Am I prepared enough?

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I was admitted to Wellesley and I plan on attending, but I come from a low income area and a comparatively bad high school. I know I wouldn't be accepted if Wellesley didn't think I was ready, but my confidence is a bit low. </p>

<p>I got a 29 on the ACTs (I only took it once) a 4.0 GPA, and I've taken the hardest curriculum I possibly could with the way our school scheduling is (which includes 3 APs, calculus, and anatomy). I do a ton of after school activities, like School of Rock (I teach and as well as play), band, NHS and was an editor and business manager for yearbook. </p>

<p>Our work load isn't as rigorous as it should be, especially in AP classes. We usually aren't prepared enough for the exam so most kids are lucky to get 3s.</p>

<p>Do you think I'll be okay at Wellesley? Are there good transitional classes to help students from poor public schools adjust? I've never had a chemistry class, but I'm especially good at literature. I was originally aiming to major in anthropology, but of course, everything is subject to change. </p>

<p>Thanks for your help and opinions! =] I'm really looking forward to joining you all and becoming a Wellesley Woman!</p>

<p>I think it’s pretty common, after the initial excitement of “I got in!” to then worry “what if I’m not good enough.” My D had a similar ACT score, GPA, APs, EC activities and also graduated from a HS that’s in a low income area, has a low graduation rate, and due to performance is eligible for federal grants. And yes, she had a similar panic moment of wondering if she was up to the challenge.</p>

<p>She has found Wellesley rigorous and works very hard, but she is doing well. It was a big adjustment for her to not automatically get As in everything, but she has received some As and several A- grades. She seeks out help from study groups, tutoring centers, professors, etc. and has done fine.</p>

<p>I think you will be fine, too! My daughter loves Wellesley and feels so fortunate to be there. Best wishes!</p>

<p>Thank you so much! That’s very comforting to know. I know I’m going to work very hard and I feel very privileged to be one of the few to get out of my area.</p>

<p>I think it says a lot about you that you were able to get into Wellesley (and score so well on your ACT) from your background. Wellesley wouldn’t have accepted you if it didn’t think you could handle it. </p>

<p>Wellesley knows that the work load is difficult, so it provides a lot of support for students. There are so many ways to get help-- academic peer tutors (APTs) in the dorms, individual peer tutoring, office hours, your classmates, etc. First years sign up for a meeting with their dorm’s APT at the beginning of fall semester. I would suggest taking your writing seminar first semester, so you can adjust to college level writing. You might also want to make an appointment at the PLTC ([Wellesley</a> College Pforzheimer Learning and Teaching Center](<a href=“http://www.wellesley.edu/PLTC/index.html]Wellesley”>Redirect to Wellesley College web site)) early in the semester to learn about study skills.</p>

<p>Thank you! I was definitely planning on taking the writing class first semester, as well as starting a foreign language and taking some basic anthropology and a math class. Writing is definitely my strong suit and my English teacher that I had for the last two years has helped me a ton. </p>

<p>I’m will check out that program and I will be sure to take advantage of it. It’s definitely hard coming from an area where going to an out of state school is unheard of. I’m so thankful for CC and everyone that answers questions because there’s nobody in my school to ask.</p>