Chance Me: ED Yale, Stanford, Amherst, EA UVA? [NV, 3.82 UW, 1560SAT, 35ACT, Anthropology, Sociology or IR,<$100k family income]

Chance Me / Match Me
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Demographics

  • US Citizen
  • State/Location of residency: NV
  • Type of high school (or current college for transfers): Public Magnet (highly ranked in state and nationally ranked, considered a “feeder” for the area
  • Other special factors: (first generation to college, legacy, recruitable athlete, etc.): single parent household + parental death

Cost Constraints / Budget
Will be applying for aid bc single parent household + sibling

Intended Major(s): Anthropology, Sociology, possibly International Relations

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: (calculate it yourself if your high school does not calculate it): 3.82 at end of junior year
  • Weighted HS GPA: (must specify weighting system; note that weighted GPA from the high school is usually not informative, unless aligned with the recalculation used by a college of interest, such as CA, FL, SC public universities): 4.778 (weighted is out of 4.95, and there is a cap in our district, meaning you have to have 4.0UW to get 4.95 W)
  • Class Rank: 45/276
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 35 ACT/1560 SAT

AP Scores: (no IB offered)
Taken a ton of APs and all honors, will be submitting 12 APs which have been completed by the end of the junior year. Taking 6 APs senior year.

AP Human Geography (5)
AP Computer Science Principles (4)
AP World History: Modern (5)
AP Psych (5)
AP Seminar (5)
APUSH (5)
AP Euro History (5)
AP African American Studies (5)
AP Lang (5)
AP Research (5)
AP Calculus AB (4)
AP Chemistry (3)

Awards

  • Taco Bell Live Mass Scholar (received 25k, one of 50, highest level award)
  • State and National Debate Awards
  • International Essay writing commendations
  • Princeton Book Prize
  • AP Scholar Awards + Capstone Diploma
  • Awards for history (might put depending on stuff)

Extracurriculars
(Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience)

  • State + National-level advocacy work in sex trafficking advocacy and domestic violence (ended up passing a law, writing another to be put on the Senate floor)
  • Speech & Debate + MUN (leadership in both, national-level success)
  • Paid internship with the Department of Justice as direct intern for an AG
  • Academic public policy research (will be published by APPs for independent work at local university, awaiting research publication from research study through AP Research)
  • Boys Nation
  • High School Democrats work + leadership
  • Family Responsibility: taking care of mother and brother + father while undergoing cancer treatment (led to school absences + lower grades → lower GPA)
  • Volunteering at domestic violence shelters
  • Other smaller volunteering responsibilities + stuff about DV

Essays/LORs/Other
Very strong LORs from teachers who are like second mother figures + essays revolve around increasing responsibility after Dad’s death + metaphors about racism and overcoming homophobia

Schools
(List of colleges by your initial chance estimate; designate if applying ED/EA/RD; if unsure, leave them unclassified)

  • Assured (100% chance of admission and affordability): State Schools
  • Extremely Likely: Occidental College, GWU
  • Likely: not sure, looking for help!
  • Toss-up: not sure, looking for help! (maybe UVA)
  • Lower Probability: Amherst, Georgetown, Williams College, USC
  • Low Probability: HYPS

Thanks for taking the time to read through this :slight_smile: I’ve been super anxious regarding this process, but I know that I would enjoy any liberal-arts schools! My biggest concerns are in regards to my UW GPA and class rank. They really got messed up in the aftermath of my Dad’s death, especially because I wasn’t in the right place mentally and was navigating a new experience. Doing awesome now, but would love to seek some guidance/assistance!

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This was a really great comment (linked below) from @NiceUnparticularMan a few days ago, highlighting William & Mary for someone looking for a Yale-or-LAC-like school that wasn’t quite as difficult to get into. Especially for someone with an interest in history, international relations, and social sciences, it could be a really great fit for you in the “Toss-up” bracket.

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You are very impressive. Taco Bell $25K award. Wow!!

Sorry about the loss of your family.

You say you are a feeder school - feeder to what? Do they have experience with Yale?

I would say you’re a great student but I don’t expect Yale or Stanford.

I’m mainly basing this on your class rank - 96% of Yale students are in the top 10%. Same at Stanford. At Amherst it’s 90%. You are in the 16th percentile.

That is not to dissuade you. Others may say the GPA is low (it is for them…looking at UW) but you say your school is a feeder and I’m not sure what you mean by that.

So I’d say the three in the title are unlikely.

UVA would give you the best chance but…let’s call it a reach vs. a super reach.

I’ll agree on Occidental. But they are need aware - so in theory, they could punt you if you have too much need as they meet need.

Now that I look at your actual thread - Gtown, like UVA, a reach but you never know. Same with Williams and USC.

You have LACs and larger schools - is there a preference.

Don’t be super anxious - this part is easy - and you’ve already come through an unfortunate and difficult existence. My sister lost a parent as a child - and I cannot imagine (I was actually 30 mins old when my mom passed so I didn’t experience this the same way).

You note you’d like LACs - you might want to look at Washington & Lee who has the Johnson Scholarship.

You say you’re applying for aid - but has your mom filled out any net price calculators? You want to ensure that what a school says you can pay and what you can actually pay agree.

Here is Occidental’s .

I would caution you from looking for reaches or targets, etc. In the end, you need a couple safeties - sounds like UNR is one.

You also can use the WUE program - a lot of discounted schools - both big and small. Fill in the top (I linked below)

As for IR, and I don’t know your budget - U Denver is very good. My daughter goes to College of Charleston and is what is called a Charleston Scholar and International Scholar - you can google. They are sub groups of Honors - but are very selective. You might be a candidate.

A lot depends on what you seek in a school but others to consider:

Macalester, Denison, Franklin & Marshall, Connecticut, DePauw, Furman, Kalamazoo, Rhodes, Beloit, and Trinity (San Antonio).

One question I’d ask you - are you ok being so far away from mom (like East coast). Will that cause an issue for either you or her?

College admission wise - you’ll be absolutely fine. And you’ve already overcome much and this part will be cake.

But you do need a budget # (I can afford $10K or $40K, etc.) and then you need to match that up vs. the net price calculator of each school.

Best of luck.

Welcome | Net Price Calculator (collegeboard.org)

WUE Savings Finder - WICHE

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You’re a male student from an underrepresented state. You’re going to need more eastern LACs. I would suggest the OP skim this thread (using the summary option):
NESCAC Spoken Here: - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums

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Well, now I don’t have to recommend William & Mary myself–but I would have! You’d have to check the cost but it is a great fit for you. Rochester is another university where in my circles if kids like Yale and William & Mary and such, they may also like Rochester–and they have merit. Another university with merit you might check out, particularly if you are potentially serious about IR, would be Denver (their Korbel School is well-regarded for IR).

Generally, with your aid situation, you are going to need to look at Net Price Calculators to see what they will offer in terms of need aid, but I would also suggest looking at some LACs which have robust merit programs in addition to need aid. I tend to think your sort of profile, including the very high test scores, can translate into good merit sometimes, particularly since at least some of them may be more willing to bend on things like GPAs for someone they think is a great fit.

Like off hand, to me you sound like someone who might want to strongly consider Grinnell. They are very good in your areas of interest, I think they would be interested in your ECs and essays, and they have merit, including automerit for applying ED. I would think Oberlin, Macalester, St Olaf, Earlham, Wooster, Kenyon, and Sarah Lawrence would also be obvious ones to check out, for the same sorts of reasons.

Wesleyan would also be a great fit, but you’d have to see if they would give you enough based on need. Same with Vassar.

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Please be aware that Yale and Stanford do not offer ED. They have a restricted early action (REA) option that is non-binding but limits where else you can apply during the early round (no ED1 anywhere, no EA1 to any private colleges and universities, etc.), so familiarize yourself with those policies.

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I just noticed the “expanded” title - after I clicked on it.

It says less than $100,000.

Since you’re applying for aid, I’ll assume that’s for four years - $25K per.

Please run net price calculators.

If they come in too high for you, in addition to UNR/UNLV, we can find “smaller” schools for you that will hit your budget. Some might be in the WUE like a Fort Lewis (in Colorado) or Southern Oregon…so might not hit your academic strength but will be options. Others, like an Alabama, Ms State, UAH for smaller - and more - will at least be affordable if you decided against UNLV/Reno.

With schools like Yale, Stanford, Amherst, etc., they don’t have merit aid - so you’ll know from the net price calculator if they’ll be realistic for you or not - from a budget POV. I put Oxy’s NPC in my first message.

Just thought I’d add that. The title was long so was hidden after the 4.778 - but when I clicked on it I saw the $$ figure listed.

Thanks - and thanks for posting for guidance. I hope you find some or all helpful.

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Thank you so much for your well thought out response! I’ve done net price calculators for schools within the Ivy League, etc., and they’re all really accommodating to my family’s budget! Obviously, if I get into any of these schools such as Amherst as well, I would like to possibly negotiate to get the most I could.

But, all in all, based on net-price calculators, college provided aid for most of the schools I’m applying for is acceptable!

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Thank you, and yes I apologize for the mistake and confusion. I’m currently debating where to potentially REA, ED, or EA. I know for sure that I will EA UVA since I am nominated for the Jefferson Scholars program at my school.

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Thanks for your response! I really like the options you gave, and I’ve stuff on net-price calculators for me to come to understand that most schools that give need-based financial aid will actually be affordable for me!

I just had some concerns about schools like Grinell and Kenyon. The main concern centers around opportunities for internships and research. I know both of those schools have strong research departments, but I’ve been looking at schools on the east coast particularly for their proximity to cities like Boston, NYC, and DC where I would like to eventually settle in and which to my understanding have a lot of opportunities for career growth! How would the above stated schools help me with my opportunities in this realm?

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Thank you! I will definitely look into this!

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Thanks for your awesome reply! Our school is a feeder in that every year we always have students who get accepted into top 5 and top 10 schools. I would say, if anything, our school is a feeder for Stanford specifically, but we always get some ivies, which are more than other schools in my area.

Thanks for the advice on Stanford and Yale, I’m completely okay with being further away from my family, as well as my other.

In terms of pricing, we’ve looked at net price calculators and such, and they all appear to be relatively affordable because I’ve received scholarship money. I think at most, my family would be willing to contribute anywhere from $10k-$15k, though ideally, I wouldn’t want to place a burden on my family as much as possible.

I think one of the most important things I’m looking in a school is a lot of funding to do research and engage in career-advancing internships, also a reason why I look towards the East Coast rather than other parts of the country.

I currently do some research at Brown as well that involves history. Do you think a school like Brown or Columbia could be within some level of reach? I’m going to try and increase my GPA (expecting to increase it to a 3.87 or 3.9) this final semester as much as I can, and possibly put in a RD application.

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I wouldn’t worry about being in a place like DC per se.

You can google each school but most have a DC semester.

My daughter, for example, was there in the past Fall. She had 7 internship offers and worked for a think tank. 5 were in DC and 2 in nearby MD. I point this out because I have to be in the city or there’s so much competition seems to be overrated.

Her housing “street” near Capitol Hill was filled with students of different colleges - so most have these programs.

And in summer you’ll be able to find opportunities.

It’s not as if Stanford or Amherst are in these cities.

So as long as you find an affordable school, you’ll have opportunities.

When you have a strict budget, it trumps all things.

In addition to W&L and the Johnson I mentioned before, run the NPC for Sewanee - according to a Prof at W&L, they (Sewanee) place more per capita in DC than any other school. They meet need. And check out SMU and their full ride presidential.

Kenyon seems to run a semester via American (vs. their own program).

Grinnell has a “suspend” program.

So check each school school - you can google the school name plus DC semester.

Surprised on Grinnell but let’s say Oxy, they have one - although it seems more “restricted” than others - but that could be good if they “place” you vs. you finding something on your own.

The point being - find that solid admit that you can afford - and if you want to live in Boston, DC, or NY, you’ll find a way to get there. Not going to school there won’t necessarily be a limiter.

Programs > Brochure > Center for Global Engagement (studioabroad.com)

Washington Internship | Occidental College (oxy.edu)

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I think you need a few safeties - and after that, shoot your shot.

Would I surmise an acceptance? No - for the same reasons I brought up earlier and you brought up - rank, etc.

Am I the Admission Officer? Nope. So take your shot.

I do think though, you do need to ensure that not only you have safeties, but they’re affordable.

What the NPC says is what a school will expect you to pay - so unfortunately, they don’t take what your mom wants to pay into concern. If they say she can pay, then they expect her to pay.

Some, like Yale, will be more generous than others - like Oxy - so you have to do each one.

That you have other awards - like Taco Bell, depending on how it comes in, may reduce the need aid a school offers you.

So those NPCs really are important.

But I would think you could be a candidate for the Johnson Full Ride at W&L, that goes to 10% of the class. They also have other full tuition scholarships.

Other schools have them - like Davidson, SMU, and more. You’re already hooked into UVA which is tough to get due to many steps but it’s good you try. W&M is another others mentioned up thread.

The other thing - you will find more research opportunities that you can hope for at most schools - yep, even UNR. They’ll be emailed to you or you talk to profs - so don’t worry about that.

Here’s a list of schools that meet need - so you can check out others (via their NPC). It’s a 3rd party list - so hopefully it’s right but you’d have to check each.

You likely can’t “negotiate” more - so if a school cannot get to your #, then we just find schools that can. Or perhaps your mom decides to stretch a bit more (in combo with summer jobs, etc.).

I put the program my daughter is in - she’s in this and one more and I just got back $1241 for Fall - so she gets full tuition and a little back. It’s expensive to live there - but it might be another thing to look at.

But schools like Beloit and Kalamazoo - if you have aid - with merit and aid, who knows.

It’s great you are discovering - but really have mom dig into those NPCs. They’re a bit time consuming but once she has the financial info on top of mind, she can do them relatively quickly. I think the more generous schools are likely more admit reaches…but that doesn’t mean I’m right. Just my opinion.

Thanks

Here’s Every College That Offers 100% Financial Aid (prepscholar.com)

College of Charleston | Charleston Fellows

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You probably have a good chance of admission at UVA as you were nominated for the Jefferson - however, I’m not sure if you will get enough aid from them if you are not awarded the Jefferson. You should check their NPC to see what it says - unlike, most public schools UVA does offer some need-based aid to OOS students, but I’m not sure how generous they are. I think you will get into GWU and Occidental as well. The rest of the schools on your list are high reaches - especially for unhooked students. Your challenge is to find some more targets that will come in at budget either via need-based aid or merit - or a combination of the two.

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Thank you for this information. I’ll look into the resources you linked, as well as use the NPCs more deeply. Thank you so much, and best of luck to your daughter!

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Thanks for the reply! I looked at the UVA NPC and it is within my family’s affordability. I’ve been looking at some schools for targets like Case Western, not sure if this is a target or a reach for me though. I really do like their research programs!

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Hi, I just want to make sure that you understand that many of the colleges on your list will not stack the Taco Bill scholarship on your aid award. At best, it will replace expectations for loans or work or help towards a computer purchase. Your record and award are fantastic accomplishments, but your wording sounds like you may think your budget is the financial aid provided by the NPC + 25K Taco Bell. In fact, at many of the colleges listed, your outside scholarship will reduce the institutional grant. Please double check the outside scholarship policy on their individual websites about how to factor in the scholarship.

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If your school has Naviance or SCOIR, you should check that out to get a sense of how students with your stats do at these schools. It is less reliable with high reaches, of course, since rejected students tend to have similar stats to those were accepted, but at least it can give you an indication of whether or not you are in the ballpark.