<p>To get into Haverford with those scores, you'd better be one fascinating guy -- and as someone who lives nearby, I can tell you that Quakers in the western Phila. suburbs (a.k.a. the Main Line, a.k.a. home of Tracy Lord in "The Philadelphia Story") can be fascinated with the most obscure, cerebral, vaguely peacenik endeavors and oddball priorities. Seriously. Also, Haverford has cross-registration with Swarthmore and maybe Bryn Mawr, and their level of selectivity is about on par with those two. There's kind of an L.L. Bean ambiance to the place....a modestly wealthy, introvertedly progressive feeling to the student body. Interesting place, though; it couldn't hurt to try. I think they have swans living on the big pond near the entrance.</p>
<p>I visited Muhlenberg with my D recently (she was looking at the Theatre program), and I get a gut sense, based on your scores and activities and the tone of your writing, that you could get in AND that you might like it there -- but beware that Allentown the city is seriously dismal. (You know the Billy Joel song, "Allentown"? Well, it still fits. Although the country's oldest operating drive-in theater is within a short drive, and Delaware Water Gap would be a fun day trip; there's a world class jazz club there, among other things.) But about Muhlenberg proper: The campus feels extroverted -- I could sense serious parties on weekends but not much weekday slacking. The students seem generally bright but not brilliant-bright like at Haverford. The theatre department seems lavishly funded -- I snuck behind the main stage and was impressed with how thoroughly and elegantly equipped the place was. Gorgeous tech booth, perfect size auditorium (not enormous, but big enough). All kinds of fly space and ropes and everything in the wings. nice acoustics. (We weren't thrilled by their kind of damp level of passion, however -- but if you're not following a lifelong calling in theatre, then that shouldn't be an issue. And you might not agree anyway; a lot of people out there think their Theatre program is terrific.) </p>
<p>Bucknell -- my son is there so I know the place well. I don't think you'd get in based on your scores alone. They MIGHT admit you, but you'd need to stand out from the mid-600s crowd distinctly to get their attention. HOWEVER....you might have two things going for you, based on what you've said. First, you're black, and Bucknell seriously needs more diversity and they know it, and if you also fit the Bucknell personality -- down to earth, authentic, scholarly, naturally nice and baffled by mean-spirited people -- then that would be a great combo from their point of view. Second, you're an athlete -- so are you a really good athlete? The reason Bucknell finally won an NCAA game recently was that they only last year started offering athletic scholarships (did you notice how the history-making team was mostly freshmen and sophomores?). The sports world at Bucknell is probably on the high of a lifetime right now, and so I imagine this is the best time ever to see if they're looking for more gifted atheletes to recruit. Are you a gifted athelete? If you are, then your decent scores, plus your balance of other interests, plus your ethnic advantage, could do it for you. I would encourage you to go for it.</p>
<p>One thing about Bucknell, though, is that you should check whether there is racial friction on campus between the small black student population and whatever even smaller white racist element might exist there. I think there was friction a couple of years ago, or maybe it was just one incident that had everyone rightfully upset (I think there was a drunk frat party factor), but you might want to check the climate for yourself.</p>
<p>Also, I notice you're looking at very different types of campuses. Muhlenberg is a nice campus in a dismal town. Bucknell is an idyllic campus uphill from a small, quaint town that's right out of a pre-telephone-era Christmas card -- not an exciting place, but a lovely postcard of a spot -- there is one good professor-owned movie theater, a couple of good restaurants, an excellent indoor flea market, a gorgeous crossing over the Susquehanna River, and a few other small treasures, all within walking distance. (And there's the annual Little League World Series a few miles up Route 15.) They have terrible radio and TV reception (and the radio is all Christian stations and ads for guns), but the dorms have cable. Haverford is in an excellent location culturally (unless you really want countryside), but like I said Haverford is probably unlikely for you.</p>
<p>Whatever you do, remember that if you really want to go to college, you MUST have a safety school that you love. My son was a National Merit winner, and still he was rejected everywhere but his safety school -- which was Bucknell, which he did love on his first visit. My daugther is at this moment receiving one rejection letter after another, plus one waiting list -- because she was stuck on wanting nothing less than an excellent theatre program, so she applied with great effort and very impressive theatre credentials, but she did it without a safety net. And now she is looking for a job.</p>
<p>You have good credentials, but it's your whole picture that will get you admitted. Go for the stretch schools, but make sure you have at least one sure thing that you feel good about.</p>
