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My Stats:

1500 SAT-800 SAT Verbal, 700 SAT Math
800 Spanish, U.S History, and Writing SAT IIs, 690 Math SAT II.
APs: U.S History (5), European History (5), Chemistry (4), Biology (4), Statistics and Probability (4), English Language and Literature (5), Art History (5), Spanish Literature (5), Spanish Language (5.) Straight honors throughout high school, and possibly the heaviest academic courseload ever achieved in the school.
ECs: Internships with Democratic Party, ACLU, and an Art Museum (Art Museum is the longest), some awards in painting, awards in essays in the humanities, Model UN, Debate, Political Science Club, Theater, Spanish Club, NHS, Spanish Honor Society, Published Poet and Short Story Writer, Wrote Two Novels and an Epic Poem, EIC Newspaper, EIC Literary Magazine, Lambda Activist, President of Ethical Awareness Club with focus on gay rights.

I have to note, though, some of these were kind of inconsistent. I did the Spanish Club three years out of four only and Model UN and Debate intermittently, but enough to get credit for all four years.

What do you think my chances are at Grinnell?

By Pattykk (Pattykk) on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 01:55 pm: Edit

You obviously have an extremely good chance of admission. Congratulations on your many accomplishments. I think you would fit in very well.

By Medusa2003 (Medusa2003) on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 11:56 pm: Edit

Sounds like you have a outstanding chance for admission. Grinnell ( based on info on its website ) places 50% of its decision on your transcript, 25% based on standardized test scores ( median SAT I is around 1370 ), and 25% on recommendations, interviews, and activities.
Grinnell students tend to be politically active with a strong liberal bent. As the previous poster said it sounds like you would fit in well.
Grinnell has strong departments in English, history, biology, anthropology, and foreign language and gives good merit aid.

By A2a2 (A2a2) on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 10:12 pm: Edit

You're a strong candidate and have a good shot at merit money. Is Grinnell your 1st choice?

By Velvetoneo (Velvetoneo) on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 02:49 pm: Edit

It is my "safety", though I would still love going there.

By Monkeyqueen (Monkeyqueen) on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 03:05 pm: Edit

I have a 3.5 gpa uw and a 4.3 w and a 1320 sat score i'm asian and i'd really like to go to grinell. i volunteer at my church and local theatre and am involved in a variety of school activites. do you think i have a chance?

By A2a2 (A2a2) on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 11:14 pm: Edit

As I'm sure you know, your SAT scores are below the median for Grinnell - but, by definition, half of admitted students are below the median so I wouldn't get too worried about it. Your gpa seems a little low -- but it's obvious by your weighted gpa that you've taken a difficult course load. If you know for sure that Grinnell is your first choice, you might think about applying early. Otherwise, work on your essay and make sure it really communicates what you can bring to Grinnell. Good luck!

By Leftyleftist (Leftyleftist) on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 04:29 pm: Edit

Hey! I just finished my junior year and I'm trying to figure out where to apply to college this fall. What do you think my chances are here? Any other college recommendations? Thanks!

Entering senior at a top 10 public high school in California
GPA: 3.55 UW/ 3.67 W (upward trend)
SATII Writing: 800
SATII Literature: 690
I'm taking the SATI in October after I do test prep this summer
By the end of senior year, I will have taken 8 APs and 1 honors class (AP Music Theory, AP Psych, AP Euro, AP US History, Hon. English, AP English, AP Gov/Econ, AP Stat, AP Calc AB)

-Member of Junior Statesmen of America
-Mock Trial- 2 years
-Vice President of Philosophy Club
-Staff writer on school newspaper
-Member of Amnesty International- 3 yrs
-Member of History Club
-Member of the school district's Diversity Committee, which works to combat such issues as homophobia in the school environment
-I'm starting a book club and a Democratic club next year, both of which I'll obviously be president of
-Member/Volunteer at Feminist Majority Foundation
-Volunteer/Organizer for John Kerry for President/ Kerry Campaign Writers Bureau/ Students for Kerry (about 15 hours a week)
-Participated in National Youth Leadership Forum for Law in Washington DC this spring
-Won the underclassman award at my school 2 years in a row, once for English, once for Precalculus (each teacher picks one student from years frosh-junior to give an award to for academic excellence)
- I'm in the Gifted and Talented Education Program (GATE) at my school
-Took classes at UC Berkeley every summer I've been in high school (got straight A's in them)
-Taking classes at local community college as well
-During budget cuts, I led a letter-writing campaign among the students to protect the teachers and programs that had been put in jeopardy
-Wrote a novel (unpublished) and 2 plays, one of which was performed at UC Berkeley
-I don't know if this will factor in at all in assessing my grades, but my mom has been unemployed for a year, on top of which there was a death in the family, the combination of which made for a stressful junior year to say the least. :-( However, my grades have definitely rebounded significantly.
-I'm a very strong writer and will be able to get good recommendations.

If someone could let me know what you think my chances are, that would be great!!

By A2a2 (A2a2) on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 10:24 pm: Edit

I think you have a very good shot.
Any sports? Grinnell is a great school, and based on your ECs, probably a great fit. Are you applying to Berkeley?

By Leftyleftist (Leftyleftist) on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 02:07 am: Edit

Really? Thanks for the support!!

Sorry, no sports. I'm not much of an athlete- I'd rather write and do advocacy work. I am applying to Berkeley (it's my hometown, I'm a double legacy, I've got lots of friends there, I'll be getting a recommendation from a professor there, I've been taking classes there for 3 years, etc., etc), but I'd rather go to an LAC because they have a much greater level of intimacy, whereas Berkeley basically focuses on its grad students (not bad since I know I want to go there for grad school) but perpetuates a "sink or swim" attitude with its undergrads. Sub-optimal. So I'll see what happens with the whole admissions deal, but I'm hoping to get into a cool LAC instead. I love the idea of Grinnell- I like the politics, I like the energy- I'm just trying to figure out if I can handle Iowa coming from the Bay Area!

Where are you going to school?

By A2a2 (A2a2) on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 11:40 pm: Edit

Sorry, I'm a parent! But my son goes to Grinnell and loves it. We live in Ann Arbor - so he was faced a choice similar to yours. He was accepted to Michigan and a bunch of LACs out east, and it came down to Michigan or Grinnell. I was hesitant about Michigan. As you say about Berkeley, fantastic for grad school. He has no regrets. As to dealing with Iowa - that depends on your expectations. My son has a few friends from California - and it does seem that they miss it more than people from other areas of the country miss where they're from. So don't expect it to be sunny and warm. Don't expect there to be a sandy beach. Don't expect that there will be a vibrant city. Do expect that kids will be friendly; that there will always be plenty to do; that the college community will be very close. Best of luck to you!