<p>Hi everybody, this information is most likely incomplete, but based on what's here would I be a good candidate for Bates early decision?</p>
<p>From Long Island, NY.
White
Don't know if this means anything but My grandfather, uncle, father, and brother had or are attending Williams College. (BTW will this info make me a reasonable candidate for Williams?)
Large Public School
Middle class income
Unweighted GPA: 91%
Weighted GPA: 98%
Plenty of Honors/AP Classes (4 AP full senior schedule)
Class rank 35 out of 327 (Top 11% I believe)
SAT Scores: 580 Math, 690 CR, 590 Writing (Planning on not submitting)
Strong recommendation letters
Planning on getting an interview for Bates as they are very important</p>
<p>EXTRA-CURRICS
-Science research experience at Stony Brook University and Brookhaven Nat'l Lab
-Participated in the Protein Modeling Challenge at Stony Brook University in 2012
-Nat'l Honor Society (2 years)
-Tri-M Music Honor Society (2 Years)
-President of my school's honors choral class, Concert Choir
-Member of Concert Choir, Bass I (2 years)
-The New York State Council of Administrators for Music Education (NYSCAME) All County Chorus
-Hamptons Music Educators Association (HMEA) Band (1 year)
-Trumpet and Tuba player in Honors Wind Ensemble (3 years) (Trumpet 1st chair)
-Pit orchestra for school musicals (2 Years)
-Member and co-director of student-run choral groups "Mens Ensemble" and "Chamber Choir" (2 years member, 1 year co-director) (We have 3 "Best Overall Chorus" awards from "Music in the Parks" competition. Highest rated musical ensemble in school's history)
-Theatre dept. 2 Years
-Lead role in Theatre III rep. class' play, "The Infernal Bond". (Student written)
-Lead role in school's production of "Inherit the Wind" (Henry Drummond)
-Member of school's brass quintet (3 years)
-NYSSMA festival (3 years. 9th grade= lvl 5, score 91... 10th grade lvl 6, score 89... 11th grade lvl 6, grade 93...)
-Casted in school's production of "West Side Story" (junior year)
-Jazz Band 4 years
-Pep band 4 years
-Marching band 4 years
-All of high school years involved in music dept.
-Marching band field major and section leader (10th, 11th, 12th)
-Attended Vivace Marching Band leadership workshop (9th and 10th grade summers)
-Worked as a camp counselor on Shelter Island in summer 2012</p>
<p>I think that you have a good chance at Bates. You have excellent EC’s. I think that your chance at Williams is slimmer. It is highly selective and most of their students have a higher GPA and SAT/ACT’s. You did not mention exactly how rigorous your courses are–eg how many AP’s. If you have many AP’s and excellent AP and SATII scores, that may help to counterbalance the GPA. And the legacy factor may do it for you–that can be strong. It’s worth a try.</p>
<p>@jennieling
Wow. Thanks for the comprehensive, informative, and straight-forward answer. It’s reassuring to get such an informed response in the confusing and stressful time that is college app season. Very pleased that I have a shot at Bates, makes me feel a lot better about this whole thing. And you’re right, the legacy is a very strong factor so I might as well give it a shot, right? Thank you again!!</p>
<p>Your grades and extracurriculars are strong. Unfortunately, you’re a white male from NY, an oversubscribed demographic for both Bates and Williams. Your math SAT is well below the 25th percentile of admitted students for both schools.</p>
<p>Only 10.4 percent of students admitted to Williams had math SAT scores below 600 and only 8.4 percent had writing scores below 600. Your CR score is below average but still right in the mix for Williams. Williams is not score optional. 89.6 percent of students admitted to Williams were in the top 10 percent of their high school classes. The fact that you’re barely outside that could hurt you.</p>
<p>Legacy status could help at Williams, but the question is how much?</p>
<p>I think you’re in better shape for Bates, primarily because the school is score-optional, meaning you can choose not to send your SATs. Around 68 percent of Bates students are in the top decile, so you’re in better shape there too.</p>
<p>If you really love both of these schools I would advise applying ED1 to Williams and, if that doesn’t work, ED2 to Bates. Make sure you have a couple of sure bets in your back pocket as well.</p>
<p>Thank you, great answer as well! Would you mind telling me what would be some “sure bets”, based on the info? I’m looking for a small liberal arts school in the northeast. Thanks.</p>
<p>If you’re looking for less selective schools similar to Williams or Bates here are some to investigate:
(not an exhaustive list, and in no particular order)</p>
<p>St. Lawrence
Hobart and William Smith
Trinity
Connecticut College
Skidmore
Union
Dickinson
Wheaton</p>
<p>For true safeties I’d look at some of the CTCL schools like Juniata, Lawrence, Goucher, Hendrix or Clark. If you’re on the crunchier side you may want to look at Hampshire or Bard.</p>
<p>Once again, thank you! I visited Skidmore and Union and liked them both. PS Do you know how I could edit this post and my account so that my personal info such as my name isn’t showing?</p>
<p>I don’t think you can at this point. Luckily you haven’t yet posted anything that could hurt you. My advice would be to abandon this CC account and open a new one with a less identifiable name.</p>