<p>I love Smith College, and it is my top choice. I can't apply ED because then I can't compare financial aid packages. </p>
<p>I really don't know what my odds of getting in RD are, but if someone can give me an estimate I would really appreciate it. </p>
<p>I have taken a very rigorous course load all 4 years of high school, but I am a B average student. I have a very strong ACT score and rec letters from teachers who really like me. I am really proud of my common app essay and I think it is very reflective of the type of person that I am.
I also have a lot of EC's but one specifically that I dedicated a lot of time to since 8th grade. </p>
<p>Basically, I'm nervous because my GPA is not perfect by any means. Will this diminish my chances of getting in?</p>
<p>Can you give us specifics on your GPA? “B Average” could cover a wide range of numbers. </p>
<p>Smith admissions officers will tell you that the first thing they look at and look for is transcript. Not just the grades however, what kinds of courses you’ve taken, whether the trajectory is generally upwards or downwards, all of these have an affect. Of course, grades matter as well. It doesn’t mean you have to be a straight-A student, but it can help. </p>
<p>Does Smith still publish it’s median GPA for the entering class? That’s a good place to start, and check and see if your GPA falls within their median range.</p>
<p>When I say B average I mean about 3.2 UW and 3.7 W. </p>
<p>I don’t think they publish GPA but my ACT score is above the median, if that helps at all?</p>
<p>I think Smith would rather a student get a B average in challenging courses then breeze by with an A average in all easy courses. They really want to see that you took advantage of as many difficult courses as you could. I think you have a great chance :)</p>
<p>Well, the answer to the commonly asked question “Is it better to have a B in an AP course or an A in a regular course” usually is “it’s better to have an A in the AP course.” </p>
<p>But just evaluating your strengths and weaknesses as you are a tricky one to chance. Yes, it’s good that you took challenging courses, obviously several APs if your weighted GPA jumps up that much. Having strong ACTs will also give them another data point to go off of (besides grades) to show that you are a student with a strong foundation, though perhaps in a challenging environment. Having a dedicated EC may or may not help. I mean, it always helps to have passion for something (both in college admissions and you know, life). How much it helps from an admissions standpoint kind of depends on what it is, particularly if its unusual. Either way, having the good ECs definitely gives another data point. </p>
<p>The weaknesses are obvious, the ones you’re already worried about. Your GPA is not particularly high even though your environment is challenging. Also, your ACT scores might be good, but test score are heavily de-emphasized in Smith admissions. It’s good, as I said, to give as many positive data points as possible, but strong test scores can’t entirely close the gap when it comes to a weaker transcript. </p>
<p>So basically, you lose nothing by applying. Definitely go for it. Your application has some weaknesses, but it has some strengths as well. You are not a shoo-in and I doubt you will qualify for merit aid, but you definitely have a chance and I think you should reach for it. We’re not admissions officers around here and can’t say with absolute certainty your chances anyway, but that’s my frank assessment of what you have going for you. Keep up the good work and keep getting strong grades.</p>