<p>Hey paperdolls. Well Vassar might be a bit of a reach, but not as bad as you think – I’d say your odds right now are around 35%. The main arguments against you are that your rank should be higher, and that your ECs could be a little more intriguing. The Vassar adcom, especially, is looking for someone with innovation and perhaps even a tinge of rebellion. Have you ever considered starting your own group – perhaps a small literary magazine or a local news blog?</p>
<p>The upsides to your application will be those neat-sounding awards, your volunteer and karate-related work, and your compelling SAT scores. Let’s not forget about your race, either. That factor adds quite some weight. If you put up good grades your first semester and do something cool between now and December, then I’d say you stand a good shot.</p>
<p>I want to make a quick pitch for applying ED, too. ED shows the adcom that you’re serious about attending, and slightly boosts your chances of being accepted. And while it might be a concern elsewhere, I would <em>not</em> worry about financial aid at Vassar. Unless you get a large merit scholarship from a second-tier school, Vassar will likely provide you with the best deal available. Plus, most liberal arts colleges (and I believe Vassar is one) don’t make an ED acceptance binding. While they could legally force you into enrolling, smaller schools generally realize that it’s in neither party’s interests to force a student to attend a school they don’t want to go to or can’t afford. Call the admissions office (consider doing so anonymously, though) to find out.</p>