Chance Hispanic Senior

Colleges & Universities Pomona College
1

<p>I’m been searching for colleges, and recently been looking at liberal art schools. I’ve been looking mostly at schools in New England, but I got really attracted to the Claremont Colleges (Pomona, CMC, and Pitzer). I’m looking to major in environmental studies (or the equivalent). I know these schools are a major reach for me, but I wanna know if I stand a chance at getting in. Here’s my info:</p>

<p>Hispanic male senior in a very large public school in NY. </p>

<p>GPA UW: 94-95%
Class Rank: Top 1%. </p>

<p>Taken all honors and AP classes throughout high school.
3 Junior Year: US [4] Lang [4] Chem
5 Senior Year: Gov, Lit, Environmental, Calc, Studio Art 2D</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
JV (9,10) & Varsity Tennis (11,12)
Varsity Golf (9,10)
Varsity Swimming (11,12)
Student Government (9,10,11,12): elected Executive board officer and Historian Senior Year
National Honor Society (9,10,11,12): elected Secretary Senior Year
Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam (10,11,12): Engineering Leader
Garcia Summer Research Program for 2 summers
Research at Stony Brook throughout the school year
Tutor students at school, and family members (little cousins to aunts who are going back to school).</p>

<p>Awards:
Departmental awards in my High School in English, Science, Art
Varsity Letters in Tennis, Swimming, and Golf
LISC Honorable Mention in 2009
LISEF ASM Foundation Best Material Science Project Award 2010
Stockholm Junior Water Prize Regional Award 2010
Stockholm Junior Water Prize State Winner 2010
I-SWEEEP 2010 Finalist and Bronze Medal Winner
Rensselaer Medal Award Merit Scholarship </p>

<p>ACT: 27 (retaking next saturday. Should be higher)
SAT: 1800 (retaking in November, doubt I’ll submit)
SAT II: US-670 Chem-640 (retaking in October)</p>

<p>I know my scores are not up to par for top schools like these. I attend a low-income area school that does not prep us for standardized tests. According to my school profile, my ACT is 9 points above the average and my SAT is 600 points higher than average. I understand it does not make up for my lower-than-average-score-for-top-schools score, but hopefully they’ll will take my background of my school into consideration. </p>

<p>Can anyone please tell me my chances at the three Claremonts I mentioned? All the responses will be greatly appreciated.</p>

2

<p>I think your best chance is to concentrate like mad on getting your ACT into the 30s, preferably 33-34, retake the two SATs and get them up into the 700s if possible, and then make sure the admissions people are aware of the limitations of your school and environment. This can be done through your essays or on the form that asks you to list any extenuating circumstances of which they should be aware.</p>

<p>Make sure it doesn’t read like an excuse-fest, frame it as a series of life challenges you have done your best to meet and rise above.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>BTW: Pitzer may be your best bet, but try for all three!</p>

4

<p>Yea I definitely think I can get my SAT IIs in the 700s. I’m aiming for a 30 on the ACT, but the higher the better. And yea, I don’t wont to use my school and town as an excuse; it may not be the best town in the world, but it made me strive for more. </p>

<p>Do you know any information about the schools? I learned a lot about the differences, stereotypes, and strengths of them but do you know about the campus of each? </p>

<p>Thanks so much for your help!</p>

5

<p>You’re most welcome!</p>

<p>My daughter attends Pomona, so I am very familiar with that campus, as well as Scripps and CMC. </p>

<p>We had a quick look on our last trip at Harvey Mudd and Pitzer (which are at the north end of the 5-Cs campus complex), and all I can say is that while I have a soft spot for Pomona, the entire 5-C campus is beautiful and the combined amenities second to none.</p>

<p>Campus maps, pix, and virtual tours are available for viewing on their respective websites.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

6

<p>Have you seen the thread about visit days for minority students? See if you can get in touch with the admissions office for inclusion for their weekend. Send an email today. You don’t want the deadline to pass you by.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/770660-fall-diversity-visit-programs-compilation-6.html?highlight=keilexandra[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/770660-fall-diversity-visit-programs-compilation-6.html?highlight=keilexandra&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Next week, phone them and find out who the minority liaison is in the admissions staff. If it is the same man we met, he will be very helpful.</p>

7

<p>Thanks you so much for telling me about this twomules! </p>

<p>I checked through the website, and it showed nothing about a minority weekend. I used old links as well, but they were not found. Does that mean Pomona doesn’t offer it anymore?</p>

8

<p>I think they just keep it quiet. Definitely follow up with the admissions office.</p>

<p>If you are low income, take a look too at the Questbridge program. [QuestBridge</a> Home Page](<a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/]QuestBridge”>http://www.questbridge.org/)</p>

<p>There is information about it in a special section of the Financial Aid page.</p>

9

<p>Oh okay, I emailed them earlier. Hopefully they will respond soon.</p>

<p>I was looking at Questbridge before. I don’t think I’ll do it, but I’ll definitely look at the information it provides.</p>

<p>Thank you so much again!</p>