Why did I only fall in love with my reaches?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Ok, so currently my list of colleges to apply to is as follows: Yale, Pomona, WUSTL, Haverford, Tufts, Wesleyan, U of R, F&M, Muhlenberg. I've visited all of them (except F&M, which I'm seeing soon) and my favorites are Yale, Pomona, and WUSTL. Yale is the prettiest, Pomona seems to have the nicest people, and WUSTL was nice all around, but I've heard their pre-med is super-competitive, which really isn't me. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>Academics:
GPA: 3.9 UW (~96%), 4.15W
Rank: 1/208, fairly competitive public
SAT: 790M, 740CR, 740W 9 Essay -- 1st take, not doing it again
SAT 2: Math I: 770, Lit: 710, Math 2: 800</p>

<p>Awards:
Top Math & Science Student (grades 9 &10)
Top English Student (10)
A bunch of science fair awards
$60,000 Rensselaer scholarship recipient</p>

<p>ECs:
Tennis Team (9-11)
NHS (11-12), Tresurer
NSHS (11-12), Vice President
Project Harmony (9-12)
SADD (9-12), Officer
NAHS (10-12)
Chess Club King (10-11)
Ski Club (9-12)</p>

<p>Volunteering:
~100 hours at nursing home
~20 hours tutoring</p>

<p>Edge (?): I really like art, was in a few exhibitions, and I went to MICA's precollege in Tuscany this summer, not sure how much this really matters though</p>

<p>Also, I'm currently in the process of writing a novel, I was self-publishing and ordered a proof, but I really need to improve it if I ever want someone to consider buying it.</p>

<p>Thanks ahead of time!</p>

2

<p>Other than Yale those aren’t reaches. Yale is never a sure fire acceptance for anyone but you definitely have a chance. Your Ec’s might be a little low for some of your schools but your academic numbers are enough to make up for them. Also who am I to talk? My stats don’t match yours academically. They aren’t even close :frowning: </p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/745706-chance-native-american-things-have-changed.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/745706-chance-native-american-things-have-changed.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>if princeton review gives it a 99 selectivity index, i have trouble labeling it as anything other than a reach…</p>

4

<p>I’m thinking of applying to Pomona ED – would that significantly help my chances?</p>

5

<p>bump…</p>

6

<p>bump again…(?)</p>

7

<p>Yeah, Yale will be definitely a reach, gpa and sat are good, but there are no really outstanding EC’s that you need for top schools like Yale</p>

8

<p>Ok, discount Yale from this point on, because I know that it’s a very big reach. How about my other schools, especially Pomona ED.</p>

9

<p>I think you have a good shot at Pomona, esp ED. You’re also really competitive for WUSTL. The rest you should more or less have no problem with. Good luck with your reaches!</p>

10

<p>You have a reasonable chance at Pomona and WUSTL ED. I would reconsider retaking the SATs though, especially with score choice. a 9 essay combined with the 710 lit and median CR (for Pomona) will probably be of concern there. Especially if you’re from a well represented state.</p>

11

<p>Here’s the thing: I really doubt that I’m going to raise any score except probably my essay, because I basically did 60 points higher in CR and Math than on any of my practice tests. I really hesitate before re-taking because although there is the chance I will improve (I could probably get an 800 in math and a 10/11 on the essay), I think it’s more likely that my score will be something like 700 CR, 740 M, 720 W 11 essay, and I really don’t want that to show on my transcript. Do you think my 9 in writing will (by itself) hurt my chances?</p>

<p>Oh, PS I’m from Pennsylvania, not quite sure if it’s overrepresented, but I’m guessing that it probably has a fairly sizable presence.</p>

12

<p>Your SAT scores are great; they are good enough to not discount any school, even the Ivies. The Ivies are always iffy though, since everyone who applies has great scores. I would say you could easily get into any of those schools besides Yale. I also think that as long as you have amazing essays and great letters of recommendation, Yale is not out of reach.</p>

13

<p>Personally I would say that Yale isn’t completely out of the ballpark, though still a reach, I wouldn’t discount the possibility of an acceptance.</p>

14

<p>Being ranked first is going to give you a shot at every school you apply to. The EC’s are a little thin, but academics are more important. Very good shot at every school, but obviously Yale is a toss-up for anyone.</p>

<p>Chance back?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/748621-chance-ivies.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/748621-chance-ivies.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;