
ACT Composite:33 29 31</p>

<p>Grinnell College
Test Name High Low Avg.
SAT Combined:1,450 1,230 1,340
ACT Composite:32 28 30</p>

<p>Hamilton College
Test Name High Low Avg.
SAT Combined:1,450 1,300 1,375
ACT Composite:31 26 28</p>

<p>Reed College
Test Name High Low Avg.
SAT Combined:1,470 1,290 1,380
ACT Composite:32 29 30</p>

<p>Tulane University
Test Name High Low Avg.
SAT Combined:1,420 1,260 1,340
ACT Composite:31 28 29 </p>

<p>(Know that Louisiana students are guaranteed admission to TU with a 28, so the required ACT for OOS is slightly higher)</p>

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<p>In case it’s not clear, the High and Low numbers above are the 75th and 25th percentile points, resp.</p>

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<p>Anyone else?
Thanks:)</p>

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<p>Thanks, Welles10. Would you all say a target SAT score (math section only) is a 650+? I’m not actually horrible in math- just not “I plan to wire the next Mars rover”- good. But, really, a 700 is still wishful thinking…Hopefully, I can pull a 675?! More realistic than a 700, but with a coveted “7” in the score haha.</p>

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<p>I can only really help you out with Carleton, as I’m from Minnesota and know the school well. As of now, its definitely a reach…but (as annoying as this might sound) its really hard to tell before junior year. If you can get spectacular grades Junior year theres no question you’ve got a good shot.</p>

<p>My brother applied to Carleton a few years back with similar grades (if not a bit higher…mostly A-'s and B+'s) and his father went there. Got a 30 on the ACT. He got rejected. </p>

<p>But of course that was just one case. Also, I wouldn’t make the assumption Carleton kids are unpretentious…just because the school’s in Minnesota. If you want a truly unpretentious school I would go for St. Olaf College, right across the street in Northfield Minnesota. Its a great school. Not only would you have better chances of getting in, but most people I know would definitely describe them as quirky, bright, and unpretentious far more than Carleton.</p>

<p>Sorry for the long post. Hope I helped :)</p>

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<p>Thanks bsmdncechick23…</p>

<p>You think, even applying ED- and not requesting aid- Carleton would be a reach?
Also, I’m from TN- geographic diversity?!
It is really difficult to have a life and make As at my school…If I’m in the top 15%, grades aside, might I still have a shot? What is your definition of spectacular? If this helps, my weighted GPA is a 4.4 (generous weighting, I know- but really, it’s a testament to the difficulty of the school)</p>

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<p>Anyone else?</p>

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<p>Emmm, cannot say much till after junior year. Just pull up that GPA and test scores</p>

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<p>anyone else?! I will chance back :)</p>

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<p>Anyone want to revive this thread?</p>

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<p>Hi, I haven’t checked this in a few days, but apparently,this thread has been pretty life-less. Anyone want to contribute? I WILL chance back. Specifically, within twenty four hours. Just copy and paste your link:)</p>