Chance Me: 3.7 UW, 1480 SAT, 32 ACT, Philosophy major (pre-law track) [PA resident]

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Demographics

  • US domestic

  • State/Location of residency: Pennsylvania

  • Gender: Transgender Man

  • Type of high school (or current college for transfers): Public High School

  • Other special factors: none

Cost Constraints / Budget
no budget constraints

Intended Major(s)

philosophy

criminal justice

pre-law track

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.7

  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.3/5.0

  • Class Rank: unknown

  • ACT/SAT Scores: SAT: 790 RW 690 MATH, ACT: 34 english, 35 reading, 28 math, 32 composite

List your HS coursework

(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)

  • English: 4 Honors level required classes, Literature and Philosophy (unleveled)

  • Math: Honors Algebra 2, Honors Probability and statistics, Honors geometry, AP computer science principals

  • Science: AP Biology, Honors Chem, Forensic Chem, Honors Marine Ecology, Honors Anatomy and Physiology, Honors General 9th Grade Science, Astronomy

  • History and social studies: Honors US History, Honors World History, Honors US Gov, American Presidential Elections, AP African American Studies, Criminal Justice

  • Language other than English: French 1-4 (levels 3-4 were honors)

  • Visual or performing arts: Ceramics 1-3, Sculpture 1-2

  • Other academic courses: Ethics and Society (college course at NYU) Greek Mythology (college course at NYU)

Awards

Science National Honors Society

School Recognition Award (College Board)

Semi-Finalist for National Merit Scholarship

Honor Roll (grades 9-11)

Extracurriculars
School newspaper (grades 11-12)

marine science club (grades 11-12)

Academic Competition Club (only 10 spots for a school of roughly 2000 students, can’t give details without doxxing myself) (grades 10-11)

Speech and Debate (grade 12)

Stem outreach club (grade 12)

Essays/LORs/Other
Essays: Strong, Teachers have noted before that I’m a good writer and I feel that shines in my essays. My uncommon essay for Uchicago is one that I am particularly excited about. I’m also submitting a philosophy essay I wrote for my college classes this summer that was reviewed by one of my english teachers to try and compensate for some areas of my application where I may be lacking.

LORS: Exceptionally strong. The first is from my English teacher who had me for both Literature and Philosophy and English 11, she was also the teacher advisor for the Academic Competition Club. I worked extremely hard in both classes where she had me and for the club she was the teacher advisor of. In the literature and philosophy class I gave a lecture she described as “one of the best she’d ever had” in that class. The second is from my history teacher who had me for US History and will have me in the first semester for American Presidential Elections. We have a very positive relationship and he personally encouraged me to apply to ivy league colleges. He interned for the US supreme court and was on track to become a lawyer prior to becoming a teacher. Both of the teachers who will be writing my rec letters are very experienced and I feel they know me very well. I also know my college counselor very well and I feel her LOR will probably be solid too. This is one area of my application that I doubt I could make stronger even if I wanted to.

Schools
ED 1: Uchicago

ED2: Vassar

RD: Northwestern, UPitt, American University, Princeton, Emory, NYU

Additional Info

I achieved straight As in my junior year of highschool, after having had solid As and Bs throughout freshman and sophomore year. I realized halfway into junior year that I wanted to get involved in law, so I structured my senior year courses around that. AP African American studies, American presidential elections, Power and Justice in American lit (my english 12 class), and Criminal Justice are all classes that I’m taking this year since they align with my intended major. I struggled with serious mental and physical health problems in my first two years of high school that prevented me from really excelling in my classes and extra-curriculars the way I should have, and that is noted in my application.

Also yes, I did post before, I just totally forgot about it and also my priorities changed a bit with what I’m looking for in colleges. I realized I really prefer smaller schools which is why I’m prioritizing Vassar and Uchicago.

3

You do not need to take classes that “align” with your career interests. Law schools want lots of writing, critical thinking and analysis. So philosophy, history, literature– all of these are fine prep. Classes in criminal justice typically don’t help- if you’re interested then terrific- but they won’t help you get into law school and they won’t help you once you are there. Writing intensive classes WILL help once you are there. And lots of reading. Tons of reading.

Did I miss your budget?

1 Like
4

I do read a ton! I don’t have a budget, I’ve discussed at length with my parents and all the colleges on my list are colleges that they’re willing to pay sticker price for.

5

I see Pitt on your RD list, but they have rolling admissions and are accepting applications now. Have you submitted that one yet? The earlier you get that in, the better, and it wouldn’t interfere with your ED plans.

5 Likes
6

I commend you for overcoming your mental and physical health challenges and still maintaining an outstanding record.

Except for Pitt and American, neither of which is the smaller type of school you prefer, all of the others are reaches for anyone.

I’m curious to know if you have a type of law that you’re interested in at this point.

2 Likes
7

I’m mainly interested in civil law. I really want to work on prison reform/working with incarcerated individuals who have grievances with their prisons.

3 Likes
8

As soon as I have my common app essay completed that application is going to get submitted, it should be done in the next week or so.

1 Like
9

Okay, great. Yeah, I’d get that Pitt app in asap. If you get an acceptance there and you’re happy with it, you then don’t need to worry about selecting other schools as alternate target RDs. It takes a lot of pressure off to have that in hand. If it doesn’t go your way, that’s helpful signal as well, though I suspect you’ll be fine there.

Good luck with the ED apps. I think your approach makes sense, so long as the budget is there (which, it sounds like, is the case).

2 Likes
10

Based on your profile, preference for a smaller school and goals, consider adding Bates.

2 Likes
11

Have you looked into Bard? About 45 minutes from Vassar, very LGBTQ+ friendly, small, plus has the Bard Prison Initiative!

https://bpi.bard.edu/

3 Likes
12

I’ll check it out! I think my mom has mentioned Bates once or twice, so I’ll definitely give it a look

2 Likes
13

I hadn’t heard of the bard prison initiative! I’ll definitely look into it

1 Like
14

You sound great! But, all of the schools on your list are reaches, except for Pitt and American, leading a very possible result of only getting into those schools. And, American could even be iffy. It’s pretty notorious for wanting to see extreme demonstrated interest, leading to higher stats students sometimes getting a rejection if the school senses that it’s a backup to more preferred schools.

Since you really prefer smaller schools, I’d highly recommend adding in some smaller schools that are targets and safeties. Your list indicates a preference for the East Coast, but I’m going to recommend two schools in Minnesota - Macalester and St. Olaf. Both are really great small LACs. Macalester is a high target/low reach and St. Olaf is a low target, maybe high safety. They both give merit aid. If you’re intending to go to law school, saving as much as possible during undergrad is very important! Macalester is right in the heart of St. Paul (a rare LAC right in the middle of a big city) and St. Olaf is in a really charming college town (Northfield) about 45 minutes outside of the Twin Cities. St. Olaf has one of the prettiest campuses I’ve seen - and Macalester is also nice (just not as pretty as St. Olaf). Lots of love for both schools in this board, and I personally know multiple kids at both schools who are really happy. If you missed out on your other reaches, many of which are high reaches, these could be really nice options come this spring.

Also, just some completely unsolicited advice about law school. I recommend to all students to take two years off after undergrad and before attending law school. The market for all types of legal jobs - public and private sector - is pretty brutal. Having work experience, plus the maturity and additional life experience that comes with being a little older - will be a huge boost for you in law school, both academically and professionally.

5 Likes
15

Im reading about Saint Olaf and it seems right up my alley! My mom is very cautious of Christian schools due to my gender identity, but this seems like one she would be open to. I really appreciate this recommendation!

1 Like
16

I totally understand and agree with the caution here. I know transgender students who attended St. Olaf and were totally comfortable -it’s a really inclusive environment (as is Macalester).

2 Likes
17

Seconding Bates, Bard, Macalester, and St Olaf. Run the NPC and apply where the net cost is lowest or all of them if they’re within budget. :+1:

What about Dickinson? Haverford?

For American, join their mailing list now if you haven’t yet, open every email they send you and click on any link that looks interesting (they track that). If there are in-person or official virtual visits, do that too.

Definitely get that Pitt application out as soon as you’re done with your ED1 app and indicate your interest for the Fredericks Honors College. The earlier you apply the better your odds so do so as soon as you can.

I worry that your mathematical preparation may not be sufficient for Chicago’s core, which has a pretty serious quantitative requirement - something adcoms would take into account. Although calculus is not required to graduate, I’m not sure Algebra2 would be considered a sufficient background for the mathematical core, even for Creative Coding and non calculus Statistics (what looks like the easiest math core courses and as a result a sequence that would require an extra science class on top of those already required by the core) for that particular university. AFAIK they mostly expect Calculus or higher for senior year math or at least precalculus for Humanities/Art. That being said, the “Flint” case study course may be of particular interest.

As a PA resident, you should apply to PSU - to have another definite choice beside Pitt and, most importantly, because Schreyer would be excellent for a Philosophy student aiming for Law School - advising, class choices, opportunities. Just send your Common Application for Philosophy/University Park and check Schreyer. You’d need to complete your SRAR within a few days (by Oct 15) to make sure it’s processed by Nov1. The SRAR is the trickiest since I assume your CommonApp is already done. I get that it’s not your first choice (it’s a huge campus, in particular, and. philosophy major should have access to mostly reading/discussion based seminars, with as few lectures as possible) but the benefits of Schreyer can’t be overlooked in this situation. The selection process plays to your strengths: the essays are paramount and the next criterion is the letter of recommendation. Only 300 students out of 8,500 freshmen are in Schreyer so even if you have a definite shot no one can predict who’ll get in – but even if you don’t get into Schreyer you automatically get into Paterno Scholars as a Philosophy “aspirant” and have the same small seminars the Schreyer scholars do then if you get good grades in these seminars you are integrated into Schreyer, so, win-win.

1 Like
18

St. Olaf is an absolute gem. We visited for the admitted students days last year and loved it, and I believe one of the students in the admissions office was trans, and was very enthusiastically talking about the school. I have no doubt that if you reached out to the admissions rep for your area that they could put you in touch with someone who could share their experience with you and answer your questions. (Also, note the Taylor Center, the Grose Lecture, and other resources here.)

2 Likes
19

You and your mom are right to be cautious with religious-related colleges, but you’ll be okay there. :hugs:
The first trans person to work at the White House was a St Olaf grad. It was something like 15+ years ago :grinning_face: so imagine now (you should reach out to their LGBTQ student groups of course to have direct impressions).

1 Like
20

I really love Haverford but it is literally within walking distance of my house, so unfortunately its been ruled out. Its a totally lovely college, just too close. I’ve been pushing for penn state, but my mom is very opposed due to a negative perception of Greek life and “party schools”, I’ll definitely mention schreyer to her though!

1 Like
21

You are a New York resident?