precocious

From being around CC for about 1-2 years (since sophmore year!), I've always been anxious that my final college list is too reach-orientated and not nearly enough matches. That being said, can anyone comment on my list, and if it is a good fit for me? If not, can you mention more matches or even safties?

GPA: 3.2UW/3.7W (most challenging courseload, all honors + 5 APs whereas most take 2 APs... I know my UW is really weak, my sophmore year blew it)
Top 25%-30% of class (based upon weighted GPA)
SAT: 2200 [720v 760m 720w] -- how will bumping this up to a 2300+ help me?
SAT IIs are all > 700 (chem, math... taking lit & bio)
ACT in the fall

I also took my ECs off my "chances" thread, but just a brief skim of it will probably do -- my main concentration I'm trying to portray is that I'm an "artist", but I'm not going to pursue that as a major.

EC:
- ART PORTFOLIO. this is my passion! i plan to send a portfolio fo all my works, several of which have won interstate awards, as well as winning yearly prizes from the school. i've also been constantly in many art shows/chosen for publication, works online, etc. i can get at least THREE amazing recs, as all my art teachers love me
- COMMUNITY SERVICE. i probably do waaay more then the average applicant, lol. i have 500+ hours of work, ranging from tutoring needy kids without a good schooling system to volunteering at a local hospital, shadowing doctors, whatnot. i especially love working with children: one of the reasons i want to be a pediatrician! CC clubs i've been in are PALS (tutoring very bright kids who don't have the teachers to help them - director), MOST (charity walks and founds), SLC (school relating funding), Red Cross Club (raising funds for victims, making stuff for war veterans), etc.
- LITERARY MAG INTERNSHIP. does this count as community service? i did this for about two years, ran an entire magazine for middle school kids with my friend (professionally though, we had a supervisor). i did all the design work and layouting (more art related stuff to add to my art resume)

And finally, my prospective list... please be brutal, thanks And tell me if I've placed anything in a wrong category? Reach/match/safety, etc? I'm basing these off of things I've read on the forums, school naviance scattergrams, and the like. What are my chances also for getting into ANY of my reaches?

REACH:
Wesleyan University (ED I/II hopeful)
Tufts University
Brandeis University
Boston College (EA)

LOW REACH / HIGH MATCH:
Trinity College
Conn College
University of Rochester
Union College

SAFTEY?
Boston University (could be considered low match, but I'm legacy here too)
UConn
MCPHS
UMass - Amherst

THANK YOU so much !

rlm919

don't mean to change the subject but sounds like you would be a great art teacher.... (nothing against being a pediatrician)

precocious

an art teacher? do you really think so? i've never thought of myself as a teacher, but my mother is always saying i have the patience for it, haha.

bumping!

raindrop1019

I think you've got a good list. ED will give you a boost at Weslayan, and you have a good chance at BC. Good luck

2331clk

Agree it's a good list. The art, plus ED could get you into Wesleyan. They may look at soph year and conclude you may have had issues (which is OK when you're 15), especially if the other years are strong. You might want to add one more reach, something like Middlebury, knowing it's a long shot but the portfolio could put you over the top, you never know.

huskem55

brandeis and boston college are matches. you could add another reach school if you really want to, (vassar maybe?) but your match schools are some of my favorites- great list!

momrath

precocious, I think you have a sound list. My son was in a similar situation: okay grades, good but not spectacular scores, plenty of artistic talent (plus a strong personal profile for his ED choice). He is now at Williams and has been VERY pleased with the art and art history departments. Williams would be another reachy reach but for sure they appreciate art + science combinations.

Other schools that my son ranked highly for art and art history were: Wesleyan, Hamilton, Skidmore, Kenyon, Conn College and Brown. He didn't see Vassar but it would fit with that group as would Smith if you are female.

Some tips for your application: Make sure that your slide portfolio presents your talent, creativity and facility with a range of media, especially life drawing. Put together an art resume that includes slides; a list of your the art classes you've taken plus grades;any awards, shows or other achievements; a recommendations from an art teacher; a personal statement of your goals as an artist; travel experience if applicable.

You'll also need to write some compelling essays -- which with your ECs should be easy. Try to tie together your interests, art and medicine to present a coherent personna.

PS Don't retake the SATI, your scores are fine. Have faith and believe that colleges need artists too!

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

precocious

thank you so very much, i'm glad you like my list! i've spent entirely too long working on it and soon it'll be time to put it to use

sophmore year... eh, I did have some personal issues, though none too big to write an essay about. More like "teen rebellion" or something, not to sure about that, lol. I'm having second thoughts about applying ED, because of financial aid issues -- my parents really don't want to pay the 44k/year, because it's very doubtful I'll get a scholarship seeing as my GPA is probably in the 25%tile. Perhaps if I add a small note with my supp. that says Wesleyan is my top choice school, and a short blurb on that w/ art...

Anyways! momrath, does your son major in art? That's my biggest dilemma - I want to show my passion for the arts, but I don't WANT to major in art/art history... I just want a place with a good art scene/department, where people are passion about that too But that's just the reason why I'm not applying to art school, I don't want to pursue that as a future. (maybe as a side activity, hehe)

I'm taking a Portfolio class in school next year, goes through all of first semester: another reason I want to apply RD, because the class doesn't end till nearly the end of January (but it'll be mostly finished by the RD deadline!) and I want to make the most of the time to polish my portfolio

I'll try to have faaaith! =) THANK YOU so very much once again. Brown is a super reach for me, and I was looking for a few more "artsy yet science-y schools in my match range... does anyone know of a few? I have Conn College on my list

huskem55

are you female? smith, bryn mawr, and mt holyoke would all be in your range, and are strong in both sciences and the arts.

precocious

yes, I am female I'm not interested in attending an all-girl school, however... I did visit Smith and loved it - unfortunately I attended an all girl school in my younger years and hated it with a passion, so...

hsseniorlooking

Why bother with ACT. You have great SAT scores? I don't believe any school requires both the ACT and SAT.

hsseniorlooking

Plus I doubt BU would consider themselves a safety, unless Daddy donates big bucks. I think you'd get in, but they like to think that they are nobodies safety.

mom55

I think Union is less competitive than the others in the low reach/high match list. Conn College especially can be tough, as I've seen with my daughter's high school class (she is now Wesleyan '09). If you are looking for one more school I think Clark is consistent with the "personalities" of many of your schools on your list. Best of luck to you...you seem like the kind of person colleges would be very happy to have on campus!

momrath

Precocious,Yes, My son is an art major, (Williams has a combined art history / art studio major) but I do understand your objective. Double majors in diverse fields are fairly common at most colleges – My son has a friend who is majoring in chemistry and art history. She’ll most likely go to law school -- as that is the essence of a liberal arts education.

I think there are many schools that provide excellent sciences and every school that I can think of has an art department. Some are just more accommodating and encouraging to the artist – both from the point of view of supporting the department and extracurricular activity. What is more intangible is the affect that having a background that is strong in both science and art has on admissions. In my opinion, LACs are more likely to value this diversity of interest as a plus than are larger research universities. When college populations are small, everyone must contribute to the community in more than one area.

One other factor that you might look at to determine how art friendly a campus is is the accessibility of a major museum. This turned out to be the selling point that pushed my son over the edge to Williams; there are three world class museums on or near campus which provide a constant flow of stimulus.

I’d suggest that you leave Smith on your apply list. It seems to have so many factors that would appeal to you and the likelihood of getting merit aid is high. Just apply, you can decide later whether or not a women’s college is for you. If you’re looking for other less selectives I’d try Hamilton, Kenyon and Skidmore.

I’d also suggest that you read about Natalie Jeremijenko. Here’s someone who has taken science + art to a dizzying extreme.
http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/200.../index_np.html

LisaG

You seem to have a really good idea of what schools are reaches/matches/safeties, which is good. Most people go into this process clueless. Brandeis and BC are becoming more competitive each year. They're reaches, but definitely not impossible.

With your varied interests, I'd suggest looking into more liberal arts colleges. With your desire to be involved, I'd say you'd most likely flourish at a smaller school.