Applied last week (not ED)... will I get in?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Bowdoin College
1

<p>OK, so as I said, I already applied, so sadly, I can’t change anything…</p>

<p>Anyways, here are my stats:
GPA:
UW - 3.95
W - 4.71</p>

<p>SATs:
Taken twice, highest:
M: 720, W: 720, CR: 670</p>

<p>Chem: 780
Math II: 750
Bio E: 750</p>

<p>All AP classes possible taken except for one, all academic classes since middle school are honors at least.
Chem - 5
Calc AB - 5
World History - 5
English Language - 5
Environmental Science - 5
Bio - taking this year
Calc BC - taking this year
Literature - taking this year
US Gov - 5</p>

<p>Intended Major: Self-designed major in Ocean Science, focusing on Geology and Biology (talked about in ‘why Bowdoin’ essay)</p>

<p>Now, subjective stuff:
Recommendations: AP Chem teacher and AP Calc AB/Precalculus teacher. Both loved me and definetly wrote awesome recommendations. I also got a recommendation from the Director of Biotechnology Products at the FDA (more about that later) who also happens to be my boss.</p>

<p>Interview: Went well, kind of short (15-20 minutes), gave interviewer pictures of the boat I’m building and my research abstract.</p>

<p>Counselor Rec: Very good, she is also submitting a letter of circumstance about my family situation (my father was abusive my entire high school career, mostly to my mother, I recently helped my mother get a protective order, my mom makes no money, my dad’s hardly giving me any, everything’s falling apart but my grades and internship are remaining good, all that jazz)</p>

<p>Essays: Bowdoin essay isn’t anything special, but it does detail what I want to study at Bowdoin, why Bowdoin would be the best for me (specific professors, Coastal Studies Center, etc). My common app essay is AWESOME, at least I think it is, and it details my experiences that made me want to study oceanography. However, I know that Bowdoin and Colby are big rivals, and here’s where the problem comes in: I’m not applying to Colby, but I did look at their supplement, and I liked one of the quotes it asked me to respond to (“One way to open your eyes to unnoticed beauty is to ask yourself, ‘What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?’”
—Rachel Carson). I used this as a ‘header’ for my common application, serving as the question for the “create your own topic” option. If anyone wants to read the essay, I’d love to let them, but will this affect my chances of getting in? I really didn’t mean to and only realized the potential consequences afterwards. It’s going to seem like I recycled my Colby essay when I didn’t even apply to Colby…</p>

<p>Major Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Working in a FDA/NIH lab (starting last summer, going until May) in an internship sponsored by the NIH. Doing semi-independent research (I worked with my mentor in creating and designing a project, but I am basically doing the project, processing the results, and eventually (in May) presenting the results and maybe publishing them). This internship is immunology, which is kind of far away from oceanography… will that hurt me (I thought I may be interested in biology research when I applied for the internship)? Also, I submitted my summer abstract in the ‘additional info’ section of the common app with a cover letter.</p>

<p>Building a 12’ fishing boat (starting last summer)</p>

<p>Volunteered as a juror at the Montgomery County Teen Court… heard about 40 cases… was sometimes jury chairperson in deliberating punishment (all defendants were teens and had already admitted involvement in the crime, usually drug related) (all of Junior year, 60-ish hours of community service)</p>

<p>President of National Honors Society (this year)</p>

<p>Karen Noonan Environmental Education Program, sparked my interest in studying the ocean as a science, what my common app essay is on (last year, two night/three day program)</p>

<p>Member of Student Academy of Science (10th-12th grade)</p>

<p>That’s the major stuff… so do you guys think I’m going to get in? I would choose Bowdoin over any other college but I stumbled a bit when talking to my interviewer and said that Bowdoin was kind of tied with another school for my first choice (Columbia, but I didn’t say the name) as a top choice because I didn’t want to be dishonest, and if I decided not to go to Bowdoin then I would feel bad, but I’m confident now I want to go to Bowdoin more than any other school… if only I could have had my interview a bit later…</p>

2

<p>Why didn't you apply ED?? Now you have such a long wait. You seem like a strong applicant - your academic interests are well developed and defined and they fit very well with one of Bowdoin's strengths . .</p>

3

<p>I didn't apply ED because of financial aid reasons (my parents just separated, I'm living with my mom, she makes almost NO money besides child support.) If I got in and couldn't pay for it with the award they gave me, then I would be stuck not going to college.</p>

<p>Oh, and thank you =)</p>

4

<p>Good luck and make sure you talk to someone who can provide guidance on the tricky financial aid question. As I understand it, divorce does not automatically relieve the noncustodial parent of the obligation to contribute toward his children's educational expenses.</p>

5

<p>First I would like to thank you for making me feel like a worthless bum =P</p>

<p>But I really don't see any reason why you shouldn't get in. You have sooo much going for you!</p>

6

<p>torasee has a good point. That said, you are a strong candidate.</p>

7

<p>i think you will get in. you <em>should</em> get in, if that's important to you.</p>