Your questions are quite appropriate and reasonable. Even if there are some uber smart, finds-both-school-and-tests easy, thinks and reasons at-a-super-sophisticated-level types out there who aren’t grinders, that does not make them a slacker. No matter where you go, simple basic statistics tell you that there will be a bell curve of student performance. Whether at a tippy top school or a community college, there will be students at all levels of performance. Some will excel and some will wash out. IMO there is a difference between a students who excelled in HS but may have difficulty adjusting to college life for any variety of reasons. That doesn’t make them a “slacker”. That strikes me as pejorative. Colleges are businesses. They want to enroll students who will graduate, succeed, and give back to their college. They don’t typically admit “slackers” or students who are “lazy”.
Would this be an incentive for schools like Washington and Lee, URichmond, etc to take me?
Not the only reason but potentially…QB is 81% first generation - so there’s a marked advantage there.
W&L says 7% of their students come from the Johnson and 6% QB - so about 1/8 is on a full ride - from those two. Others may be based on need. Only 43% submitted a test so their scores are strong - but less than half submitted - that’s an advantage for you. If you’re applying outside QB, they say 60% got grant assistance so a lot less full pay, then say Colgate - averaging $62K. So do the NPC - and see - you need full - and $62K isn’t close. They are need blind (I think for the first time ever - got a big donation) - so if the NPC looks good - that’s good for you. But if it doesn’t, well you can hope it’s wrong…but it wouldn’t look good. I’m guessing NJ isn’t a plus but first gen is. Just a guess.
Richmond had an unweighted 3.84 to 4.0 - so you are well below the 25th percentile. Your SAT is slightly above but only 33% submit - so while it likely doesn’t make up for the GPA, it’s a plus. NJ isn’t a plus I’m guessing. They don’t say how many QB they have but 10% are first gen. Richmond is also need blind - so another boon for you.
I suppose if the NPCs look good (if you don’t do QB), these are two to put on the high consideration list - given they are need blind. But - make sure the NPC looks good.
First gen low income is a “target” group - many colleges report their FG and LI % of the freshman class - but you’re still going to be competing against many others of the same “grouping” in admissions.
Example (as schools you’ve mentioned) - they don’t all present their data the same way and have different levels of detail
W&L 10% first gen, 6% QB finalists (I assume there is some overlap between these) …but also note that 26% of the class are recruited athletes
Duke 12% first gen, 22% Pell grant eligible https://admissions.duke.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2028ClassProfile.pdf
Richmond 10% first gen https://www.admissions.richmond.edu/studentprofile/index.html
I’m not first gen (my mom went to CC), just low income and a non-STEM Asian looking to apply to LAC which is also quite underrepresented.
Then you better ensure in your activities or essays they know you’re Asian because there’s no longer a box check. By itself (via a check box), they cannot use your ethnicity.
Also wonder if religious minority (Muslim) can be a benefit as well. I can include Muslim Student association founder in my town, volunteered at mosque in my activities and my commonapp essay will have cultural elements as well
I’ll say this - and yes, you should represent yourself as you want to be represented, with activities, etc. that are most important to you…with an essay that works for you.
But every time you ask - will this help or will this get me in - just my opinion - i don’t see it happening.
But I also know - if you don’t apply, you’re not getting in - so I’m glad you are going for it - and you should so you’ll know.
But I don’t see it happening anywhere.
But demonstrate interest at schools that require it. If you’re not doing QB, ED somewhere if the NPC works.
And give it your shot!!
I appreciate your hustle - but don’t worry about - will this get me in, etc. No one can answer. We are not adcoms.
But continue your path to see - the worst they can say is no…and if they do, the world won’t end.
For sure, just wanted your insight lol. And thank you! We’ll have to see what happens, sort of exciting
It is exciting - but it is a lot of hard work.
If the NPCs look good (meaning full coverage), I do think finding need blind vs. aware schools will be a boon for you - even if they are harder admits - because need aware can say, you take too much budget.
You can check the CDS like I showed b4 for how much each gives. You can usually google if they are need blind or aware - and if you can’t find it, ask them. Some say sensitive - it’s sort of a hybrid - but still aware.
Me personally - I wouldn’t apply to Colgate, as an example - they say this and are loaded with full pay. But - no one truly knows. See what they say below - so if you need full after they do their formulas, they could reject you just for that reason. Of course, if they’re high on your list - well you might decide to roll the dice anyway and that’s fine too. It’s your list, your application (QB) or applications (individual).
Colgate provides financial aid to students who are accepted for admission and have demonstrated the need for financial assistance. Colgate is committed to meeting the demonstrated financial need of all admitted students, but the admission process is not need-blind.
Ok so the % of Pell grant recipients might be a better indicator for you.
But to add to what tsbna44 said - asking about low income, Muslim, Asian etc … at the end of the day, these are things that you are but that you have no control over. They may give you a marginal edge with some schools, but it’s not going to make or break your application What you have actually done and achieved yourself is going to be much more important.
And he’s got great EC - the first is interesting. A congressional internship if it has meat and published after an internship at Stanford Medical School. Make sure you can back them up with proof.
You have a great and diverse background.
As you’re involved with native reservations - they may think you’re Native American. Can’t hurt !!
Thank you!! I plan on putting proof of this in the additional information section.
Lol, would definitely be a bonus
I understand the point you are making…
But…. I caution you not to underestimate Rutgers. You are still going to have to “push yourself in a place that feels ambitious.”
You will still be taking medical school prerequisites along with strong students who were at the top of their class in HS, while also going through personal challenges. This doesn’t mean you won’t do well, but it does mean that you will be among talented peers.
Rutgers has undergraduate research (not sure how much given the current climate) and plenty of opportunities that are accessible without a car.
I wish you luck in your quest to find a full ride, and I wish you success in your college experience.
Thank you so much for this! 
I really appreciate it.
I know my unweighted GPA is around a 3.7, but I’m also top 10% of my class which, I think, says something poorly about the context of my school with regards to me. Our average SAT score is about 1020, and we don’t have a huge number of AP or advanced courses to take compared to bigger or more resourced schools. I’ve really tried to push myself by taking the most rigorous classes available, including several APs, dual enrollment, and honors, to make the most of what my school offers, just really sucks I don’t have access to all these other AP courses and that my rank is top 10% given the lack of hardcore competition. I’d love if everyone could chime in!
“First generation to college” definitions vary. Some colleges define it as “no parent attended college”. But others define it as “no parent earned a bachelor’s or higher degree or equivalent”.
We have - you have to figure out QB or not. We can’t decide for you and we’re not adcoms.
You want those types of schools so I assume you’ll find meets need, high ranked to apply to regardless.
No matter if we tell you that you’ll get in or not - we are not adcoms and you clearly want to apply at that level as you’ve dismissed some fantastic opportunities at schools like Elon or even assured free rides at a school like Troy.
So you have a plan - after you figure out QB or not.
You just have to execute it and see.
If you don’t do QB, your list will have to be determined more by the NPC than anything.
Maybe a Colgate makes you pay room and board you can’t afford but Franklin & Marshall doesn’t - but is need aware.
Maybe Denison makes you pay $5000 - but is need blind where another will cover all but is need aware (like Lafayette).
You’ll have to make those decisions as you apply.
I have no doubt there are schools like Connecticut College you can get into - maybe not the level you think but a high level or a Holy Cross if you ED’d…but you might have to pay some or they might turn you down for requiring too much aid.
I think someone like you is more art than science - in building a list if you don’t do QB.
And if you do QB, there are meets need schools not on their list.
100% agree, and I think I’ve built a bulk of my list already with QB. Without QB, I may be screwed with all the application fees but I imagine I can get the vast majority of those waived.
You will be viewed within the context of your HS. You took 9 APs- I think that’s a lot. Our HS has a large selection of AP classes and our students generally take about 6- they are not allowed until junior year.
I think you are an accomplished student, with excellent test scores and some impressive ECs. You are clearly motivated. Your gpa, while good, is low for the reach schools you are applying to. Maybe the upward trend will help, but I don’t know because I do not sit on admissions.
You have to figure out which schools are QB apps and which schools are not (use the NPC).
You are looking for a full ride to a reach school- that’s tough. I would include some schools that are much less reachy where you may get a full ride, but I am not you.
If you went sans QB (a lot of work), reach out to those schools - or have your counselor do so - like if you want to apply to Lafayette or F&M. Some may not have app fees (Tulane) anyway but others will have instructions on getting a waiver.