What are my chances of getting into ...

Hey! I am a rising senior who wants to apply to UChicago, Princeton, Northwestern, Yale, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Tulane, Colorado College, and Duke. I have a few safety schools as well. My top two are UChi and Princeton.

I am a white female in a western state. I have attended a highly ranked arts school since sixth grade with a focus on creative writing. In college I will likely major in history, economics, or international relations, with minors/certificates in English or creative writing.

Test Scores:
1st time taking the SAT: 730 reading/writing, 760 math
2nd time taking the SAT: 780 reading/writing, 700 math
(1540 superscore)
SAT Subject Test in US History: 800
APUSH test: 5
AP Human Geography test: 5
I just took the AP Lang + Comp, AP World History, AP US Gov + Pol, SAT Subject test in Math II, and SAT Subject test in World History. I am expecting high scores (4 or 5 for APs, 700-800 for SAT subject tests).

I am ranked first in a class of 204. I have gotten an A in every class I have ever taken.

I have taken these AP classes: Human Geography, US History, World History, Language and Composition, and US Government and Politics. Next year I am taking Calculus AB, Spanish Language and Culture, Literature, and Art History.

When I graduate, I will have 4 years of Spanish. I will have taken 5 years of social studies courses (all AP) by the time I graduate but only 3 years of science (biology, chemistry, physics, all honors). I skipped algebra 1 and have taken geometry, algebra 2, and pre-calculus, all honors, and I will be moving onto AP Calculus…

I have competed in a nationwide history competition since I was in seventh grade. I have advanced to the national level 3 times (8th, 10th, 11th grade) and won 1st place at every regional or statewide competition I have participated in since 8th grade. My favorite topic was restrictions on chemical weapons in the 20th century.

A paper I wrote for the previously mentioned competition was published in a journal done through the competition. I have won numerous awards in the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition for several pieces, including a silver medal at the national level. I have also won several writing awards at the local level and received an honorable mention for a podcast competition run by a national newspaper. I write mainly poetry, poetic prose, and creative nonfiction. I am an avid reader.

I play Ultimate Frisbee for another school in my area, and have since fall of my sophomore year. I also have had a part time job (roughly 20-25 hours a week) since the beginning of my junior year.

I have also held many leadership positions. I have been an elected representative of Student Council since 8th grade. I was a member at large during my junior year and next year I will be treasurer. I was a junior representative for my school’s National Honors Society, and I will be president next year.

I was accepted into a highly competitive international summer camp for the summer between my freshman and sophomore year. I was one of the few selected to return for a second year the following summer. I also do a lot of work with this organization and am co-chair of the chapter for alumni in my state. I run admissions and help select the campers my state will send each year.

One of my parents attended Northwestern, and the other attended Colorado College.

Questions: Where am I most likely to get in?
What are other colleges I should consider applying to? —> Liberal arts schools with especially good programs in history/international relations that are likely to give good scholarships.

My GPA unweighted is a 4.0 and weighted is a 5.133 on a 5.2 scale.

You have a shot at all of them, but they are all unpredictable. Aside from U. Of Chicago and Princeton, find 2-3 more on your list to show intense interest in, and then find a safety or two that you can also love from day 1. I wouldn’t put Yale and Columbia in the “intense interest” column in terms of getting a leg up, though, for obvious reasons. For the others I do think it will help you if the institution thinks it is likely that you will accept their offers of admission, but expect only a limited amount of help. I would say your legacy at Colorado College will be of great help in admissions. Best of luck to you!

My top three are Princeton, Northwestern, and Columbia. I love the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton, and I’ve heard their campus has great opportunities for creative writers. I also like the location and social scene.
Northwestern’s economics department is a huge pull, and I love that they are part of the Big 10. I love the idea of being close to Chicago. I also really like the flexibility offered by the quarter system.
Finally, I am a big fan of the core curriculum at Columbia. I love the idea of small, discussion based classes and reading important, famous literature in a setting that encourages critical thinking. I love the location and opportunities provided by New York City.

I would do a full court press on Northwestern, in addition to Princeton and U. of Chicago. Your background is wonderful and you would be a great asset to Northwestern. For Duke, Yale, Dartmouth and Brown, put your best foot forward because your scores get you into the running and your ECs are solid so you never know. Colorado College is a strong possibility for you. Tulane is a strange bird. If you show them interest you will likely get in. If you don’t, you likely will not. I would base the decision to apply accordingly. What are your “safeties,” if there is such a thing anymore?