What are some good matches for me? (reverse chance me)

Chance Me / Match Me
1

I’m a male high school junior with a 3.6-3.7 unweighted GPA. I have always taken the most challenging classes possibly available to me, but it might seem like I’m not because my small, underfunded Alaskan school doesn’t offer a whole lot.

This year, my schedule is

AP Calculus BC
AP Eng Lang/Comp
Spanish 3
Honors Chemistry
AP US History
String Orchestra
(Correspondence: Honors U.S. and Global Economics, World Geography 1&2, Civics)

ECs

Debate/Forensics - 9th grade (qualified for regions, state)
Model UN - 10th-12 grade
NOSB - 9-12th grades (placed 4th at state then 2nd at state, Captain next year )
School orchestra - 9-11th (but not senior year) - 1st chair violist 10-11th
[city name] Student Symphony - 11-12th grades
Private music lessons - 6th-12th grades
Co-founder, Young Democrats of HS name
Varsity Track and Field - 11-12th grades
(probably not varsity) Cross country running - 12th grade

Internships/Other

Interned at Alaska State Legislature for budget research

This summer I will be a U.S. Senate Page

I was admitted to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program

I may also get a job this summer if I have time

I have played the viola since I was 7 and I frequently practice, decent amount of awards

Awarded School District Science Award

SATs
First time (EBRW/Math): 700/700 = 1400
Second time (EBRW/Math): 700/780 = 1480
Will take again to improve EBRW, est. 1520-1560 based on practice tests

Haven’t taken subject tests yet

INTENDED MAJOR: Economics/International Relations

So, what are some good matches for me? My reaches atm are Dartmouth College (ed1), Claremont McKenna College (ed2), Georgetown University, and the UCs. I think University of Washington is a solid match so far, but I definitely need more.

Thanks for all of your help, I really appreciate it!

2

Look into schools like Brandeis, Lafayette, etc.

Given your description of your high school, your GPA will draw some red flags.

3

I am by no means very experienced in doing this, but you seem to have excellent extracurriculars (Senate Page!!!) If you like DC, then American and GW might be some good targets. Ditto for Colgate, Hamilton, and Bucknell as targets somewhat similar to Dartmouth. Have you checked out Whitman too?

Hopefully that might help a little? Best of luck!

4

Yeah, my GPA is a really weak point. I have an upward trend from 3.14 to 3.89, however, if that counts for anything.

5

Check out Willamette! It’s right across the street from the Oregon state capitol so think political internships, and with your stats it will be a likely/match school.

6

With respect your interest in economics, you could find matches from this analysis:

https://ideas.repec.org/top/top.uslacecon.html

Even some of the highly placed colleges may be open to you, particularly if you choose from among them carefully. Colgate and Hamilton, for example, seem reasonably within range.

7

Do any of you think I have a solid shot at Georgetown/WashU/GWU/Wesleyan? Like 15-25% schools? I know I will need some with higher acceptance rates, but I’m just having trouble finding any that I like except UCSB and UW.

8

Oh and I forgot, I’m class Vice President

9

Since Dartmouth is your ED choice – your favorite (right?) – I’ll offer schools with similar vibes and similar settings:

Colby (more like a low reach)
Colgate (low reach/high match)
Bucknell
Connecticut College
Trinity (CT) – different setting (Hartford…)

And if the South is ok, Sewanee.

I also second Lafayette.

These schools all have Econ (obviously) – check to see if they offer anything in IR. Or email to see if you could fashion your own path.

Dartmouth is an undergrad-focused, small, rural research U which is known for its party atmosphere and a fairly balanced student body. It may have grad and professional programs, but it must have somewhat of a LAC feel. So I focused on LACs.

Before applying, run the NPC to make sure a school is likely to be affordable.

10

Well, GW from this group reports a ~42% acceptance rate. By reasonable expectation, you’d get in.

11

If you simply would like to screen potential choices by rough selectivity, then these analyses can be helpful:

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-50-smartest-colleges-in-america-2016-10

https://amp.businessinsider.com/the-610-smartest-colleges-in-america-2015-9

Note that the score averages listed originate from the prior version of the SAT, and would need to be adjusted for a direct comparison to the current exam.