Worried QuestBridge (Swarthmore) Applicant (any response would mean the world to me)

Applying to College
1

<p>I know that the "what are my chances" threats are pathetic, but i am desperate. I will wholeheartedly appreciate anyone who reads this and gives a sentence or two respond. Even a blurb will mean the world to me, really.</p>

<p>For the record, I will not apply to any of the Ivy leagues.</p>

<p>I guess i will start with the stats that i have right now:</p>

<p>Academic:
APs: Spanish Lang (4); English Lang (3); US history (3); AP Physics C Mechanics (5); AP Stats (5)
GPA: 3.7; 4.31 (top 17% as of right now)
SATs: Critical (470); Writing (500); Math (720) Physics (630)
Awards: AP scholar w/ distinction and couple stupid ones (All state academic team for swimming, distinguished physics and math student)</p>

<p>.... and that is all...</p>

<p>Now, by the time i send in the application:</p>

<p>Classes senior year (all AP... desperate attempt to increase GPA): English Lit; Chemistry; Biology; Spanish Lit; Calc BC; US Gov.
SATs: Crit(min 610); Writing (min 620); Math (about same) Spanish (800) Math II(700s)
GPA: 3.73/4.67 (i have already calculated my future GPA for the first semester)... def top 10%</p>

<p>EC: (will for the most part remain unchanged)</p>

<pre><code> Gay-straight alliance founder and president (activism for me is HUGE)
Senior class treasurer, sophomore class president (remember, in different schools... my good looks and the fact that my sexuality is not obvious have helped tremendously)
Academic Olympics team captain 3rd place in regionals)
Young democrats co-founder and president
Varsity Swimming
Earth Club
Love to read philosophy (this is another passion that i have)
</code></pre>

<p>by the way: i wish to do engineering.</p>

<p>Now:</p>

<p>Possible hooks (help me with this!): URM, single mother home, income=23k, first generation to go to college, mom is unemployed, 4 people live with me, first generation immigrant, never got an A before 9th grade (i now find out that i had difficulty meeting state standards), i have had to basically educate myself through high school (there was a time where i had to complete a whole semester's-4 classes- worth of work in 29 school days. i got all B's); i have attended 11 schools-4 of which were in my HS years.</p>

<p>I feel extremely frustrated when people who have SATs above 2000 complain. Getting a 720 in math for me was a big deal (considering i wasn't meeting state standards in 8th grade... 30th percentile vs. 98th in state in 3 years). I have constantly been screwed over: my mom's divorce *<strong><em>ed everything up and when i came out to her afterwards she shipped me to Colombia. I had to get a girlfriend to convince her to bring me back to the states. (again, *</em></strong>ed)</p>

<p>Anyways, My dilemma is the following:</p>

<p>My education is, by far, my most important concern. I will be taking more APs my senior year that anyone in the history of my current school has ever attempted. My time for filling out applications will be severely limited. I fear that if i spend too much time applying to schools that might not even accept me, my grades will drop and everything i have worked so hard for will fall to a million pieces (my meager accomplishments keep me from dropping out of HS). </p>

<p>--------->Should i even bother to apply to schools like Northwestern, Berkeley (out of state), Swarthmore and Carnegie Mellon?<<<--------------</p>

<p>I have enough drive and passion that if i divided it evenly throughout humanity, world peace would probably follow. I have tried SO hard, i really really have. Ignorance and illiteracy are not easy things to break away from.</p>

<p>My story is a sob story, i know this, but that's my life.</p>

<p>Again, i truly appreciate ANY comment. An please remember: honesty and criticism is what i am looking for.</p>

2

<p>You are a truly unique applicant, so I'm not really sure how to "chance" you. If you do get your SAT up to where you say you will, you will have a much better shot. For example my friend, an African-American, got a 1750 on his SATs and got into Brown, Swarthmore, UChicago. Of course this is just one case, but you still have a chance. You should also get help from Questbridge(I think they offer help right?). You should definitely look into the financial aid programs at your colleges, although I'm nearly sure that you wouldn't have to pay anything. If so, apply early decision to Swarthmore. Again, you're a unique applicant so don't compare yourself with others. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>hawkphoenix:</p>

<p>thank you so much for your response. This isn't the first night negative thoughts have kept me up.</p>

4

<p>It's nice to see other Questbridge applicants on here; congratulations with what you have made of your situation. Personally, I believe you have a fairly decent chance with the College Match. Are you a College Prep scholar? List the other schools you plan to rank.</p>

5

<p>Don't underestimate your in-state school and your community college. Though they wouldn't be my first choice, I wouldn't dismiss them either. You can get a quality education on the cheap at a CC and transfer in later.</p>

6

<p>Congrats on your many accomplishments, personal and academic.</p>

<p>Because you are an unusual applicant, I think that the advice to talk with the folks at Questbridge is especially solid. Also, make sure that your GC knows about your background in detail, so that his or her letter will reflect the context of your accomplishments.</p>

<p>I want to suggest that you post on the parents' board to ask for suggestions of colleges, and also for help with strategies. </p>

<p>Finally, if you wanted to study for the SAT's a bit more, and even try the ACT, that could be nothing but helpful. But your math/science scores on the SAT and AP's are going to show colleges that you have some impressive academic strengths, and your essays will demonstrate your ability to communicate and express yourself well. You may well have a shot at schools that your overall SAT scores might not suggest; if I were you, I think I'd get a waiver for application fees and then cast quite a wide net. Good luck!</p>

7

<p>I think you have a good shot, but nobody's guaranteed to get into Swarthmore. What's ridiculous about it all is that even if your chances were incredibly slim, you would probably apply anyway, so it really doesn't matter what your chances are. It's one of those things that people usually do because they want comfort. You should just apply, and if you get in, that's great, and if you don't, well, there are plenty of other grade-A schools that'll love to have you.</p>

8

<p>Thanks for the responses</p>

<p>Well, right now, I think I'm going to go something strategic:</p>

<p>For the college match program, i will only rank Swarthmore (they require only a small supplement, no common application like other colleges). But i will forward my application to Columbia (Engineering College), Northwestern, MIT, Stanford and Penn just in case i do decide to apply for regular admissions.</p>

<p>This will allow me to increase my SATs, GPA, take the ACT.</p>

9

<p>Swarthmore has been putting on a huge push to recruit URM applicants. Last year they actually sent out a letter or email to URMs <em>after</em> the application deadline inviting them to apply!</p>

<p>I don't understand your strategy of only ranking Swat. There are plenty of other superb schools on the Questbridge list that I'm sure you would be happy to attend. </p>

<p>The Questbridge application comes out over the summer--August, perhaps? I'd advise you to knock yourself out working on it and its MANY essays before school starts. That work can be transferred to Common Apps and others if Questbridge doesn't work out for you.</p>