How is my college list? Do I have a realistic chance at any of them? If so, which ones?

About me:
3.33 GPA
980 SAT Scores 460- Math 520- Reading
I’ve been in two clubs.
Can probably get references from all of my teachers and therapist.
My accomplishments in high school are being Microsoft Office Specialized, EverFi Financial Literacy Certified, and Honor Roll with a 4.0 GPA.
I do have mental issues, but they are getting better. I’ve had am extremely hard life. I don’t know how they’ll feel.
I’ve been told that I’m a good writer my former English teacher.
I’ve done some things in middle school. (Certification, band, Spelling Bee, and honor roll.

I also know that a lot of these are a long shot, but I hope to be accepted into at least three.

Marietta College
College of Wooster
Goucher College
Bucknell University
Carnegie Mellon University
Denison University
Miami University in Oxford
Ursinus College
Haverford College
Swarthmore College

If you have any suggestions, that’d be nice. Also, no religious schools, please!

I’m entering my senior year next month, and I plan to start college in the fall of 2019.

You need to be applying primarily to test-optional schools, and choosing ones that either have a high acceptance rate, or have a median GPA below yours.

Your three test-optional schools are Goucher, Ursinus, and Denison

Goucher meets these criteria, with a median GPA of 3.15 - this is a great target.
Ursinus is good too, with a median GPA of 3.19
Denison’s median GPA is 3.6, and they accept less than 50%, so this is a reach. (Applying Early Decision would improve your chances, since the ED acceptance rate is 88%)

Marietta isn’t test-optional, but their averages aren’t that far above your stats, and their acceptance rate is high at 72%, so your chances there are decent.

At Miami of OH, your stats are below median but their admit rate is 65%, so you have a chance - probably 50:50 The Early Decision acceptance rate is 80%, so that would improve your chances.

I know you like College of Wooster. But realistically, it isn’t test-optional, and both your SAT and your GPA are way below their average. You really should apply Early Decision here if you want any reasonable chance of getting in. Without the advantage of ED I’d guess your chances would be 10% or less. The acceptance rate is 58% overall, but 77% early decision. Even ED I think your chances of getting in are probably 1 in 3 or less.

Beyond those… Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Haverford and Swarthmore really are not realistic at all. Their acceptance rates are too low for them to be admitting students way outside their normal stat ranges just because of nice essays or positive recs. Even if you were a recruited athlete and an under-represented minority, you probably wouldn’t get into these schools with your stats. Fortunately you have other really good options on your list.

In addition:

Look at UVA Wise. This is a match for your stats and has a high acceptance rate. And if you did really well there you might even be able to transfer to UVA Charlottesville.

Consider Radford University in Virginia. It’s not religiously affiliated, it’s test-optional and a good match for your GPA, and it has a minor in Classical Humanities (with courses in Latin, classical mythology, etc.).

And I’ve suggested Kalamazoo College before. Also no religious affiliation, test-optional, and has a full-blown Classics department just like Wooster does. http://reason.kzoo.edu/classics/ Your GPA is below their median, but they accept 72% of applicants, and they might be interested in an applicant who expressed a strong interest in their Classics department. Plus, their “K-plan” is very individualized, with lots of advising and support, and an open curriculum to focus on the subjects you care about. K-college is a worthy low-reach school for you. It offers both Early Decision and Early Action, and both improve your chances of getting in, over applying RD.

My suggestion:

Pick one school to apply to Early Decision:
Wooster, Denison, Miami of Ohio, Kalamazoo, Goucher, or Ursinus
(Wooster and Denison are riskier, but go for it of one of them is your true first choice. Miami-OH and Kalamazoo are good, realistic ED reaches. Goucher and Ursinus you’d probably get in anyway without ED as long as there’s nothing really negative/concerning in your application.)

Also apply Early Action to all of these besides your ED school:
Goucher, Ursinus, Miami of OH, Marietta;
and Kalamazoo, UVA Wise, and Radford if you decide to apply to those
(This way you should have at least a couple of acceptance offers before the holidays.)

If you don’t get into your ED school:
apply either ED2 or RD to Denison (if it wasn’t your ED1 school)
and apply RD to Miami of OH (if it wasn’t your ED1 school).

Good luck. Write a good, positive essay that isn’t about your mental health struggles - let your therapist address that part. Have a few people read what you’ve written and make suggestions. Show interest in all of your schools - visit if you can, and at least contact admissions and ask about remote interviews if you can’t.

Lastly… all of the above is based on the assumption that you can afford the full price of any/all colleges on this list. But you have never, that I can remember, affirmed clearly that your family is willing and able to full-pay up to $66K/year for the private colleges on your list. It is not realistic to expect merit aid, so you will be looking at $270K or more, total, for your degree, assuming you graduate on time. (Miami OH would be a bit less as an OOS public, but still over $200K for 4 years. UVA Wise would be $32K/year, less than half what Denison or Wooster or Ursinus would cost.)

If you apply Early Decision, both you and your parents will need to sign a binding commitment stating that you understand the costs are are committing to attend if admitted. Is this going to be acceptable to all involved?

Keep in mind that you do have an in-state university that even has the kind of program you want. https://www.marshall.edu/classical-studies/ You are qualified for admission to Marshall, and the in-state cost of attendance is under $22K/year. I know you prefer to go out of state, but just make 100% sure the costs are going to work for you. Marshall has rolling admissions and will give you a decision within a week once your application is complete. It might make sense to apply, at least as a backup.

And again, make sure you have clarity about the finances before applying early decision. You have already been dealing with a lot in life; make totally sure you are not setting yourself up for debt and financial struggle.

Aquapt- amazingly thoughtful and detailed advice!! Wow.

OP I would listen to the above and wish you all the best. Clearly the hard life you reference has fortified you. Congratulations on your perseverance and determination.

Thank you!