hi! i’m a senior in high school and was wondering if you could chance me for Skidmore!
GPA: 3.6 (sophomore year I had some personal issues which led to my grades slipping)
SAT: 1460 (770 english, 690 math)
Subject Tests: 720 US history, 740 literature
EC: christian youth group 4yrs, volunteering for that youth group as well as teaching religious education at a church in my community, president of my school’s writer’s society, co-president of school’s theatre club, select chorus member, irish society member, participant in 2 musicals outside of school, national shakespeare competition regional semifinalist 2 years, jv volleyball freshman year
I think my stats are sufficient enough for a regular applicant, but I need almost a full ride and am concerned about being rejected due to Skidmore being need-aware. Do you think my stats make me an attractive enough applicant that they will want to give me the financial aid I need?
Parent of a Skid Kid sophomore here. We also had significant FA need, all of which was met.
You have good, but not outstanding stats. If you think that Skidmore is the school for you, I definitely wouldn’t risk applying RD, especially with your FA need. Take advantage of the ED process.
- Visit, and while there set up an interview with a Professor from within your expected area of study. Figure out a way to stand out. Skidmore regularly receives over 10,000 applicants, for a class size of 680. The competition is tough. If you're a white girl from the Northeast, you're going to need something more than good grades and test scores, especially with your FA need. Being male, being an athlete, being a minority, being a first generation college kid, being from somewhere other than New York all can help.
- ED, ED, ED. 50% of all members of the classes of 2021 and 2022 were admitted via ED. I believe that the ED applicant acceptance rate is 50% while the RD acceptance rate is 24%, for a blended overall average of 26% acceptance. If you need the kind of financial aid you do, it doesn't make sense to past up the ED opportunity with it's significantly higher acceptance rate.
- Most importantly, make Skidmore feel that they are your #1 dream school. No college is looking to offer a large financial aid package to someone that likely won't attend anyway. ED, ED, ED
My daughter applied ED this fall…how is your sophomore liking it?
Sorry for the late response. My daughter absolutely LOVES Skidmore! It has turned out to be perfect for her. And we love it too, because of the positive changes we see in her each and every day.
No school is right for every potential student, but if you’ve done your homework, visited the campus, and are sure that Skidmore is the right school for your daughter, you can rest assured that you couldn’t have made a better decision.
Best of luck to you and your daughter.
update - i DID NOT get in! i suspect its because i was requesting nearly a full ride. showed lots of interest and was well above average stats applying ED2, and my college counselor was shocked to hear that i was rejected. also, they were kind of rude about it, all it got was a five sentence rejection letter via the portal. it’s okay though, have many more schools to hear from and i am trying to be excited!!
OP, according to Skidmore’s website, they only start rejecting applicants based on FA need in the final round, after the money has run out - so it should not have affected you as an ED2 applicant (if the website is to believed). Surprised that you didn’t get in as well. In any event, I’m sure you will have some great choices when all is said and done and I wish you luck.
Welp Igot rejected too. I just saw the decision and I feel like a loser 
my stats aren’t the best I should have known this would happen.