What level of selectivity should I go for?

catsss
Sat, 03 Sep 2016 23:35:45 +0000

I started the whole college-searching thing recently and I’m not really sure of what type of school is within reach. My parents think that I should look at second-tier liberal arts (ie, Mount Holioke 52%), which I think is about right. I’m going to be a junior this year; here’s a list of my credentials…

GRADES (very competitive, top ranked school with CP or AE classes the equivalent of other schools’ honors ~ apparently colleges know this ~ AE is accelerated/enriched and it’s between CP and Honors)

-UW GPA 3.611, W GPA 4.000, going to try to get it to ~3.7-8/4.2.

Freshman
-English 1H: B
-Earth Science H: B
-Algebra 1AE: B+
-World history AE: B
-Spanish 2H: A
-Ceramics 1: A
-Ceramics 2: A

Sophomore
-English 2H: A
-Biology H: B-
-Geometry AE: B
-US his/gov 1AE: B-
-Spanish 3H: A
-Chinese 1 (unleveled): A+
-Drawing and Painting: A

-This year, I’ll be in English 3H, Chemistry AE, US his/gov 2AE, algebra 2AE, Spanish 4H, and Advanced Drawing/Painting.

-I estimate that I’ll take AP Spanish 5, AP English 4, AE precalc, and Jr./Sr Portfolio (art class) as a senior. There are a lot of science and social studies options and I’m not sure.

EXTRACURRICULARS
-Figure skating for half my life
-Chinese school (will do this year)
-Member of school’s art/literary magazine
-Member of Crochet club freshman year
-Assistant editor of a newsletter for kids with celiac disease
-Wrote a few articles for my school’s newspaper

HONORS/AWARDS
-Presidents volunteer service award bronze (freshman)
-Presidents volunteer service award gold (sophomore)
-Presidents volunteer service award silver (probably will get this year)
-Some level of ^ as a senior

(I’ve volunteered at at least 10 different places)

I’m planning to enter some Spanish essay contests or maybe an art contest this year. I really want to go on some type of exchange program to a Spanish or Chinese speaking country next summer.

My practice SAT scores this summer were math 650, English 720; probably will increase after being in algebra class for a little while. I think I will take the English Literature and Spanish subject tests, and possibly Chemistry depending on how I perform in the class.

And I’m biracial, so I’ve heard being a minority helps…?

My top colleges change every day, but at the moment, I’m very into Bryn Mawr (38%). There are some schools like Haverford, Bard, and Vassar that seem amazing but have lower acceptance rates. And then there are the widely ranging early decision rates…? I’m so excited for college but really don’t have a sense of selectivity/chances. Definitely want a liberal arts school so that I can take as many languages as possible with the more flexible curriculum (leaning towards translation career).

People on here seem to be really knowledgeable and helpful; I’d really appreciate any replies Opinions?? Thanks for reading this!