<p>Just wondering - how can a 4.0 junior year (nice job!) turn your UW GPA into a 3.8, if your fresh/soph years were weaker? I’m basing this off of a vague memory that some frequent SAT forum poster (perhaps not you) said his fresh/soph GPA was <3.5. Did you take more classes junior year? </p>
<p>The things that will work against you: your rank and GPA as you know, but it depends on the context of your high school. Have you looked at some data to see how you stack up against past applicants from your school? </p>
<p>If Duke is your #1, then go ED. As far as I’ve heard, ED makes a big difference for good, not perfect GPA/ high SAT applicants (I also fall into this group). </p>
<p>Overall, chances from other high school students are fluff; I’m sure you know this, and add to the fact that Yale is a super-reach for all unhooked candidates… just apply but don’t let those Yale e-mails and booklets carry your hopes up. :P</p>
<p>I took 10 classes junior year as opposed to 7 in freshman and sophomore years; additionally, I took more weighted courses in junior year than in previous years. </p>
<p>What about William and Mary? I’m also looking into liberal arts schools. I don’t want to compete with everyone taken the beaten path, so that’s why I’m also looking into liberal arts schools. Which liberal arts schools am I safely “in,” and which ones are slight stretches?</p>
<p>Oberlin, Connecticut, Wesleyan, Vassar, Bowdoin and Davidson are all possible. But LACs can be tricky, especially because they’re small. I had a very qualified friend get rejected from Wesleyan and I’ve heard of many people getting rejected from Bowdoin but accepted at Ivies. It’s worth exploring them, though. I think you’re out of the Williams/Amherst/Swat/Middlebury range, but you never know.</p>