what scores would I need with these hooks?

Applying to College
3

<p>MindOnMars12, be sure to look at the Common Data Set - section C - for every college on your list to determine (1) what factors are most important to them, and (2) how your stats fit into their freshman profile. It’s easy to find them by Googling, e.g., Common Data Set Bowdoin College = <a href=“http://www.bowdoin.edu/ir/images/cds2010-11.pdf[/url]”>http://www.bowdoin.edu/ir/images/cds2010-11.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>This shows you that for Bowdoin:</p>

<ul>
<li>the 25-75% SAT range begins at 1970 (but they are, as you noted, test optional)</li>
<li>GPA and rank are “very important,” and 83% of freshman are, like you, top 10%</li>
<li>they don’t consider volunteer or work experience</li>
<li>they also don’t consider demonstration of interest, so no need to worry about making a visit or taking alternate action to show interest in their school</li>
<li>your essay and teacher recommendations are “very important”</li>
<li>your first gen status seems more interesting to them than your race</li>
</ul>

<p>You get the idea. You can make yourself crazy nit-picking each piece of the puzzle. You are wise to realize hooks alone won’t carry you. You have a lot of great things going for you that are the result of your hard work in the context of those background factors you can’t control, and that’s what colleges like to see. Yes, you need to get those test scores up as best you can. Beyond that–you are very articulate, which suggests your essays will be one of your strongest pieces. That’s good, because an essay that knocks their socks off can be the tipping point, plus an essay is something that is totally within your control vs. a standardized test. So dedicate enough time and creative energy to preparing your “personal best” prose…the longer your college list, the more essays, short answers and personal statements you will write! Hopefully, you have a good editor in mind to read what you write and help you refine it. </p>

<p>Did you investigate Questbridge? (I realize you are going for Posse–fingers crossed!–but if they aren’t mutually exclusive, or Q could be a back-up, you should check it out.)</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>