<p>I tried asking this in the College Chances forum, but I got the feeling the people there weren't very familiar with what the standards for Mt. Holyoke were. So I've come here hoping you guys might be apply to tell me if I have a shot.</p>
<p>GPA: 4.1 W and 3.75 UW (freshman year brought me down A LOT, but for my sophomore and junior years I've maintained a 4.27 W, 4.00 UW)</p>
<p>I've taken 6 honors classes, but, and here's my biggest concern, **no AP classes<a href="my%20school%20offers%2017%20APs%20-%20it's%20one%20of%20the%20best%20public%20high%20schools%20in%20the%20state">/b</a>. Senior year I'm taking 2 AP classes (Econ and Chem) and 2 honors classes.</p>
<p>SAT: 1990 superscored</p>
<p>ECs:
Tech Crew for plays - 12 hours a week - 17 weeks a year (Sophomore and Junior)
Science Club - 1 hour a week all school year (Sophomore and Junior)
*Next year I'll be VP of the Science Club
Some math tutoring as a part of Mu Alpha Theta - only like 8 hours total though (Junior)</p>
<p>Honors/Awards:
Williams College Book Award
Mu Alpha Theta
National Science Honors Society</p>
<p>I'm also not the best essay writer (I'm not the worst either but...), so my essays will probably be nothing extra-special.</p>
<p>Your SAT score isn’t below their average (like you said in your other thread), they’re inside the middle 50%, but it doesn’t matter much anyway. MHC “considers” test scores, but they aren’t nearly as important as other parts of your application such as your class rank and GPA. Your GPA’s fine.</p>
<p>Now, the APs thing might be more of a problem. MHC considers that important, and while it’s not one of those schools in which most applicants have 16 APs, they do want to see you challenged yourself during high school.</p>
<p>Overall, though, I think you’re a match. Work hard on those essays, they’re a very important part of your app. </p>
<p>If you haven’t seen it before, check out MHC’s common data set, you’ll get a better idea of what they consider important in applicants:
<a href=“https://www.mtholyoke.edu/sites/default/files/iresearch/docs/cds2012_2013_v2.pdf[/url]”>https://www.mtholyoke.edu/sites/default/files/iresearch/docs/cds2012_2013_v2.pdf</a></p>
<p>Mount Holyoke doesn’t look at SAT scores. And even if they did, yours are just fine.
Friend of mine got in with as low as 1820 and another got wait listed (eventually got off) but still with 2200. So they are looking for talent, creativity, lots of ECs and something different. If you have all those, higher the score higher the chance but if you don’t, trust me you wouldn’t stand a chance with 2400.</p>
<p>Unfortunately I didn’t end up getting that book award I listed, but I hope the doesn’t change the opinions so far.</p>
<p>Why didn’t you take AP s? I wish my school offered either AP or Honors. Or even IB. I would’ve taken all of them :(</p>
<p>@Bluecholeric I was convinced until the middle half of my junior year that I couldn’t afford to go anywhere but my mediocre state school, so APs were unnecessary at the time. Then five months ago I had a meeting with my guidance counsler, and she kind of opened my mind to all of the financial aid possibilities. I really, really regret not taking any of those APs, because I know it’ll hurt my chances of getting into Mount Holyoke, my #1 school.</p>
<p>Tell you what. Write that in the essay. Your financial situation and the fact that you were convinced no fin aid was available and because of that you didn’t take AP s. That would help a lot. Trust me ^_^</p>
<p>I’m close enough to Mount Holyoke that an interview over the summer is a possibility. Would it be enough to mention my reasoning behind taking no APs in the interview, and not the essay?</p>
<p>@ disco1976 I did not take any AP classes that my school offered, however I was waitlisted this year and got off of the list. MHC does look at test scores as I had high test scores but a low GPA (below a 3.0). If you are able to, do the interview and I would mention your reasoning in your interview. The essay is important to MHC so make sure yours is something that stands out. And if MHC is your first choice, apply ED.</p>
<p>Or maybe you should add it into the additional information section of your common app. That way, Mt Holyoke and all your other schools understand why you didnt take AP’s. Best of luck!</p>
<p>@sportskid45 I can’t apply ED because of financial reasons, but I’ll definitely mention my reasoning for not taking any APs in my interview!</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the feedback guys! I really love this school :)</p>
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<p>It is not true that Mt. Holyoke doesn’t look at SAT scores. Standardized test scores are not required, so you can CHOOSE to have them not look at your scores. But if you submit them and mark on the application that you want them considered, then they will.</p>
<p>The interview may not be the best (or at least the only) place to mention your AP situation. A lot of the interviews at Mt. Holyoke are done by current students, not admissions officers. So I wonder how much of that type of information would actually get into your admissions file.</p>
<p>The APs you have taken vs. what is available could hurt you. Can you do something academic (take a junior college class or an online AP class) this summer to help add some weight to your argument that you didn’t realize you had broader options. </p>
<p>Also, I am going to point out a flaw in your reasoning on this (hope you don’t mind). Just because you are going to a state school does not mean you should have been skipping APs. Every AP credit you get could get you college credit (either literally giving you credits toward graduation or more advanced standing so you can take higher level courses sooner) – this is true at most state schools. So even if you were just going to a state school, it still could have helped you a lot. I still think you can use the argument that you did not understand the usefulness of APs (college credit, proving to colleges you can do advanced work) along with not realizing that you might have college options like Mt. Holyoke because you did not understand financial aid. Are you by any chance the first generation to go to college from your family?</p>
<p>Showing your SAT breakdown might help with a recommendation on whether you should submit your SAT scores or not.</p>
<p>@intparent I wasn’t aware that the interviews were conducted by students. If Mt. Holyoke uses the same prompt of “Why Mount Holyoke?” on their supplement for next year then I think I can figure out a way to slip my reasoning for not taking APs in there. </p>
<p>I am not the first generation from my family to go to college. My parents really never had to look too far into financial aid though because they themselves never needed it, and my brother attended our state flagship without need for much financial aid. So I knew there was the possibility of financial aid, I just never knew how much; I thought schools would only give you like $10,000 in need-based aid.</p>
<p>SAT Breakdown:
January SAT: 660R/650W/640M
March SAT: 670R/620W/670M</p>
<p>Disco1976.
First off, If I were you, I would not focus on what you “don’t have”. Instead, play up your strengths and aspirations. For example, your SATs is great. Your GPA is strong even without the bump-up AP points.
Secondly, Interview. Find out when a MHC plans to visit your area. If you live close enough, go visit. Talk about your involvement in ECs. Talk about your 6 honors classes, which actually may be more demanding than APS.
Third, MHC isn’t a “numbers school”. They look for women with serious accomplishments and solid aspirations, in addition to strong academic prep. Between you and me, the only reason to take AP is if you’re planning to attend a State School that gives AP credit toward their Graduation requirements. Many colleges are trending towards dis-allowing AP’s as substitutes for “real” college level work. Instead of taking a community college course over the summer, volunteer or work in area of passion.<br>
Lastly, The college search isn’t about winning a prize awarded to the highest score. Searching for college is about discovering the place that best for you, that will allow to
thrive.
Be yourself. Be honest about goals. Be proud of your accomplishments. Good Luck.</p>