Chance Me for ED1

Colleges and Universities A-Z Middlebury College
1

Mixed-race (Indian and white) female from NYC and attend one of the most rigorous public schools in the country (top 15 US high school). Midd has been my first choice since my freshman year and I plan on majoring in International Politics and Economics.

I have a 94 average throughout high school, I had two bad semesters (depression in my freshman year and my father’s terminal cancer diagnosis in my sophomore year affected my grades but my guidance counselor assured me she’s explain this).

I’ve taken 3 AP courses thus far (Global, US History, and Lang) with two 5’s and one 4. My senior year I will take 3 more (Lit, Calc, Spanish) so I’ll take all but one courses may school offers (I don’t want to take Environmental Science since I’m terrible at science). I’ve also taken one course at a CUNY through my school (I got an A) and will take one more in my first semester of senior year.

Currently have a 1380 SAT (700 Reading and 680 Math) score (took it without studying) and am going to take it again in August and based on practice tests I’d estimate I’ll get a 1420 at the very least (I definitely expect to increase my math substantially and a slight increase in my reading)

EC’s:
-4 years of independent Mandarin study (never offered in my high school and I’ve dedicated all my summers to something Mandarin related and I’ve done work outside of school on a daily basis)
-2 summers abroad in China studying Mandarin through a State Department-run program
-One summer studying Mandarin at Hunter College with other advanced high school students
-Chinese 101 at Hunter College (program for advanced students (didn’t get my grade yet) independent of school
-Summer internship with organization that provides support for Chinese human-trafficking victims (assisted in court room and helped with teaching English and cultural orientation)
-Drama Club (3 years, helped found it and played the lead in school play last year)
-Model UN (1 year)
-Cancer fundraising club (1 year till we lost funding, very personal because my dad and grandma both have cancer)

^I know my EC’s are very limited but I’ve shown a commitment to the same activities over time and they’re very connected to my career goals

I’m writing my college essay about my name and how it connects to the blending of my different culture, etc.

No need for financial aid.

2

How is your gpa relative to your school’s average? Is it above or below? Applying ED to Midd provides a bump, but I think your scores, even if you go up to a 1420, are on the low side, and you are likely to be deferred.

3

My GPA is average if not above average for my school (it’s extremely competitive and difficult to get high grades). I know my scores aren’t the best but I’m hoping my sustained commitment with my extracurriculars will help since I clearly want to study languages and have shown that over time.

4

Chance threads are competely unreliable, because no parents or students or alumni posting on CC have a crystal ball, and who knows how an admissions committee will repond to your full application in the context of all the others they receive?
Your section scores are within the middle 50%. You have a back story that may attract their attention and extracurriculars that relate to your language interest and your family’s situation. Go for it, ED, why not? The worst that can happen is you are deferred or rejected. Try adding some other colleges strong in languages including Mandarin and international study but a little easier to get into. How about Dickinson or Macalester?

5

+1 for TheGreyKing: the only way to ensure that you don’t get in is not to apply.