What are my chances at the elite schools?

igotsachance
Sun, 24 Jul 2011 21:29:14 +0000

Hello,
I am a rising senior and this coming fall I will be applying to some of the elite colleges and universities. Here is a tentative list of the schools to which I will be applying:

Harvard
Princeton
Yale
Stanford
Williams
Amherst
Middlebury
Grinnell
Wesleyan
Oberlin
UCLA
UCB

Money is a consideration, so I am trying to apply to schools that will, providing I am accepted, most likely meet my financial need or give me merit aid.

I am a white male who attends a very small private Waldorf School in California. Most people reading this are probably not familiar with Waldorf Schools. I am not sure how to describe them. Let’s just say that they are a type of school based upon the teaching philosophies of a man named Rudolf Steiner. Art is a large part of the curriculum.

My class rank is #1 out of 23 students

My weighted GPA is about a 4.2 out of a possible 4.3 (an A+ counts as a 4.3)
Unweighted my GPA is 4.00

I have received As or A+s in all academic classes. The same can be said for all my art classes, which are required, except for two A-s and one B+.

My SAT score is 2340 (CR 750, M 790, W 800). This is not super-scored. This is in a single sitting.

I have not yet taken any Subject Tests. I am currently studying for the U.S. History and Literature Subject Tests and will be taking those tests in October. My schools teaches using the block system which makes taking and doing well on any Subject Tests very difficult. Still, I think I will be able to score 750+ on both those tests.

I should have outstanding teacher recommendations. The teachers who will be writing my recommendations love me both as a student and as a person and should present me in the best light possible.

I am currently writing my college essay. I won’t get into specifics but it should come out being emotional and have an underlying theme of social awareness.

I do not have the strongest extracurricular activities and I know it. I have been playing the violin for 9 years. I am very good, not great, but very good. I am currently playing Saint-Saens’ Rondo Capriccioso if anyone is familiar. I have been in my school Orchestra for 9 years playing the violin. I have also played piano for two years and saxophone for two years, but that was when I was younger so that probably doesn’t mean anything. I have been one my high school soccer team for the past three years and will be on the team this coming year too. For two summers I have worked at a summer camp and accumulated about 200 hours of community service.

Given the above facts about, what are my chances of being admitted to the schools that I listed? I am aware that, to a certain extent, getting into the very best schools is somewhat of a crap shoot unless you are a genius of course.

Please be honest in your assessment and do not hesitate to comment or ask me questions. Any sort of feedback will be truly appreciated. Thanks, and Good Luck!!!