Could an average schedule wreck my chances for Claremont Mckenna?

Chance Me / Match Me
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<p>So I have just begun my senior year of high school, and though I’m in talks with several schools, I know exactly where I would choose to go in a heartbeat were they to accept me. I get so incredibly excited when I hear anything about Claremont Mckenna, and the more I learn about it, the more I fall in love with the school. It would be the perfect fit for me…but I suppose hearing everything I love about the school isn’t exactly why you’re here. So here’s the problem. </p>

<p>My ticket was rowing. “Was” because Claremont Mckenna only has a club team. Therefore I doubt the coach would have any pull with admissions. And I seriously need something going for me as my academics aren’t really above and beyond the school’s average. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>ACADEMICS:
9-12 GPA - 3.85 (4.03 weighted)
10-12 GPA - 3.76 (4.05 weighted)</p>

<p>SAT: 2130 (CR - 660, Math - 760, Writing - 710)
SAT II: Biology - 710, Literature - 720, Math Level II - 670</p>

<p>AP Tests: Biology - 5, Art History - 4</p>

<p>Class Rank: We do not have any rankings at my school.</p>

<p>SCHEDULE:
Psychology (1 semester)
Sociology (1 semester)
Anatomy & Physiology
AP Statistics
American Government/Economics
Contemporary Literature</p>

<p>EC’s:
Rowing for 4 full years, going on 5th
Paws for Pause Club (A club at my school that helps out with animal shelters and the like)
Club Med (A club at my school that centers around medicine and normally has speakers come in)</p>

<p>MAJOR:
I plan to either major in biology/minor in psychology OR major in psychology/minor in biology.</p>

<p>MISC:
Not sure if this would be any help, but I’m half black.</p>

<p>ATHLETICS:
I won’t list my stats for rowing as they will not be of any use for this particular school. </p>

<p>Anyway, what worries me greatly is that their acceptance rate is only 18%, and nearly 2/3 of those students are from out-of-state (whereas I am from California). My senior year schedule probably also looks like a “slacker” schedule, which wasn’t really my intention. I am greatly interested in the body and the mind, which is why I chose the psychology and anatomy classes. If there were honors or AP options at my school for those two subjects, I certainly would have taken them, but the only option was AP Bio, which I had already taken junior year. </p>

<p>So with all this in mind, do you think I have a chance at all with this school? I thank everyone for their input. Whether good or bad, I am truly appreciative.</p>

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<p>Your school doesn’t offer honors classes in Psychology and etc so they really cannot hold that against you. If I am not out of place in assuming this, I think they would be glad to see that you took an interest in preparing yourself for classes within your major as early as 12th grade. As for being in California, you really can’t change geography can you? Haha. As a fellow Claremont applicant/lover, the 18% acceptance rate also scared me so my advice would perhaps be to apply to another Claremont College and maybe you’ll be able to take classes at Claremont McKenna if you don’t get in. Close, right? Good luck!!!</p>

<p>Sent from my SPH-M900 using Tapatalk</p>

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<p>I would highly recommending changing your senior schedule I’d still possible. It does look slacker. Being black will help, but they will expect you to have challenged yourself, they need to see that you can make it through.</p>

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<p>PrinceMuzic, what you said gave me a bit more hope. I’m really hoping they’ll see my schedule that way, but just in case they don’t, maybe I’ll include something about my interests in psychology and biology in an essay to really get it across and somewhat explain why I made the decision that I did. I was thinking of applying to the other Claremont colleges as well, but Pomona is even harder, lol. I don’t wish to go to Scripps due to it being an all girl’s school, and I’m not sure Harvey Mudd would be wise because engineering is so heavily emphasized there. I will probably end up applying to Pomona, Claremont Mckenna and Pitzer. Crossing my fingers I’ll get in somewhere! And good luck to you as well :)</p>

<p>Redroses, honestly, I would change my schedule now if I could. But due to budget cuts, we’ve been laying off more and more teachers every year. This year, schedule changes for anyone are nearly impossible, especially for the AP classes. I wanted to change Gov/Econ to AP Gov/H Econ, but it’s closed. I also wanted to add AP Physics, but again, it’s closed. I’m probably going to end up going back to my counselor several times within this next week (Friday being the deadline for schedule changes) to see if anyone has dropped out, but my chances aren’t looking that great.</p>

<p>Thank you both for the input! Any other advice would be welcome as well :)</p>