<p>Can you take a look at my stats and make suggestions/revisions to my college list? The tricky part is that my school caps the # of applications per student to 10 schools. Thanks!</p>
<p>–
I don’t have any hooks…just lots of anti-hooks, unfortunately Asian female in California, upper-middle class, from an average public high school, etc.</p>
<p>Current college list
Williams (ED)
Stanford
Dartmouth
Brown
Georgetown
USC
UC: LA, SD
Davidson</p>
<p>Stats
SAT: 2360
SAT II: 800 US Hist, 800 Math II
GPA: 3.98 UW, 4.31 W
Rank: 14/600 (Top 3%)
AP: expecting all 5’s; total of 11 APs by graduation
Schedule: most rigorous available</p>
<p>Extracurriculars
My two main EC’s are writing and business.</p>
<p>I write for my city newspaper (paid) and an international youth publication. Awards include state/national essay competitions.</p>
<p>For business, I’m a DECA officer at my school and district/state/international winner. Last year I began a service-learning project at my school, which received some local recognition/awards. I also design marketing strategies for a local nonprofit and do clerical work for my city’s economic bureau. </p>
<p>–
As you can see, I only have one small leadership position…though I would argue that the service-learning program I initiated took much more dedication to plan than holding some of the meaningless “leadership” positions at my school (e.g. the stereotypical “secretary of the French Club.”)</p>
<p>I’m also worried that many of my classmates (with equally strong scores and extracurriculars) are applying to the exact same colleges. Although I wish the best for them, I cannot help but wonder if we will be scrutinized as direct competition.</p>
<p>Well you’re thinking of applying Williams ED and I believe there’s a good chance that will be the only app you’ll have to worry about. Academics are fairly strong considering SAT/SAT IIs; class rank could be slightly better, but there may be some liberty taken with it given your good test scores. ECs are ok, you do indicate achievement and the leadership is fine. The service learning thing is def. something to talk about on the app.</p>
<p>And guess what? Asians are not considered ORMs at LACs because of their relatively low representation. In fact, they’ll be more partial towards you because you would be adding to the diversity and EDing would only help the cause because they know you would def. be attending.</p>
<p>Is that your current list? If so, it’s HUGELY top-heavy. The majority of those colleges are reaches for everyone and have thousands of students with your stats applying. This isn’t to discourage you; you just need to make sure you have a backup plan.</p>
<p>I see Davidson as a match, and UCLA/SD as probable safeties, considering your stats. They’d also presumably be your financial safeties, since you’re in-state? Would you be happy attending them? If you’re interested in LACs such as Williams and Davidson, big UCs such as LA and SD might not be your best bet. What about Claremont McKenna or Pitzer instead?</p>
<p>Are you looking for financial aid at the non-UC schools?</p>
<p>Usually schools won’t compare you to other applicants from your school except to analyze course rigor and stuff. Your schools are little all over the place, how did you pick them? I can understand Stanford (a lot of top CA applicants apply, the place is like 40% CA I think), and why Williams ED? If you like Williams that much, apply to similar LAC’s like Amherst, Swarthmore (seriously the most gorgeous school I have seen and I have been to UW, Yale, UChicago) or some less selective LAC’s like Vassar or Wesleyan. Dartmouth and Williams are both rural, but Brown, Georgetown, USC, the UC’s are all pretty cityish. If you have a legitimate reason for each school then void what I just said. Haha, my list was pretty wacko until I explained why I liked each school, but each school was pretty similar. </p>
<p>You should have good chances at these schools:
USC, UC: LA, SD, Davidson. The other schools get large numbers of perfect testers and good grades like you have, so then it comes down to EC’s, essays, recommendations, etc. Which you should be okay with. </p>
<p>I would add a lower UC such as SC or Davis, because you will be able to get Regent’s at these schools and so get priority registration and at Davis a minimum 7000 scholarship. Also, you have a lot of reaches that may not be affordable since you will probably have a large EFC. Find a school where you can get a good merit based scholarship since you have amazing stats.</p>
<p>I highly recommend any of the Claremont’s too! Pitzer is now really competitive though with a 15.7% admission rate, CMC and Pomona are both around 12 or 13% too I think. Harvey Mudd (engineering) is probably not your school, and Scripps is a women’s college.</p>
<p>You stand a good shot at all of these schools save probably for Stanford where everyone is a long shot and Brown/Dartmouth (probably 50/50 due to avg ECs). You are a really good bet for Williams ED. Have you been to Williamstown? Before signing that ED contract take a close look. Awesome natural setting but very isolated. If you are used to city life in CA, it will be a huge adjustment. </p>
<p>What do you want to major in? If you like writing, you might also look at Wash U, Penn, Emory,Columbia, and Hopkins, all of which have terrific english/creative writing programs.</p>
<p>sunshine, Have you visited Williams? You will want to make sure that your application explains why you feel that Williams is the right school for you and you’re the right person for Williams. Fit carries a lot of weight in ED acceptances. </p>
<p>I’m curious too. Williams is the only small LAC on your list? What makes it your ED choice?</p>
<p>At Williams, Asians are more or less URMs so it’s a good strategy, but at the same time Williams is very different from the others. If you really want Stanford, Brown, Dartmouth etc., you shouldn’t be applying ED to Williams.</p>
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<p>I think you could expand on these activities in your application – in your essays, recommendations, resume, statement. At small LACs like Williams, more is more, so don’t hesitate to include explanations of your involvement in the local nonprofit and your city’s government, samples of your writing, an additional non-academic recommendation from someone you’ve worked with.</p>
<p>You have to communicate through your application, what you really care about and what you will contribute to the Williams community. Your academic credentials are sterling and your ECs are solid and intersting. It’s up to you to get your enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity across in your application.</p>
<p>You may want to check all of the smaller schools to see that they have strong departments in the subjects that you are considering majoring in.</p>
<p>Also check the net price calculators at each school to ensure that they are affordable after need-based aid (if any). If not, then you need to see if there are any large enough merit scholarships available and how difficult they are to get.</p>
<p>Williams students are about 12% Asian American, so that would definitely not be URM there (versus 5% in the US as a whole or the state of Massachusetts where Williams is).</p>
<p>ucb, this is my observation only. I can’t prove it because colleges don’t reveal the breakdown their applicants by race; however, I believe that Williams admits a higher proportion of Asians than do other schools of similar academic standing. Because of their rural location they have to try harder to recruit and matriculate high achieving non-Whites, including Asians, who often prefer urban or Big Name Universities.</p>
<p>I think you have a great chance at Williams. Just focus on your essays–perhaps talk about how DECA had a lot to it. But seriously, some of you people are ridiculous. College admissions is a little bit of luck, but come on, the kid has excellent stats.</p>
<p>Wow, thank you all for the excellent advice. I definitely didn’t expect to receive so much thorough feedback.</p>
<p>Williams is my first choice because I want an intimate community in a non-metropolis setting. The idea of being able to go hiking right in the school’s backyard sounds absolutely wonderful, as does the tutorial system. I visited back in 8th grade (when my sister was a high school junior) and thought it was the most beautiful campus we toured. Yes, Williamstown is definitely not for everyone, but I didn’t find it to be stifling at all.</p>
<p>My only reservation is the weather. I love the sunshine and freezing days make me incredibly sad. (“Freezing” being the California term for sub-50 degrees Fahrenheit.)</p>
<p>However, Georgetown/the UCs/USC go against my preferences because my parents want me to apply to Georgetown. My sister goes there now and she raves about it. It’s a silly reason to apply though, but I never gave much thought to that. </p>
<p>As for the UCs and USC, they are smart options both academically and financially (I’m in-state for UCs; USC offers various merit scholarships including NMS, which I’m in the running for). But as bruno pointed out, the HUGE class sizes may render these colleges not so smart options for me.</p>
<p>Financial aid isn’t a concern for my parents (neither will we get any), but money does talk, and I’d personally feel guilty for at least not applying to an affordable UC if I only applied to expensive private schools.</p>
<p>I left out the last college–out of the 10 max. that my school allows–on my college list because I’m debating between an additional UC (as PAGrok suggested as a financial/academic safety) and one of the Claremont colleges (as many of you have also recommended!) In your opinion, which one would be the better option? Or perhaps I should substitute Georgetown for a LAC/UC?</p>
<p>zobroward - Can you explain what you mean by a “unique” student body at Haverford?</p>
<p>Please offer your insight. Thank you again - I’m extremely grateful for all your help!</p>
<p>haverford has a rep for smart quirky students who are very tolerant because they are all kind of different themselves! my mom always says that haverford was known as a very intellectual school even back in her day! but, you must visit as many schools as you can and get your own feel!</p>
<p>Try looking at the on-line schedule of classes at each school to get an idea of how large classes are in the majors you are considering at each school.</p>
<p>It is located just outside of Philly. The commuter train into center city is in walking distance. It is a Quaker based school. The honor code is strictly adhered to. You can virtually leave your backpack/laptop anywhere on campus and come back a few hours later and find it untouched. Test are all take home exams. Because of the honor code, there is no fear from the faculty that a student will cheat. </p>
<p>The college is in a well-to do area. The campus itself has a running trail, large lake, many trees, but it is not close to hiking like Williams.</p>
<p>The admit rate is low, but it is higher than Williams.</p>
<p>Haverford is in a consortium with Swarthmore and Bryn Mawr, though nothing like the Claremonts. It is a short shuttle ride to Bryn Mawr. Not easy to cross register with Swat due to the logistics. </p>
<p>Freshmen dorms are small, but single rooms with 2 students sharing a common area.</p>
<p>I only visited Pomona for a very short visit last August, but the type of student at Haverford resembles more of the Pomona style vs Davidson style. To me, it is a more laid back student.</p>
<p>I understand your parents liking Georgetown because of your sister’s experience, but it really seems like a waste for you to apply and give up one of the 10 spots for a school you would not be happy to attend.</p>
<p>If that’s your ideal, then you could build a better list. You have a decent shot at Williams but it’s not a sure thing by any means. Dartmouth is the only other school on your list that fits the above description; it’s at least as selective as Williams.</p>
<p>For less selective schools that more or less fit (minus the tutorial system), consider:
Bates College
Colby College
Colorado College
Whitman College</p>
<p>Bowdoin, Carleton and Middlebury are similar, but just slightly selective than Williams.</p>
<p>sunshine, You’re preaching to the choir in telling me about Williams. My son applied ED and had a wonderful four years for all the reasons that you mention. He just attended his 5 year reunion and I can tell you, he and his colleagues are are off to a great start in life.</p>
<p>I believe you have a good shot at Williams. See what happens with ED; if you’re disappointed you can recalibrate your list.</p>
<p>I understand that you have a school imposed restriction on the number of schools that you can apply to but if you want small, rural and intimate you should add some others that are small, rural and intimate. (But by all means indulge your parents with Georgetown!)</p>
<p>Davidson is good, and other small LACs that I’d suggest in similar feeling would be Hamilton, Amherst, Middlebury, Bowdoin, Kenyon, Carleton, Pomona. </p>
<p>Smith and Holyoke are good choices that I would consider to be safeties for you. You would most likely get merit money from Smith.</p>
<p>New England does have a severe winter and it helps to find something that you like to do in the snow. Williamstown is profoundly beautiful in all seasons though. in the winter it’s cold but invigorating and the kids seem to enjoy it.</p>
Asian female in California, upper-middle class, from an average public high school, etc.</p>
and your ECs are solid and intersting. It’s up to you to get your enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity across in your application.</p>