Chance Me (Vassar 2021)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vassar College
1

I know these threads are overdone and cliché, but there’s something nice about getting some sort of validation/talking out your problems that I’m sure others can relate to. Vassar has quickly moved up from an “eh, I’ll consider it” school to the top of my list. I would greatly appreciate any comments on how I stand currently/what I could do to enhance my chances of getting in :slight_smile:

STATS
ACT: 31 C; 33 E, 30 M, 32 R, 30 S, 36 W (score was a 31.25…taking September SAT and hope to get it up to a 33/34, but please chance with regards to current score incase things don’t go as planned)
GPA: 4.56 W; 4.0 UW
APs: World (4), Human Geo (5), Chem (3), Calc AB (5), Lang (5), US History (5)
Senior Schedule: AP Stats, AP German, AP Physics, AP Bio, AP Lit, AP Psychology, AP Gov (will it look like I’m some mindless drone because I’m taking 7 APs as a senior? I honestly just really like challenging myself and seeing as I took 5 junior year with my lowest grade being a 95, I’m not too worried)
RANK: 3/~440 (top 1%)…by first semester senior year I should be 2/~440, but it’s minor anyway

SUBJECTIVE
my ECs look something like

  1. Global Leaders (somewhat of a global current events) 12 [pres and founder]
  2. German Club (founded Ein Stück Deutsch program to promote learning German in VA public schools…still working on this) 9-12 [officer 11, pres 12]
  3. Social Science Honor Society 11, 12 [pres 12]
  4. Mu Alpha Theta 10-12 [officer 11, might run for reelection 12]
  5. Class Office 11, 12
  6. Track & Field 9-11
  7. Kumon (employment) 11, 12
  8. Contributor to Disney Princess forum (written ~100 articles dealing with issues such as sexuality, racism, as well as more light and fun topics…not expecting this to be viewed as exceptional, but gives insight on personality) 9-12
  9. Self-taught Norwegian (going to be hard to prove, but planning on listing it nonetheless) 9-12

those are the 9 I’m definitely planning on putting that…some other possible ones include NHS (kinda typical so probably no), National German Honor Society (overkill…), creative writing club (did 9 & 10, but kinda died last year…might revive senior year), pen-pals (is this okay to put? idk), also maybe how I track the pop charts on a week to week basis…is this okay to put? I’m already putting the Disney Princess thing, so I don’t want to seem like too much of a joke…any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Attended German Governor’s School btw, a selective summer program that only ~40 in the entire state of Virginia are chosen for. Also won NaNoWriMo freshman year (wrote a 50,000 word novel in one month) and was National History Student of the Year at my school (but this is really minor/insignificant).

Essays should be strong, for common app I’m planning on writing about the Disney Princess forum and how it gave me a sense of community and self that I didn’t have before (might sound cliché, but will come from the heart + unique)

Recs should be strong as well. My counselor and the two teachers I asked all love me and I have really strong relationships with all of them, so fingers crossed!

I’m a MALE, so that’s a positive, white, so that’s negative, I’m also gay (which you could probably tell from the Disney Princess thing haha), I’m sorta first generation (both parents went to 2 year business school, neither to college), and the I’m planning on double majoring in COGNITIVE SCIENCE and INTERNATIONAL STUDIES.

Btw 3 people have applied from my school in the past (school in Northern Virginia, a highly competitive area…the class above me had 30+ make it into UVA and ~15 into Ivies/comparable to Ivies) and 2 have made it, each with lower stats than the ones I listed, but it’s such a small pool that it means very little.

As is, what chance do I have to be admitted into this wonderful school? Any tips to help put me over the edge? Are test scores okay or should I really shoot for that 33/34 (which I’m already planning on doing, because that really is the weakness in my app, but still)? Thanks a lot in advance to any comments and I hope you all have a lovely day :slight_smile:

2

You have a good shot. I got in with lower stats Regular Decision (30 ACT) (14/72 top 20%) and I was a white Male from a small town on the LGBT spectrum. And if Vassar is your 100% top choice, Id say you are a shoe in ED.

3

I agree. You have a solid shot with your background. ACT score is just below the median, but the rest of your record is strong. Think about ED to improve your chance.

4

Thank you both :!) I really consider you both taking the time to respond…ED isn’t really an option because my mom would rather me not lock into something October/November of senior year especially bc finances aren’t allowing me to visit any schools I’m looking at until after I get in (I certainly understand her point, while Vassar is great, options are too:) ) Again thank you both a lot!! Hopefully the September ACT is successful so I can continue to increase my chances!

5

I think you are a really good candidate. If forced to guess I’d say admit, MAYBE waitlist (can’t imagine them rejecting you!) But we’ve all been wrong before so just apply and see what happens - with your profile, the result will likely be a positive one.

6

Vassar meets full perceived need, so ED might still be an option for you. They won’t keep you out because of finances, but they do expect family contribution, work study, and you will have some debt when you finish. Debt will be manageable amount. But they want you to have skin in the game. The FA won’t make you rich, but you will be able to finish at Vassar on the amount that they give. Highly ethical in this way. Current average is about $16K while debt on average in the US is about $30K. Ask others who are wiser than me about FA and ED for full-need-meeting schools. But everything I’ve heard about Vassar is if they accept you they will work with you to make sure you can attend. However: be prepared, they will expect a genuine family contribution if your family has real assets.

7

Hey, just saw your reply on my thread! Interesting to meet the competition. : ) And seriously, we’re lowkey the same person with the creative writing club, NaNoWriMo (I’ve done it every year since eighth grade and never finished), and pen-pal thing. Also kinda weird that you’re from the NOVA region, since my parents have been talking about moving to Fairfax County (can’t wait to be the new kid in senior year…) Saw your reply on the thread for Wes TAP, which I applied for as well. Anyway, good luck to you!

8

@HongdouMianbao Wow! That’s so funny, especially since it’s such a weird coincidence (it’s not like we’re both Comp Sci/Chem Engineer hopefuls for Harvard, MIT, and Stanford)! Good luck to you as well, hopefully we have lots of success this app season! (and Fairfax is crazy close to me, I’m in Loudoun, the county directly west…again such a coincidence!!) :slight_smile:

9

UPDATE: Since I made this, my ACT is now a 33C (34 M, 34 E, 33 R, 30 S), my grades from first semester are straight A’s, and I was accepted and attended the Vassar View fly-in program.

I know that the odds are seemingly in my favor at this point, but Vassar really is my top choice (has been since the beginning, but ED and ED II are still non factors b/c my mom is still weary of the NPCs being 100% accurate and she wants me to be able to compare offers) and I was wondering if there’s anything else I should do for a final “push”.

10

Good job!! That’s a great score! I think you have a good chance though I cannot guarantee the acceptance. I really do hope you get in. Keep up the good work!