What level of selectivity should I go for?

I started the whole college-searching thing recently and I’m not really sure of what type of school is within reach. My parents think that I should look at second-tier liberal arts (ie, Mount Holioke 52%), which I think is about right. I’m going to be a junior this year; here’s a list of my credentials…

GRADES (very competitive, top ranked school with CP or AE classes the equivalent of other schools’ honors ~ apparently colleges know this ~ AE is accelerated/enriched and it’s between CP and Honors)

-UW GPA 3.611, W GPA 4.000, going to try to get it to ~3.7-8/4.2.

Freshman
-English 1H: B
-Earth Science H: B
-Algebra 1AE: B+
-World history AE: B
-Spanish 2H: A
-Ceramics 1: A
-Ceramics 2: A

Sophomore
-English 2H: A
-Biology H: B-
-Geometry AE: B
-US his/gov 1AE: B-
-Spanish 3H: A
-Chinese 1 (unleveled): A+
-Drawing and Painting: A

-This year, I’ll be in English 3H, Chemistry AE, US his/gov 2AE, algebra 2AE, Spanish 4H, and Advanced Drawing/Painting.

-I estimate that I’ll take AP Spanish 5, AP English 4, AE precalc, and Jr./Sr Portfolio (art class) as a senior. There are a lot of science and social studies options and I’m not sure.

EXTRACURRICULARS
-Figure skating for half my life
-Chinese school (will do this year)
-Member of school’s art/literary magazine
-Member of Crochet club freshman year
-Assistant editor of a newsletter for kids with celiac disease
-Wrote a few articles for my school’s newspaper

HONORS/AWARDS
-Presidents volunteer service award bronze (freshman)
-Presidents volunteer service award gold (sophomore)
-Presidents volunteer service award silver (probably will get this year)
-Some level of ^ as a senior

(I’ve volunteered at at least 10 different places)

I’m planning to enter some Spanish essay contests or maybe an art contest this year. I really want to go on some type of exchange program to a Spanish or Chinese speaking country next summer.

My practice SAT scores this summer were math 650, English 720; probably will increase after being in algebra class for a little while. I think I will take the English Literature and Spanish subject tests, and possibly Chemistry depending on how I perform in the class.

And I’m biracial, so I’ve heard being a minority helps…?

My top colleges change every day, but at the moment, I’m very into Bryn Mawr (38%). There are some schools like Haverford, Bard, and Vassar that seem amazing but have lower acceptance rates. And then there are the widely ranging early decision rates…? I’m so excited for college but really don’t have a sense of selectivity/chances. Definitely want a liberal arts school so that I can take as many languages as possible with the more flexible curriculum (leaning towards translation career).

People on here seem to be really knowledgeable and helpful; I’d really appreciate any replies :slight_smile: Opinions?? Thanks for reading this!

I don’t think any of the parents, alumni or students on College Confidential can really answer any ‘chances’ question with authority. An admissions officer might be able to advise you, but even then, admissions are holistic and there are no guarantees either of acceptance or rejection based on any isolated data. That said, based on statistical ranges alone, you can look at the colleges in a book like the Fiske or Princeton Review guides, or look on the colleges’ websites or Common Data Sets. If you are in the middle 50% or higher, you know your stats are similar to those of other successful applicants.

Yes, the still-all-female Seven Sister schools are top colleges with slightly better admissions odds than some other top schools. Based on the schools you already like and your interests, you might also consider Goucher, Dickinson, Skidmore, and Macalester.

Good luck in your search!

If you love a particular school, Early Decision will improve your odds a little.

Focus less on the “tier” of the school, and more on how your stats compare with that of the schools.

Try the the College Super Match feature on the home page of this website.

Not all minority types “helps”. You might get an admissions boost for being an UNDER-represnted minority (black, hispanic, native american). You might get an admissions ding for being an OVER-represented minority (asian).

Be advised that some colleges calculate your GPA and some may not include Art.
What is your financial situation? Getting into a college is one thing, affording it is another.

You should apply to at least 2 colleges that meet these requirements:
(1) Your stats put you at or above the 75th percentile of their freshman class profile.
(2) Their admit rate is 60% or so.
(3) You know you can afford it, whether because your parents can pay full cost or the college offers an automatic merit scholarship, or you’re very poor and the school meets full need, or your family’s finances are uncomplicated and the NPC produces a manageable figure.
(4) Last but not least, you are willing to attend if other possibly more-desirable-in-your-eyes schools don’t pan out.

As long as you have 2 good “safeties” you can shoot for the stars with your other apps. There are many excellent LACs in the Midwest that are a little easier to get into and that are pretty generous with aid.

Thanks for the replies!

Have you played around with the SuperMatch tool on the left panel of this page? Good luck