Advice with regards to upper level Schools?

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Hey everyone! Thought I could glean some “last minute” (though application season is still a few months away) information regarding your own opinions and experiences concerning what colleges will be looking for. I’ll be applying (tentatively) to Dartmouth, MIT, Cornell (as my three reaches, Dartmouth being my top), Reed, Middlebury, Wesleyan, Lehigh (as my middle-of-the-pack schools), Clarkson, and UConn (as my two safeties). Obviously, I will most likely be altering the list as I learn more about my changes. Anyways, with regards to what will be on my application:

TEST SCORES:
2320 SAT I (780M, 770R, 770W)
800 Math II SAT Subject Test
760 Math I SAT Subject Test
760 Physics SAT Subject Test (will take two more in the fall- English and Latin- I expect those to be high as well)
36 ACT Composite
5s on 6 AP Tests- Physics B, Calc BC, Biology, US History, Statistics, English Literature and Composition

ACADEMICS
All Honors and AP Classes throughout High School- Straight A’s throughout
4.0 GPA (UW), 6.112 out of 6 (Weighted)
2013 Literary Arts School-Wide Award
2013 Pre-Calculus School-Wide Award
2014 Physics School-Wide Award
2014 American Literature School-Wide Award
Five-Time CIAC Scholar-Athlete
Journal Inquirer 2012 Fall Regional Scholar-Athlete
Have been taking college classes at UConn- Multivariable Calculus and Differential Equations- during my Junior Year, earned a 4.0 GPA (A’s in both) for those two at least
AP Scholar with Distinction

EXTRA-CURRICULARS (with leadership intermixed)
Math Team Freshman Year- wasn’t really my thing, didn’t fit into my schedule for the next few, although I made the state team freshman year

Debate Team all four years- have won multiple tournaments through my state’s debate association, three-time state qualifier, have been a Captain for both my Junior and Senior years, transferred schools my Junior year and founded a debate team at my new school, raised the money so that we could compete in state tournaments, competed and placed at various University debate programs, qualified 6 students (myself included) for the State Tournament
Was accepted to and attended the Dartmouth Debate Institute the summer of my Junior Year

Freshman and Sophomore Class President for my first school, Student Government

Four Years of String Orchestra, Secretary my Sophomore year

Contributor and Editor for the School Literary Magazine Freshman and Sophomore year

ATHLETICS: Cross-country and Track my Freshman and Sophomore year, Varsity, but when I switched schools I stopped these to focus on Swimming, for which I won Conferences my Junior year in my event (made All-Conference that year), and I am the Captain this year. Also participate year-round in USA Swimming, Seniors and Age-Group qualifier for CT Swimming.

VOLUNTEERING
Worked my freshman and sophomore years for Foodshare Inc., distributing food to local impoverished areas
Consistently volunteered at my local library
Was accepted into National Honor Society, for which I am organizing a school-wide service project with Feeding Children Everywhere, an international service program, this coming year

I expect my essays to be strong, as writing has always been the stronger part of my academic ability, and my recommendations are locked-down as it is- hopefully those will turn out ok as well.

Is there any advice you guys can give in terms of what I could possibly add/improve upon before applications this Fall?

2

Opinions about acceptance chances to the schools listed above are much appreciated, as well!

3

I’m confused by your groupings of schools. Cornell and Middlebury are essentially the same in terms of chances of being admitted. Lehigh is a fairly good sized step down from Reed, Wesleyan, and Middlebury. I’m not sure I understand how you chose your groups of reaches, matches, and safeties.

4

My bad- again, the lines between those are somewhat gray at this point, as my list is neither complete nor final. You are correct, the grouping distinction was done hurriedly and inaccurately.

5

Regardless, a round of chancing and experienced opinion would be appreciated, despite my poor organizational skills :stuck_out_tongue:

6

You should have a decent shot at getting into Dartmouth if you apply early.

7

In terms of “adding” or “improving,” I don’t think there’s much you can really do. Of course, to get better grades is fine, but the vast majority of what colleges will be looking at is the first three years of high school. Senior year is the end… at this point, anything you might add (unless it’s huge) is probably not going to tip you in or out of good favor for these colleges.

Senior year mostly felt like maintenance of my level and record. I’d say continue doing what you’re doing and don’t let your level of intensity or success or whatever else fall as you experience the end of high school. Taking on more responsibilities or trying to achieve new goals, while commendable, is hard, speaking from experience. As long as you’re able to stay focused and make smart decisions, I think you’re fine.

In regards to chances, you have a relatively good chance at all the schools you mentioned in comparison to the average applicant to each school, with obviously better chances at the lower tier colleges. Good luck!

8

Apply early to Dartmouth if it’s your top choice. Advice: you need some stellar faulty recs. Select a math/science teacher and an english/social sciences teacher. Before meeting with them, you need to do some reflecting. Get a ten-bullet list of traits you want them to discuss. Make sure you recall specific instances of things you said in class, discussed with them, etc.

That, and I write this a lot, but you need to nail those essays. Top schools could fill their classes with valedictorians, if they wanted to. Essays differentiate.

9

Does anybody believe the service project (school-wide with FCE) is a must? I have been looking into it and asking around, and it looks like there may not be enough administrators interested. Will this make a significant difference if it falls through, or are the other parts of my application strong enough to receive the same responses you guys have been giving?

10

I don’t see enough science or research related ECs for MIT. Otherwise, your chances look very good at all of the remaining schools. Might be prudent to seek input from an admissions consultant

11

Thanks guys…just wondering if the lack of that volunteer activity will make any significant difference in your opinion

12

NO

IMO it won’t hurt you at all

@TheEssayGuy offers excellent advise. Read it carefully. Also Dartmouth requires a peer rec. Choose the peer carefully.

Can you swim at Dartmouth? Have you studied the roster? Spoken with the coach?

13

@urbanslaughter Lehigh and Reed are peer schools. Reed has slightly higher Math and CR averages, about the same ACT average but it has a 50% acceptance rate. Lehigh’s is 34%.

14

@arwarw thank you for the help! My times for swim are probably not good enough to be recruited for Dartmouth (which is D1), but I could possibly walk on. Should I contact the coach even if this is the case?

15

@miwss103 The Division is meaningless. My son’s high school team could beat Dartmouth in track.

Dartmouth was dead last in the past swimming season, 0 - 7.

Look through the Dartmouth sports website. They will list stats for the season. Then you can see how you compare.

Then fill out the recruiting questionnaire. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to get an NCAA Clearing house number. This is not required for D3 ie Middlebury.

Also, do the recruiting questionnaires for the other schools.

16

Will do, @BatesParents2019! And thank you all! I feel much more in control of the process now. Best of luck to all those applying in the fall!

17

You are a strong candidate to any college, but never a guarantee at the Ivies or MIT or even some other top schools on your list. I will just echo what others have said and that is that Middlebury and Wesleyan in particular are tough to get into and definitely not “middle of the pack” in any way. Reed isn’t “middle of the pack” either. Lehigh is probably the lowest school of that bunch (probably a match for you or MAYBE even a safety), but it is still a great school.

Do you plan to swim in college? If you aren’t good enough for the DI of the Ivies, you could swim at those DIII schools on your list probably. Being a recruited athlete makes it a slam dunk for admission (you aren’t officially recruited until the coach has determined that the admissions office will admit you). Good luck.

18

I think meeting with coaches, professors and students of the colleges you wish to attend is always a good thing. At worst, you learn more about the college, at best (assuming you’re not competitive enough for a recruiting slot) the coach may put in a good word for you to admissions.

19

Great, thanks. As I said, I expect to have strong essay/recommendations, and I plan on Dartmouth being my Early Decision school, so hopefully that will raise my chances as well

20

@BatesParent2019 ok fair enough, then neither Reed nor Lehigh are peers with Wesleyan or Middlebury.