Both Wes and Emory have middle 50% ACT ranges of 33 to 35. 79% of Wes students took Calculus and 82% took Bio, Chem and Physics. Emory’s UGPA range is 3.8-4.0. 31% of its students are from the Northeast vs. 59% of Wes’s from New England and Mid-Atlantic.
The concern about studying for an ACT/SAT taking time away from other endeavors gives me some concern. Without a test score, there’s more focus on classroom success and leadership.
Regarding Wes- 86% of those admitted for class of 2025 had Calculus. The 79% may be those who matriculated
Ok- so very good on the foreign language front!
Probably won’t be enough.
It seems to me that most, if not all, of T20’s are really improbable. I may still apply to one or two, but after exposure to some of the replies here think it is time to calibrate my application to more realistic schools. I could always transfer if I’m unsatisfied with the school I attend, and at that time will be better positioned to take the ACT, if it would even be considered then.
I need to determine my EA/ED spot(s) very soon. I also need a clearer evaluation of my safeties, matches, and reaches.
I could, hypothetically, enroll in a more challenging LAC reach for ED1, get deferred or rejected, and then apply to a less challenging reach/match for ED2. Wesleyan presents a clear challenge in the calculus factor, but perhaps because of my intended literature major this would be dulled down.
Yes, admitted vs. enrolled (79%). https://www.wesleyan.edu/admission/apply/classprofile.html
I consider Wes as good as Emory which is more pre-professional (strong health and business).
Skidmore ED2 would be a solid choice if your top pick doesn’t work out. Focused on your field. Need aware and highly ranked. They enroll 50% of its class from ED. HS class rigor is most important factor. Demonstrated interest is important. 32% acceptance rate.
I’m literally toggling between this thread and a SNL re-run. You have a better chance at Hamilton.
Kind of an aside, but I find it quite bewildering how vastly different your evaluations here are as opposed to places like Reddit chance me’s and real-life ones with currently matriculated T20 students or alums of the same pedigree.
I can recall a few Stanford parents telling me I had a competitive chance at most T20’s. Harvard admits told me the same. Here, it is far more stern and perhaps realistic. Not that this is bad–I honestly feel a lot more prepared for disappointment come decision day and am even reluctant to apply to many schools at this point. I just find this rather curious, and wonder why the results are so polar. I doubt Reddit’s credibility much more than I do that of this site.
Because on reddit it’s only a matter of time before someone eventually tells you what you want to hear.
I’ve been chanced on Reddit dozens of times. I’ve even asked for honesty explicitly many of those times. Answers are still much different (not that they’re correct. Your answers hold up a lot more imo).
I don’t post on Reddit. I just provided stats with GPA ranges, rigor and test scores as a comparison. I hope you get into Wesleyan or other elite school in ED1.
Your evaluations are much more accurate and rooted in fact than the subjective ones of Redditors. I was just making that point, haha.
And thanks for the luck. I appreciate it.
Most people avoid conflict and when you ask them face to face its easier to say you have a chance and then act generally surprised you didn’t get in.
S21 friend going to top 10 school this fall #2 in class of 600 or so. His school gives the extra weight yours does 1 for Honors and 2 for AP. His GPA was 5.2 something. Stellar EC from starting a Business Club, Winner international DECA competition to interning for a congressman over a summer. I only mention this because this is what you are competing against in top 20 Uni’s and LAC
You still will have many great options that will be available to you
I’m not expecting to get into Stanford, or to even apply at the moment.
Some Harvard/Stanford parents told me my application was lacking in some ways. One said not having a test score would hurt me, rank was low, yada yada. They then pointed out that my EC’s are very good, as well as my GPA, especially w/o freshman year. They said to write about my past struggles and reasons behind lack of coursework in the additional info sections. They ended up saying I had a chance at Columbia.
Do I believe this? No. I would expect Columbia to take someone who is provably qualified on a record, as they should. Does it mean I shouldn’t apply? Maybe. I’m leaning that way.
Edit: I’m just writing all of this to show the differences in evaluation. I think that actual statistics from these universities as @tristatecoog pointed out are much more helpful. As they stand, I have an infinitesimal chance at the T10’s. I may regret not applying, though, even if/when I get rejected.
A few years ago, the top schools were using gpa, essays, rigor, class rank, test scores, LOR, ECs, etc. If you were a little weak in one area, you could make it up in another. Then some schools stopped providing rank because all their students were deserving to be #1 in their class (and some schools have 40 Vals and 20 Sals!). Then some top schools went test optional (and with covid many more did). Some schools limit LOR to 2 or maybe 3 because all those top students have 20 teachers and ministers and ballet instructors who swear they are the best student they ever ever ever had in a class.
Now with covid, many school are down to gpa, rigor and the essay to really assess the application. ECs were hard last year as many students weren’t in school buildings, their out of school activities were paused, not as many eagle scouts any more, everyone has started a ‘non-profit’ to save the poor children. You have to really stand out to get into a top school.
Those top schools may not be the best fit for you either. Many of those students will have 6, 10 or even 15 AP courses or taken college courses. Really, most will have had AP Lit and Language, APUSH, and a science or two. Even my kids who didn’t go to T-20 schools (and didn’t want to) had 4-5 APs each.
You want to be challenged by college but also enjoy it.
As mentioned, my school only offers 4 AP courses. I have been selected to enroll in only one (AP Literature) and no others given my school’s track system.
My GPA is strong without freshman year. EC’s are definitely average or strong even for top schools, and my essay will be methodically planned and well written.
I’m going to apply to some T20’s, I think. I’ll keep it limited, since, as you suggest, I think I’ll be equally or more content at other schools.
I think you are getting different advice across platforms because GPA is relative. You plug in a 4.0 into the online what are my chances tool and all it is taking into consideration is the number. There’s no context there. All 4.0’s are not created equally. A 4.0 in a general track is not the same as a 4.0 in a honors track. A 4.0 at one high school is not the same as it is at the high school across town. Admissions officers know this, look for it and know how to dig deep into it. I recall an admissions person at a top 20 being asked a question at info session about is it better to get A’s in regular classes or a B in honors classes and she says it’s best to get the A in the honors class.
What you have going for you is that your school even for regular classes likely has more rigor than a lot of other schools. I think that’s going to help you at schools like Skidmore, Kenyon, Conn College. I think at Wesleyan, Williams, Princeton, they want to see the A’s in the highest rigor classes at your high school. Yes, you have a 4.0 in sophomore/junior years. That’s fantastic. It just may not be the 4.0 in context the top 20’s are looking for.
Neither group has a magic crystal ball, but responders on Reddit r/chanceme are overwhelmingly HS students themselves; the vast majority of the people on this thread are parents who have actually been through the process with their kids.
What percentage of your HS graduates attend T20 schools? Since your GPA is around top 20%,it gives you a sense of options. However, some are hooked with legacy, sports, URM, etc.
I asked the question before.
Based upon this, taking a shot at something just below the tippy tops isn’t a waist of time.
Edit to add; I think this is where your case is difficult, your path within your school is likely very different than the students in your “spot” other years from your HS. It is very hard for us to guess how LOR’s will actually read, and how AO’s will react to your package.
Columbia Prep may be a step down from Collegiate and Dalton but they offer lots of APs. They’re also twice as big as 60-70. I am astounded at the colleges that Collegiate and Dalton grads get into. Of course, when the tuition is over $55k per year, money is no object.