amr2014

Hey Everyone! I was just wondering what you think of my chances at this school:

Academics:
- Male, White, Long Island Public School Student
- 93.6 unweighted, 95 weighted GPA
- 11th – 2 AP’s (4-Bio, 5- US History)
- 12th- 4 AP’s (Psych, English Lit, Macro Economics, and US Government)
- 6 Honors Classes

Tests:
I’m only using my ACT score, b/c it was vastly superior to my SAT, and it covers my SAT 2 requirement, so here it is:
- 31 ACT Composite (about 1400 and 2070-2080 equivalent on the SAT)
o 35 Reading, 31 English, 29 Science, 28 Math
EC’s:
- VP of Model United Nations (biggest club in my school)
- Sports Editor and Assistant Advertising Editor for school newspaper
- VP of Wall Street Investors Club
- Member of DECA (Advanced to State Competition 3 years in a row; 11th – won 4th place in state and placed top-20 in International Conference in Anaheim)
- Member and Tutor of:
National Honors Society
Spanish Honors Society
Business Honors Society
- VP of Teen Advisory Board at Public Library (coordinating activities for teens)
- Mentor for Book Buddies (teaching students ages 3-9 to improve literacy skills)
- Leader in group Teens as Leaders, servicing disadvantaged Long Island community (Ronald McDonald House, walk-a-thons, etc)

Work Experience:
- 2 summers (10th and 11th):
o Public Library (Summer Reading Mentor; teaching elementary school kids to improve literacy skills)
o Camp Counselor

Miscellaneous:
- Terrific Essay (I think) --- describing my experiences in a “second home” --- West Hartford, and how it has shaped me
- Great Recs
- Scheduled an Alum interview for December

Other Schools:
- Reaches: Brandeis, Emory, William and Mary
- Match-Reach: Connecticut College
- Matches: Tulane, Lehigh, GW, SUNY Geneseo
- Safeties: SUNY Albany Honors, SUNY Stony Brook Honors, Goucher

Posts please!

Plainsman

I don't know what your chances are but why would a white male from Long Island (presumably straight) who is interested in a conservative school like Lehigh have the slightest interest in Oberlin? Please regard my question with positive intent. You sound like a good person. But Lehigh and Oberlin are polar opposites culturally and politically. Ditto Oberlin and some of those southern schools. I live a few miles from Lehigh so I'm familiar with it. My D also visited twice during her search. That was about enough. Too many horror stories from URMs about that place. Great school, but the student body is dominanted by archetypes from certain geographic areas who would have difficulty fitting in Oberlin's very tolerant environment. Here is one example of many extreme differences: The Greek system RULES at Lehigh. In fact, it's gotten out of control to the point where the administration has been trying to figure out how to rein 'em in. There are no frats and sororities at Oberlin. Many Obies like my D picked Oberlin precisely for that reason (among many others).

Maybe Oberlin is the best place for you; maybe Lehigh is. But they are such totally different places, I can't imagine a student who is thrilled to be at Lehigh would be anything but miserable at Oberlin, and vice versa. Consider political environment and culture when you decide where to apply. Trust me. You'll be happier.

amr2014

well, Plainsman... as you can see from the rest of my list, Oberlin is more of the type of school I'm applying to (W & M, Connecticut College, etc.) and have a great interest in (first of all, I'm very liberal, don't want frats and sororities, and really crave a small school)... but Lehigh has all my majors, and when I visited, I liked it enough to apply (but truthfully, it's at the bottom of this list... and I think I can get in)... so it's certainly a good option; but, come decision time, I'll be looking at schools similar to Oberlin

quaere

My sense is that although Oberlin has a lot in common with, say, Conn as a small liberal arts college, the culture of the student body is pretty different. That said, there are people who really like both climates and would do well at both schools. I'd strongly recommend visiting - seeing the schools for yourself will help to clarify your choice, plus it will show admissions committees that you're really interested.

amr2014

yep; I visited Lehigh, and I really liked the campus; the frats/sororities were an issue, but the campus was small, student body seemed really involved, and academics were strong enough to motivate me to apply... I haven't gotten to visit Oberlin yet, but I do have an alum interview scheduled for next month

amr2014

thank you for your input Plainsman... you'd be pleased to know that I dropped Lehigh for Hamilton; a switch, I realized, should've been made months ago

Plainsman

Hamilton is a great school, amr2014. A peer school with Oberlin, when it comes to selectivity. But even though both are liberal arts colleges, they are different. I understand Hamilton has a more preppie vibe than Oberlin, and more of an East Coast sensibility. Not surprising, of course, considering the New York State location. My D avoided applying to all of the Northeast LACs, even though we live in the Northeast. She wanted a college with a midwestern sensibility. So, Oberlin, Grinnell and Carleton were preferred over schools like Colby, Hamilton and Middlebury. But to each his/her own.

nytimes92

I think you should make it into Oberlin and hamilton. Maybe also want to look at Vassar or Colgate?

amr2014

wow, Plainsman... yeah, I also gave considerable thought to Grinnell, Carleton, and Macalester but they were too far away for my liking; Oberlin is pretty much, in terms of western, farthest I'd go; but those are excellent schools... if my GPA/ACT was a little higher, I would've shot for Middlebury/Vassar, but I'm very happy with my list

amr2014

thanks nytimes92! haha, I did look at Colgate, but its jock/Greek culture really doesn't fit in with my tastes; as for Vassar, I'm flattered, haha, but I definitely don't have the stats (at least I don't think) to get in... hope you're right, lol! I'll chance you if you have anything right now