Anchser

The schools I want to apply to are:

Amherst, Bates, Bowdoin, Bucknell, Colby, Franklin & Marshall, Hamilton, Holy Cross, Middlebury, Tufts, and Union.

Obviously there is quite a difference between Amherst and schools like F&M, but I would appreciate if you took a look at my resume to decide which ones would be reaches, matches, etc.

My GPA right now is right around a 3.45 (school doesn't weight). Freshman year I lived in Canada and grades didn't transfer (they won't be on transcript). Sophomore year I moved to my current school and got around a 3.2. My junior year GPA has been around a 3.6 throughout, and after the year I'm hoping my cumulative will be a 3.5. At least an upward trend. Because none of my credits transferred, I had to basically start over in all standard classes. I got into honors math and AP Gov for next year, though. So obviously my classes aren't the most challenging but I kind of got screwed over. This will be explained in my essay/by my counselor.

My SAT scores were pretty good. I got a 2150 (730 CR, 720 W, 700 M), and I'm guessing this will help me greatly in terms of admissions.

ECs are pretty good; I have a job and volunteer with younger kids' sports a lot.

Based on this small amount of info, what do you guys recommend? Which ones are realistic?

lechugarapida

Based on your GPA,
Amherst- reach
Bates- low reach
Bowdoin- reach
Bucknell- fit
Colby- low reach
Franklin & Marshall- fit
Hamilton- fit
Holy Cross- fit
Middlebury- high reach
tufts- high reach
Union- reach

With your other stats, who knows, I would apply and see.

required_details

Union is a safety and not a reach. It is ranked 40th on US News & World Reports rankings well below all of the others except for F&M.

Waverly

You will need to send your 9th grade grades too.

7dancer7

GPA really depends on how hard your school is. So, if you go to a really difficult school and are taking as many challenging courses as possible, that would factor in as well. Also, GPA isn't everything! If you write fantastic essays and continue being committed to your EC's you have a fair shot at your reaches.

But yeah, I would agree with most of lechugarapida's assessment. Remember though, reach doesn't mean impossible, it just means not as likely. Do your best and apply!

quintamonious

Your SAT score is ok. Could be better could be worse. GPA is low. You don't really have enough stats to be able to tell. Plus I only really can chance for Tufts and Amherst because those are the only ones I really have heard of and both are high reach.

If you post more I could probably be more helpful.

Anyway, Good luck with apps!

soupsong

I would say if you raise your GPA, along with your SAT score, you are golden. And no offense, but your EC's are decent.

sunshinenm

Amherst: reach
Bates: low reach
Bowdoin: reach
Bucknell: Match
Colby" low reach
Franklin & Marshall: Fit
Hamilton: Fit
Holy Cross: Fit
Middlebury: Reach
Tufts: Reach
Union: reach

Work on your ECs and don't worry too much about your class selection if your counselor explains it! Also, keep trying to raise your GPA as admissions like to see improvement

Novakaine

@quint I wouldn't consider a 2150 just 'ok'...

Sue22

In my opinion you're reaching a little high. It's fine to have reaches but make sure you have at least a couple of likely schools (aka "safeties") on your list. Even though your school doesn't weight you can figure out approximately what a weighted average for your grades/courses would be. Most of the schools on your list will expect you to have taken the most rigorous course load possible, and while they will consider that few honors and AP courses were available to you, you should remember that most of the other applicants will have been taking these courses so the average unweighted GPAs for applicants at these schools may be lower than they would have been if the applicants were taking regular (non-honors/non-AP) classes.

Does your school use Naviance? If so you can compare yourself to other students who applied to the schools you're considering and see how they've fared. Make sure to look at the stats of the students who were rejected as well as those accepted and remember that just because a single student got into one of your target schools with a 3.0 doesn't mean a 3.45 puts you in the comfortable range. There are always a few outliers and usually they are special cases, such as recruited athletes or kids who have experienced extreme hardship.

Another site that may be helpful is collegedata.com:

http://www.collegedata.com/cs/admiss..._tracker.jhtml

I might tweak sunshinenm's rankings slightly, but overall I think they're quite accurate. Add a few likelies to all those reaches and matches and you'll be in good shape.
Some schools to consider:
Skidmore, Hobart and William Smith, St. Lawrence, Wheaton (MA), Connecticut College, Dennison. Bard/Hampshire/Bennington if you want to consider something little more artsy/crunchy.

ehazoo

GPA isn't be all end all. Your scores are great, add 1-2 safeties/likelies and you'll be fine. If you choose one to apply ED your chances will go up enormously (especially at LACs), despite what they'll tell you at information sessions.

Anchser

Thanks everybody.

freddydo

I think your GPA will throw you off but it might not hurt you too much with SAT and ECs and all..

kittensarecute

I haven't heard of all your schools but from what I know Amherst and Tufts might be reaches. I think you have a pretty good chance at Bucknell. You can take some college summer classes to improve your gpa. Good luck