Where can I apply w these stats?

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1

Plan to take in 12th Gr. - AP Statistics, AP Physics 1, AP English, AP German, Multivariable Calc self-paced (John Hopkins U)

Honors Program, National Achievement Finalist, National Achievement Semifinalist , Presidential Honor Roll 2016- Level 3 Gold - German National Exam- 2016, Presidential Honor Roll 2017- Level 4 Silver -2017 German National Exam, AP AB Calculus - 5, AP US History - 4, High Honors Term 4 2012-2013 School year, High Honors Term 1 2013-2014 School year, Student of the Month- Contribution Recognition- World German Department 2016, Student of the Month- Contribution Recognition- Social Studies Department 2016, Excellence in Language Arts 2013, French National Exam 2017 - Level 1 - Silver , National Society of High School Scholars, AP Calculus BC - 4, AP US Gov - 4, Delta Epsilon Phi; Pennsylvania Epsilon Phi, AP Scholar w/ Honors, Honor Society

SAT - Math 760, R&W 740
Plan to take again

ACT - Composite 33 - Eng. 35, Essay - 10, Math 31, Reading 32, Science 32, ELA 32, STEM 32.
Plan to take again

ECs
Cross Country, Swimming and Diving, Track and Field
Chess club since 4th Grd
German club-
Art Club
Camp Invention - Summer volunteer program
Peoples Light Theater, Malvern, PA

Thank you!

2

Plan to take in 12th Gr. - AP Statistics, AP Physics 1, AP English, AP German, Multivariable Calc self-paced (John Hopkins U)

GPA (weighted) 4.27

Honors Program, National Achievement Finalist, National Achievement Semifinalist , Presidential Honor Roll 2016- Level 3 Gold - German National Exam- 2016, Presidential Honor Roll 2017- Level 4 Silver -2017 German National Exam, AP AB Calculus - 5, AP US History - 4, High Honors Term 4 2012-2013 School year, High Honors Term 1 2013-2014 School year, Student of the Month- Contribution Recognition- World German Department 2016, Student of the Month- Contribution Recognition- Social Studies Department 2016, Excellence in Language Arts 2013, French National Exam 2017 - Level 1 - Silver , National Society of High School Scholars, AP Calculus BC - 4, AP US Gov - 4, Delta Epsilon Phi; Pennsylvania Epsilon Phi, AP Scholar w/ Honors, Honor Society

SAT - Math 760, R&W 740
Plan to take again

ACT - Composite 33 - Eng. 35, Essay - 10, Math 31, Reading 32, Science 32, ELA 32, STEM 32.
Plan to take again

ECs
Cross Country, Swimming and Diving, Track and Field
Chess club since 4th Grd
German club-
Art Club
Camp Invention - Summer volunteer program
Peoples Light Theater, Malvern, PA

3

Academic interests?

4

Math&Physics major

5

Looks as if you might be ready for linear algebra as a first-semester college student.

In terms of math and physics, you’d be a good academic match (though the schools themselves would be matches to reaches) for Bowdoin, Hamilton, Haverford and Carleton. The tech-focused Harvey Mudd might also be within your range. Cornell offers top programs in your fields. Rice leans heavily toward sciences. RPI (tech-focused) and URochester (broader curriculum) would be matches.

6

You can apply anywhere. Are you looking for reaches, matches or safeties? What setting are you looking for? What is your family budget?

7

A 1510 SAT / 33 ACT is good, not great, and certainly not a “you can apply anywhere” stat as most top-20 schools will be reaches with those stats. What is your GPA as that’s another important piece of the puzzle?

8

Anyone can apply anywhere. There are no requirements to apply. I wasn’t saying everything is a match or a safety. When asked where I can apply, the answer is where ever you want but not every choice may be the best fit.

9

The OP’s weighted GPA (4.27) appears in a follow-up post.

Reed would also be strong for your interests, @advipII.

10

@123Mom456, agree that the Common Application probably process makes it easy to throw away $$ - the schools did a great job in creating a new revenue source as applications increase while admittance remain the same.

11

For a range of suggestions across schools of various types and selectivity, these colleges appear in a Princeton Review sampling, “Great Schools for Mathematics Majors” (unscreened):

Agnes Scott
Bowdoin
Bryant
Bryn Mawr
Caltech
Carleton
Holy Cross
College of Idaho
Grinnell
Hamilton
Hampton
Harvard
Harvey Mudd
Haverford
Macalester
MIT
Randolph
Reed
Rice
St. Lawrence
St. Olaf
SUNY-Albany
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
UChicago
URochester
Wabash

12

@advipII

Within the past 10 years, Wesleyan and Williams have been awarded two Apker Awards in physics.
Wesleyan’s physics prize was won against much bigger schools since the Apker is divided into two tracks, one for Phd-granting institutions and one for non-Phd-granting institutions.

Colgate 2007
Haverford 2008
Mt Holyoke 2009
Wellesley 2009
Williams 2010
Wesleyan 2010
Augustana 2011
Franklin & Marshall 2012
Wesleyan 2013
Loyola Univ MD 2014
Williams 2015

If you’re interested in pursuing a Ph.D, using data from the National Science Foundation, the following schools produced the highest percentage of graduates who eventually go on to earn a Ph.D. in physics.

Cal Tech
Reed
Swarthmore
Lawrence
Carleton
Haverford
Williams
MIT
CO School of Mines
Grinnell
Amherst
Princeton
Wabash
College of Wooster
Gustavus
Vassar
Kenyon
Rice
Bryn Mawr
University of Rochester.

2017 Best Colleges for Physics in America

Bates
Bowdoin
Carleton
Grinnell
Haverford
Harvey Mudd
Vassar
Wesleyan
Wake Forest
Colby
Brown
Harvard
Stanford
MIT
Penn
Cornell
Princeton
Brown
CMU
Yale
University of Rochester

Complete list can be found on the Niche website.

13

@CrewDad, you know better than to put up a student generated ranking from Niche ^#(^

14

chembiodad the top 20 schools are reaches for anyone, regardless of stats, due to selectivity. To say a 33 " is good, not great" is really some twisted, coll. confidential thinking. A 33 is a great score. For anyone. Will it be enough to get someone into a school with a 34 average ACT? Maybe, maybe not. At a 33 the score will not be the determining factor, but the extracurriculars, teacher recs, rigor of HS curriculum, essays etc will be.

15

@2mrmagoo, reread #6 as don’t think I ever said anything that is different than what you just said as our twin DD’s just went through the admissions process with stats in the top-25% at every #1-20 university and LAC and had mixed results. That said, they were both admitted to every #20-30 school they applied to, and once you drop down to the #30-40 schools I think it does become even more predictable.

16

advipII, do you have subject test scores? If not, I would focus on those before spending more time on SAT/ACT. Your scores are solid. I would not spend time prepping for SAT/ACT over extracurriculars, essays etc. at this point. I stand by my position that it won’t be your SAT or ACT score that keeps you out of any school. (Your SAT score is more reflective of your math abilities than your ACT math. I imagine you will do well on your Math 2 subject test.)

Chembiodad, I do think we have a difference of opinion. My point is that it won’t be the test score that keeps a 1500 SAT /33 ACT student from being admitted. You stated it was not a great score. I maintain it is a GREAT score that will get one past the hurdle in admissions and into the giant pile of qualified candidates at any highly selective schools. It is a ‘you can apply anywhere’ score and feel confident that your score will not keep you out. It will be up to the extracurriculars, essays, etc. There is no assured admission even for 1600/36 ACT kids.

17

@2mrmagoo, yes, we do disagree that a 33 is good enough to put an ORM in the running at a top-10 school - with avg ACT of 34 at these schools I don’t believe an unhooked applicant that scored a 33 is going to have a chance without some extraordinary offsetting accomplishments. There are 45,000 that scored a single-sitting 34 or above; when you add in those schools that superscore I am sure the number increases to 70,000 - that’s a lot of 34’s!

18

I’m going to chime in here and say the OP’s stats do put him in the running for anywhere with the possible exception of Caltech and MIT. A 33 and 1500 will get him a good look at virtually anywhere and then it will come down to other things like essays and recs. I have a hard time believing that 34 is the new average at the top schools. I took a quick look at the CDS for Yale, Duke, Amherst and Stanford and none report an avg ACT of 34.
Now I’m not saying the OP is going to get into a top 10, but his stats certainly make him competitive.

19

https://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/P_99_999999_N_S_N00_ACT-GCPR_National.pdf

This link from the ACT shows that 32,000 test takers for 2016 scored a 34 or better so that is pretty rarified air with over 2 million taking the test.

20

agree with wisteria100. Chembiodad I think you made my point. A 33 may not get one in to some schools without extraordinary accomplishments, but that is not the point. Nor will a 34, 35 or 36 get one in without more. A 33 alone is not going to keep them out.

OP your stats are good enough to apply at any school. Of course this does not mean you will get in. Your extracurriculars, essays, recommendations etc have to be excellent for the tippy top schools. Please apply to a good range of schools, reach- match and likely. Know that your score is excellent and be proud of it. Even students with excellent scores don’t get admitted to their reach and match schools. Best of luck.