Bowdoin College

Hey CCers!

I just got my decision from Bowdoin College. I was a candidate for admission under their Early Decision II program. I got deferred.

My stats:
3.5455 unweighted Grade Point Average; 3.97 Grade Point Average.
Rank: 48/372.
ACT/SAT-Did not send.

Demographic/Background.
Race: African American
Gender: Male
Income: 22k
I live in Memphis, Tennessee.

Why I think I was deferred: I am aware that more students applied this year. I think I got deferred because I got my Mid-Year report in on 1/17/18, which was like two weeks before decisions were released. So I think that the increased number of applications plus the possible time constraint possibly got me deferred because the admissions officers probably didn’t have enough time to fully review my application. Could this be true?

I have a question:

What does getting deferred say about my application? Basically, does this mean that my application was good enough, but they just want to review my app further? Does this mean that my application was almost good enough? What does this say about my application in regards to how good it was?

Thanks in advance!!

I would guess that because you didn’t submit scores, the focus was on your grades and they weren’t stellar enough to carry the application into the accepted pile.

You were not a "must have " for them, but they’re going to consider you in the regular round in the context of all applications.

The bummer about getting deferred in ED2 is that you weren’t accepted , but the upside is that you don’t have to change your application strategy. Just wait until you get all your RD results (and it’s not a long wait).

If anything happens (prizes, awards) in the next month or so that would strengthenyour app, let them know.

@gardenstategal Thanks for replying!!

I have a quick question:
So, on my activities list, I put that I was the Treasurer of my FBLA Chapter my sophomore year and the Parliamentarian of my FBLA Chapter my junior year. However, I did not put my awards I got in FBLA throughout my four years being a member. I have been an FBLA member since ninth grade, and I have won an award at the regional level every year. This is the list:

Freshman year:
I placed second in Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure at the FBLA regional conference.

Sophomore year:
I placed second in Introduction to Financial Math and Analysis at the FBLA regional conference.

Junior year:
I placed first in Securities and Investments at the FBLA regional conference.

Senior year:
I placed second in Economics at the FBLA regional conference.

Also, I was the Secretary of my school in my sophomore year, where I played a central role in making sure that students’ extracurricular wants for my school were heard.

Should I tell them about all of this?

Thanks!

While Bowdoin did experience a big jump in applications this year, the number of applications they receive at ED2, is still relatively small, so the timing of sending in your grades wouldn’t really have an effect on their ability to review your app fully. @gardenstategal makes very valid points. You do give your gpa, but Bowdoin is going to look deeply at your course rigor as well overall rigor of your high school. Without submitting scores, your transcript needs to be stellar for a school like Bowdoin. If you get an interim grade report this semester, you may want to send that, along with the update about your ecs, and express continued interest.

@wisteria100 Unfortunately the semester will end after they send back apps so I can’t do anything about that. Maybe I could send them the grades I get this quarter? So are you saying that I send them the past leadership position and award I just listed in my reply to @gardenstategal ?

Yes, it is appropriate to send quarter grades, and if you do that you could send the updated list of awards at that time.
Did you apply to a range of schools?

@wisteria100 Do you think it would hurt if I didn’t send them and just sent the awards? Also, I did apply to a range of schools.

It won’t hurt not to send quarter grades, but it could help, if they are strong.

@wisteria100 I’ll see. Do you think the leadership position and awards will make a difference?

If the leadership awards are from previous years, they are already on your application, no? Sure, it’d help to add them now. But my hunch is that you didn’t give them enough to show that you are a great, very capable student. Very good quarter reports, preferably ones that improve the GPA you have submitted, are probably the most powerful thing you can provide now.

@gardenstategal

I have already submitted my Midyear report.

@gardenstategal

I understand that my grades weren’t the best, but I faired better than other applicants with stronger academic profiles. They have looked at mid-year report and they have had my grades for over a month, so they know what my grades are.

I just sent an update of my achievements and leadership positions to admissions. In that letter, I told them that I will attend if I am admitted and why I want to attend Bowdoin. Admissions replied to my email, saying

"Thank you, (my first name), for keeping us updated.

Best,

Denise Bernier

Bowdoin College Admissions

Before emailing Admissions, I sent a Letter of Continued Interest stating that I will attend if I am admitted and why I want to attend Bowdoin to my admissions rep. My Admissions rep replied, saying

"Good morning, (my first name),
Thank you for reaching out and congratulations on your accomplishments! Your updates have been added to your file.

Best,

Kyra."

Before sending my Letter of Continued Interest, I had my counselor email my admissions rep and ask if there was anything I can do to increase my chances of admissions, to which she replied “There is nothing he can do. We have everything we need.”

What do you think the admissions officers are thinking about me in regards to my app?

Thanks in advance!!

I think they have everything they need and want you to sit tight until decisions are released. Good luck.

@gardenstategal Thanks!!