I’m currently a junior (I’m absolutely in love with Wellesley) and would like to know if I’m on the right track! I’m hoping that by asking now, I can work on the areas that need improvement so that I’m ready when it’s time to apply this fall.
Profile: Asian (Indian), Female (of course), Private Co-ed High School with recognizable academic rigor
Location: CA
UW GPA: 3.9
Weighted GPA: 4.4
SAT 1: CR 750, M 750, W 740 (composite 2240) --planning on retaking this (is that advisable?)
SAT 2: Planning on taking Math 2, Literature, and US History (aiming to get at least mid 700s on all 3)
PSAT: 221
AP: 5 on Psych, 4 on European History (planning on taking Micro & Macro Econ + US History)
IB: HL English, History, Art, Biology, SL Math and Mandarin, Theory of Knowledge (had all As this first semester)
Also taking 2 community college courses this semester and am on track to receive As for both
Took a course at UC Berkeley previous summer and received A+
ECs
Girl Scouts, Model UN (9-12, VP 11th grade, P 12th grade), Speech & Debate (Speech President 10th-12th) (many many awards), Journalism (VP 10th-12th), Student Council (VP 10th (hopefully 12th as well)), National Honor Society (11-12), Current Events Club, Math Tutor
Lots of community service and a track record of leadership
Spearheaded award-winning girl’s self-esteem project which I received a grant for
Any advice and input would be greatly appreciated. I was able to visit the campus this past summer and felt instantly at home.
@wellaw202
You have good grades, good test scores that puts you in contention. But they will look at your ECs and what else makes you stand out. If you can afford it, try visiting W for one of their visit days and stay overnight. This will help you to make your decision as well. I am sure you will love W. Good Luck, you are a strong candidate.
Hi @wellaw202! I just got accepted ED, and some of your stats are pretty similar to mine 
I agree that you should continue to express interest in Wellesley if it’s your top choice. I had an interview on campus and attended Discover Wellesley this past fall; I think both are extremely helpful in the application process. Good luck!
@tamtiger and @kwtudent - Thank you both so much! Your feedback was really encouraging and I’ll look into visiting overnight 
@kwtudent - Can you share about your Discover Wellesley event please? I’m interested in attending the event this fall but would love to hear about your experience if you’re open to commenting. And another question: what are you planning on studying (at Wellesley)?
Of course! I thought that Discover Wellesley was a wonderful experience; I definitely encourage you to attend if you can. It gives you a glimpse of student life that you wouldn’t be able to see otherwise through a summer tour, informational video, etc.
Before the event, you fill out a registration form that asks which activities you’d be interested in learning more about at Wellesley. The Admissions Office then pairs you with a host based on these interests. One organization I wanted to learn more about was Chinatown Afterschool, so Wellesley did an awesome job matching me with my host who’s currently an active member in the program All of the hosts I met were incredibly sweet, and they actually reach out to you a few days before through email to introduce themselves!
Then, during the actual event, you watch performances by student groups, attend organization meetings, and sit in on classes that you sign up for yourself. So, essentially, you’re living at Wellesley for two days as if you’re an accepted student.
You also have the opportunity to attend an essay workshop where you get firsthand advice from the Dean of Admissions. Without a doubt, it’s a great chance to learn more about Wellesley and to find out what they’re specifically looking for in an applicant.
Personally, I want to study economics or political science. Other schools I considered a few months ago were Georgetown and Johns Hopkins, but after contemplating about which institution was the perfect fit for me in terms of size, program of studies, student life, and location, I couldn’t not choose Wellesley
You have an excellent chance. They never change their essay question so you can get started on it whenever you want. Apply ED and your chances are even better.
@redpoodles - Thank you! I’m really considering applying ED. Wellesley’s such an amazing school
@kwtudent - Discover Wellesley sounds amazing!! I really hope I’ll be able to go. I checked out the website, and it looks like they’ll start accepting form submissions for this fall; I’m staying tuned
I’m hoping to go into law & economics; in terms of politics and economics, how did you feel Wellesley compared to Georgetown and Johns Hopkins?
I think your stats are definitely in the right range to be accepted at Wellesley. Your overall application makes you look like an ideal candidate, however, there will be many other applicants with similar stats and the same predictable ECs – Girl Scouts, Model UN, Speech and Debate, NHS, etc.
You mentioned awards – unless they are quite distinctive, I think you need to find a way to make your application stand out. As you prepare to write your essay, focus on what distinguishes you from all the other smart, Asian girls who will be applying with similar stats and ECs.
I agree, your stats are more than good enough. I didn’t bother focusing on any school clubs, like national honors, debates, etc. I boycotted my schools National Honors because those were the students who were snobs, got drunk and/or cheated on tests (no honor at all). I focused on taking courses at ivy type schools in the summer (schools with honor codes like W), cultural events like art museums and language studies and finally sports like golf, skiing, sailing and tennis. Oh yeah, I also did A LOT of volunteering for community sports (children leagues) and community projects (telethons, breast cancer, etc). I think W wants well rounded students who give back, not just bookworms, so I would add some sports to your resume and elaborate on your volunteerism. Intelligence, fitness (health), community involvement, and culture are what I think of when I think of a W Woman. I am a third generation Harvard legacy, but W is a far better choice for an undergraduate woman. W professors will know your name and care about you. Apply ED to your first choice. When your scores are as good as yours you can go anywhere so you’ll be accepted to your ED choice. They don’t want to waste acceptances on students who’ll go somewhere else. It’s a numbers game. They all know who you’re applying ED to and if your accepted there (assuming you’re applying via the Common App). So don’t apply ED if you’re not sure, you’ll be accepted to many more schools that way, but you’ll have to wait until April to find out.