<p>Son has just finalized his list for RD applications. His SAT scores had risen sharply in October, which made it possible for him to look at some schools that he hadn't considered before. Once he had researched and read, he realized the school he most wanted to add to his list was Swarthmore. He is applying to Chicago EA, and, while the two schools are not identical, there are things about the intellectual climate at Swarthmore that are similar to Chicago (although obviously Swarthmore is a LAC!) The only problem is that he hasn't gotten to visit the campus and there were no reps sent to his high school so he hasn't attended any information session. </p>
<p>His basic stats are these:<br>
Sat I - 800 cr, 710 m, 750 w (1510/2260);
Sat II -US Hist. 780, World Hist. 770, Bio-E 720;
AP's US Hist 5, Bio 4, Eng Lit 4 (AP scholar). Will be taking 3 more in the spring.</p>
<p>96.5 gpa UW (school doesn't weight); very small private school that doesn't officially rank but profile will show he is at the top of his class based on gpa.</p>
<p>Also a participant in several summer science programs including Research in the Biological Sci seminar last summer at U Chicago where he earned an "A" and 6.6 credits. Has a reference from the prof.</p>
<p>Very solid ec's but nothing national. Heavy into theater (8 productions), flute (started the first instrumental group at his school), creative writing, and community service. </p>
<p>Most rigorous schedule the schools has. (Now in Adv. Physics II, Adv. Calc, College Composition, Adv. Hebrew, Great Works, Jewish Hist, Jazz Ensemble)</p>
<p>Is it going to be a problem that his prior contact with the school has been so limited? He has been getting mailings from them for some time but it was only with the increase in the SAT scores (up from 1350/2020) that he could add another reach to his list. As he's looked closer at his list, there are a lot of things about Swarthmore, he finds very appealing.</p>