I’m interested in liberal arts colleges in New England. I’m applying to Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Colgate, Skidmore, Hamilton, Vasaar, and quite a few more, but I’m fairly sure they’re all out of reach. Bowdoin is at the top of my list and my mom is an alum, so I’m hoping that will help my chances, but I also live in Maine which lowers my chances of acceptance even further.
Just to get an idea of me:
4 years of softball and soccer
3 years of STARs- Students Teaching About Respect, in and out of school volunteer work
2 years of Envirothon and sustainability club
Class Office Junior and senior year
Played a big part in prom comittee
My unweighted grade average last time I saw was 96.3
SAT scores: Reading and Writing: 670 Math: 590
ACT: 26 overall (don’t remember specific sections)
I’ve taken 8 early college classes starting my sophomore year ranging from English 101, psychology, criminal justice, humanities, creative writing, meteorology (lab), summer reading list, craft of writing
I just need to throw some good safety schools into the mix. I’m planning on majoring in English and/or philosophy.
Agree that you have a lot of reaches given your test scores. I assume you are female – how about Mount Holyoke (test optional)? Dickinson is test optional as well.
The schools on your application list, other than Skidmore, are reaches. Some of them may be out-of-reach.
Try looking outside New England at LACs that are a bit less selective. Possibilities:
Allegheny
Denison
Earlham
Goucher
Juniata
Kalamazoo
Ursinus
Lower reach possibilities might include Bryn Mawr (women only), Dickinson, Gettysburg, or Mt. Holyoke (women only).
What the two above said. In my opinion, your test scores are going to kill your chances at most of the schools you listed unless they’ve gone test optional AND you are bringing something remarkable to the mix.
I’d take Hamilton, Vassar and Bowdoin off the table. Check their admissions data. For example, Bowdoin’s ACT middle 50 is 30-34. They’re not going to take a 26 unless they are truly exceptional in some other respect.(You can check a college’s stats pretty efficiently at collegedata.com.)
The others are also reaches, though you might as well give them a shot if you like them.
Although I don’t particularly recommend Parchment as a reliable indicator, it may be a useful quick take reality check for you. Unless you’re being recruited for some remarkable talent, don’t waste time with colleges that fall into the red zone for your stats. It’s fine to include a bunch of yellow zone schools. Make sure you have plenty of green zone schools. (If your school has Naviance, take a look at that, but recognize that lower stats admissions are typically recruited athletes, not the average kid.)
The suggestions provided above are good. If you’re trying to stay in the northeast, look at Clark and Muhlenberg as well. If you’re willing to go farther out, check College of Wooster (Ohio). Colleges that Change Lives (ctcl.org) has a nice list of excellent schools that may be less fussy about your test scores than the ones you’ve listed.
Have you looked at Clark? My daughter has some of the same schools as you on her list and applied EA to Clark as a hopeful safety. Great school - mixed opinions about the area but a lot to love. Of course too late for EA but Clark is test optional, a bit easier to get into and definitely has the same environment as some of the schools on your list. Good luck.
Following up on @porcupine98, I would take all three (Bowdoin, Hamilton and Vassar) off the table as the Hamilton Class of 2021 had a Accepted Student median ACT of 32-34 (so 32 was the bottom 25%) and an Admitted Student median ACT of 31-33. https://www.hamilton.edu/about/just-the-facts
Bowdoin’s Class of 2021 had a Admitted Student median ACT of 31-34. I assume Vassar was similar to both Bowdoin and Hamilton, as was Colgate. Colby was close - slightly lower. Bates and Skidmore are possible super reaches, but Bates would be very difficult with a 26 unless you are a hooked applicant - URM or First-Gen.
Have you been working with your GC on a list of matches, reaches and safeties based on your academic profile? There are lots of great schools out there that would be a fit.
@Chembiodad My guidance counselor doesn’t really help me pick colleges, she just helps me apply and helps me with essays. The problem for me is, that I would like to stay in Maine if possible. I want to get into a school that will give me a lot of opportunities (i.e Bowdoin, Colby, Bates), but all these colleges are super tough to get into. As an English major who wants to go into publishing I need to get into the best school I can for the connections it can give me.
@uundercoverhail, how about St. Lawrence in upstate NY - its a great LAC and one where you are just inside the Attending Student ACT range of 25-30. And Senator Susan Collins is an alum, so a big Maine connection!
Regarding all female schools, I hear ya. I was a hard pass once. But, in hindsight, I really wish I’d been willing to consider that option. Maybe visit just one – or put in a couple of applications – and then go see? A fair number of very powerful women came from women’s colleges, and I was blown away on a recent visit to one. Keep an open mind. It is possible that you may find you are able to get into a higher caliber school by being flexible on this point.
Despite what everyone says I would apply to Bowdoin, test optional since your mother went there. I also don’t think they have that many students from Maine surprisingly. It’s a reach, but you won’t know unless you try.
Nothing wrong with adding a high reach where you have legacy status (and where legacy status is considered), just know that it’s a high reach.
Another thought: Have a look at Connecticut College. Not a safety, but maybe a plausible match? I think it checks some of the same boxes as the other schools on your list.
In the same general category, but getting into PA, take a look at Lafayette (along with Allegheny, Dickinson, Muhlenberg and Ursinus). Two matches, three safeties, I think.
Legacy status is only considered a tie breaker at a top-20 LAC, so they likely profile at median ACT or above. Bowdoin as need blind/meets 100% of demonstrated need school, diversity is a big part of the mission so the lower 25% is generally going to be reserved for those hooked applicants that didn’t have the advantages of others.
