Chance me?! Bates, F&M, Amherst, etc.

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Hi! I live in New Jersey and attend a small, yet prestigious, private all-girl’s Catholic high school. The coarse load is challenging, but I have been able to maintain some of the highest grades in the graduating class of 2018. Here is a quick synopsis of my high school experience for this year, as well as next year:

English: Honors (9-11)/AP Lit (12)
Math: Geometry Honors (9)/Algebra 2 Honors (10) /Pre-Calculus Honors (11) /AP Calculus AB (12)/AP Statistics (12)
Science: Biology H (9) /Chemistry H (10)/Physics H (11)/Forensic Science (12)
History (Social Sciences): World History H (9)/U.S. History Honors (10)/AP U.S. History (11)/Economics (12)/AP Psych (12)
Language: Spanish II Honors (10) /Spanish III Honors (10)/Spanish IV Honors (11)
Misc: Religion (9-12) /Painting (11)/Computer and Financing (9)

NOTE: In every class of mine, I currently have a 94-100 average, besides Spanish (87)

Here are some of my statistics (I do not plan on taking the ACT and my school does not rank students on a percentile):
UW GPA: 3.8/W GPA: 4.0
SAT Composite: 1250 (Math: 600/Reading & Writing 650/Essay: 22)

Activities:

  • Member of National Honor Society
  • Member of National Spanish Honor Society
  • President of Math Club
  • Treasurer of Key Club
  • Member at Large of Student Council
  • Member of Spirit Committee
  • Honor Student since Freshmen year
  • Member of the Track team since Freshman year
  • Member of the Volleyball team 2014-2015
  • Member of the Cross Country team 2016-2018
  • Employee of Rita’s Italian Ice (20+ hours/week)
  • Volunteer at LocalAnimal Hospital (6+ hours/week)
  • Volunteer at Local Recreation Track Program (Spring season)

(I plan on running cross country/track for any D3 college that I have qualifying times for!! So, I do not know if that will have any pull in admissions. My track times are fast. Not D1 fast, but definitely above average for D3).

Now that you know a little bit about me, I would love opinions from anyone and everyone on whether or not my chances of getting in to some of my top schools are possible. Here are the schools:
Amherst College
Franklin & Marshall College
Bates College
Villanova University
Colgate University

2

Under the new SAT format, the projected middle-range for Amherst appears as 1430-1570, which could make it an out-of-reach school. Colgate would seem to be a reach, Villanova a somewhat lesser one. Your chances might be fair to good at Bates and Franklin & Marshall, at which your scores would be closer to the middle range, and at which you could alternatively decide not to submit scores at all. Your track accomplishments and generally rigorous academics could, considered together, be a sufficient positive factor at several of these colleges of course.

In general, your standardized scores would be fine for many schools – and could be confidently submitted to them – but you may want to consider from among colleges that are test optional/flexible when choosing your reaches:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/04/12/the-complete-list-of-test-optional-colleges-and-universities-as-of-now/

3

It is hard to chance you without knowing if coaches are going to support you, but Amherst is a reach either way. I would not submit the scores at Bates. Since you are at a Catholic NJ school, I’m going to guess that your school sends a bunch of kids to Villanova, so check Naviance for those stats, but you should have a good chance there. They are D1, so you may not be able to run there. Colgate also D1 but their running times aren’t that much different than D3, but without coach support that’s a reach. F&M should be a match.

4

In a previous thread you posted that your SAT was 1350. Goes without saying that those 100 pts give you a better chance if that is your score.