State/Location of residency: New York (Long Island)
Type of high school (or current college for transfers): public
Other special factors: (first generation to college, legacy, recruitable athlete, etc.) Legacy to UW Madison
Cost Constraints / Budget (High school students: please get a budget from your parents and use the Net Price Calculators on the web sites of colleges of interest.)
None
Intended Major(s)
Unsure, but have been putting down Art, Classics, or History for many of the schools I’m applying to
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: 98.20/100
Weighted HS GPA: 104.06/100
College GPA:NA
Class Rank: Top 10 gpas in my class (my school doesn’t do rank but does acknowledge if you are one of the 10 highest GPAs.)
ACT/SAT Scores: 32 ACT, no SAT
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: English 1 Honors, English 2 Honors, AP Lit and AP Lang
Math: Geometry Honors, Algebra 2 Honors, Pre-Calculus Honors, AP Calculus AB
Science: Living Environment Honors, Chemistry Honors, AP Biology, College Physics Honors
History and social studies: AP Human Geography, AP World History, AP US History, AP Government and Eco
Language other than English: 3 years of Spanish Honors
Visual or performing arts: Studio Art, Drawing and Painting, AP Art 2-D, AP Art 3-D, Jazz Band, Music Theory 1, AP Music Theory
Other academic courses:
College Coursework (Transfer Applicants)
NA
Awards
Scholastic Gold Medal (and Scholastic Gold and Silver Keys)
Go APE! Advanced Placement Exhibition
Honorable Mention Award
National Art Education Association (NAEA)
Scholarship Award
Acceptance to Art Guild Nassau County High School Exhibition and Competition and Honorable Mention
Heckscher Museum Long Island’s Best (only 80 students selected from Long Island (2021); voted Long Island’s Best Visitors Choice Award
Science National Honor Society Achievement Award
RIT Art and Design Award Scholarship (2024)
$19,000 per academic year
Extracurriculars
*started a fundraiser called Brushtail Portraits where I raised money for my local animal shelter by selling custom paintings of peoples pets. Raised $1,260 over the summer
volunteer at local animal shelter usually one day a week (feed, socialize, and care for cats)
online Library of Congress volunteer; I help digitize handwritten historical documents
local food pantry; help sort and deliver food to families in need
volleyball 4yrs (varsity 2yrs)
track 1yr (varsity)
jazz band guitarist (2yrs)
elected student senator (4yrs)
president of art club (2yrs)
science national honor society (member for 3 yrs, secretary for 1)
editor in chief of school newspaper (2yrs)
rho kappa honor society member (2yrs)
key club member (2yrs)
worked as a hostess at a restaurant over the summer
worked as a cashier at a sunglasses shop over the summer
i’m an art vendor to a boutique in North Carolina i sell my original watercolor paintings in this st
Essays/LORs/Other
*My English teacher, I had her 2 years in a row and went to her after school many times during those years. She helped me with so many of my personal and academic issues.
My music theory teacher, had for 2 years, always stayed after school, we got very close. Still visit his class even though I don’t have him anymore
my art teacher, had her last year and now this year
my APUSH teacher, not as close with but did well in his class
I don’t see Brown - it’s a tough get and the ACT score isn’t there. Same with Princeton. UNC is a tough get and I don’t see it but UNC, UMich and UVA seem possible, even if unlikely.
Bryn Mawr and Kenyon are targets but I lean on yes.
Wisconsin is similar - target but I lean on less. W&M is similar but I lean no.
U Del is a safety.
Odd you have gigantic and tiny and then in between. Are you sure these all fit you ?
Thank you for the response! Is there anything you recommend for me to do to increase any chances in the couple of months before the deadlines for these schools, or do you think it’s too late to really make any other progress now?
About if all of these are a good fit, I really don’t even know what kind of school I want to go to. Everywhere has its pros and cons, I think I will just see where I get in and take it from there.
The top 4 - Princeton, Brown, UNC, UVA are hard gets period but a 32 ACT doesn’t help, especially at the Ivies. But you can have a 36 and still not get in.
Try and see. You’ve done a ton. Hopefully your essays and LORs work and something bounces your way. But tons of great schools out there. Tons.
Sure they may be a few levels lower in selectivity but at a Gettysburg, for example as a Kenyon sub - it’s a great school.
Thank you for your response Yes I applied to 5 SUNYs, I just forgot to write them here because I didn’t apply through common app, I did it straight from the SUNY application website. I applied to New Paltz, Potsdam, Plattsburgh, Oswego, and Binghamton.
I say apply to Brown and Princeton because you will always wonder if you do not. I think with your ACT score it will be out of reach. There is one more test date in December for the ACT. I also think UNC and UVA will be very hard as OOS and 32. Are you looking for other LACs? Given your interest I think they would be a good match.
Yes I am definitely looking for a liberal arts education. Do you think it would be better for me to apply test optional for UNC and UVA and Princeton? Brown requires test scores unfortunately
What were your segment scores? Were they all around 32 or did you have some 34/36’s with some 30/31’s? A 32 is a decent score, 97th percentile. It only looks low relative to the scores of matriculants at some of your reaches. So I would submit the score. If you go TO, the schools may very well assume a lower range of scores consciously or subconsciously.
I’d say shoot your shot(s). You have 0 chance if you don’t apply.
With the clarification about the SUNYs, I like your list–I think it makes sense given your stated interests and has a good balance of different selectivity levels.
I don’t really think there is anything more to be done. Submit your applications, enjoy your senior year, and look forward to picking between whatever offers you get once you know what they are. There could be a decent variety of offers, maybe some Honors or Merit or such, so you may be surprised with what emerges as your favorite in the end. Which is cool.
Hard to know on UNC and UVA. Great test score, but also lowish for OOS students. I can tell you my kid with a similar GPA and higher ACT score did not get into UVA. Got into UNC, but we are in state. Honestly, I think it’s better to submit it because it’s a great score and above their 50th.
I’d definitely submit. You have great Reading/English scores. Math and Science are hurting your Composite but you are not putting yourself out as a STEM major.
I think I would include the scores. I think also spending a lot of time perfecting your essays will help your application. Play up that you do the arts.
My daughter graduated from Kenyon this year as a History and Modern languages major (and took a Classics course), so if you have any questions about the school, feel free to pm me. She had a higher ACT and a strong GPA from a very rigorous high school, and she treated Kenyon as a target. I agree it’s a target for you, too: your stats are excellent, and you have lots of interesting ECs. Make sure to demonstrate interest, though. She received a fantastic education, on par with Ivies, in my opinion (my husband and I both have Ph. Ds from an Ivy and taught undergrads there). Their History department is very rigorous: just look at their senior thesis requirements on their website, it’s quite a process. Good luck!
Yes I applied to 5 SUNYs, I just forgot to write them here because I didn’t apply through common app, I did it straight from the SUNY application website. I applied to New Paltz, Potsdam, Plattsburgh, Oswego, and Binghamton.