Chances at all for ED or RD..?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Middlebury College
1

<p>Any insight/advice is appreciated!</p>

<p>-GPA: 3.55uw (3.53 right now, should be ~3.55 after first quarter senior year)
-SAT: M 720, CR 740, W 740, Total: 2200 (2160 right now with a 700 on CR, hoping for a 2200 when the scores come out for the most recent test)
-PSAT: National Merit Semifinalist
-Subject tests: Lit-660, USH-720
-Taking as many AP's and honors as my school will allow me to take (11 honors, 5 AP)
-AP Lang: 5
-APUSH: 4
Senior course load:
Physics honors
Spanish 4 honors
AP Macroeconomics
AP Microeconomics
Theology 4
Focus Research honors
AP English literature
AP English literature writing lab
Pre-calculus honors
Psychology
AP Government</p>

<p>-School does not rank, but I looked at our school profile for last year's graduating class which gives weighted and unweighted quartile divisions by GPA (upon graduation), and if I were in last year's class, I would barely be in the weighted GPA first quartile right now (unweighted would be just below the first quartile). I don't know if they will look at the school profile or not. This is the thing I'm most worried about.</p>

<p>-White male from Arizona, family makes <60k
-Fairly prestigious college preparatory
-School does not rank, but I'm in the 'Summa Cum Laude' program- the most regarded, most competitive diploma, which is typically a good indicator of being near the top (Usually around 25-30 out of ~230 graduate Summa)
-Prospective major is philosophy/neuroscience</p>

<p>-Founder and president of Philosophy Club
-Vice president of Politics Club
-Diversity/International Club board member; went with the club on a three-day 'cultural exchange' trip to our sister school in Kingston, Ontario, Canada
-"Friends of the Orphans" Club President; went on an 8-day volunteer trip to an orphanage in Mexico in March; went back for another 8 days in July
-Over 100 hours community service</p>

<p>-3 years varsity track for school
-Scholar-Athlete Award
-Club track during the summer and off season (Track Athlete Year Round)
-Qualified for and placed 27th overall in the USATF Junior Olympics National Championship for 110m hurdles (basically nationals for club track) (regionals came before this)
-Very, very good recommendations
-Past employment as a lifeguard
-Currently employed in a bookstore</p>

<p>-Perhaps I should mention my thought for why my GPA is relatively low; my freshman and sophomore year, I didn't have the accommodations plan I have now--(extra time on certain tests and quizzes when I need it because of personal reasons)--I was given the accommodation plan at the start of my junior year, and my grades skyrocketed. I'm not sure if I should mention this somewhere in my application or not.</p>

<p>-My progression is something like this:
freshman: 3.43uw, 3.6w
sophomore: 3.44uw, 3.6uw
junior: 3.75uw, 4.3w
senior year first quarter should be ~3.7-3.8uw, 4.2-4.3w</p>

<p>I might want to apply EDI, but maybe I should wait until EDII to raise my GPA (would be 3.56-3.57uw)?</p>

2

<p>1) Mention it.
2) Don’t wait, odds go down and your current GPA is good
3)Are you planning to run/contacted the XC or track coach?
4) Your socioeconomic status is a “hook”. You can be white, it’s coming from a disadvantaged background that gives you that little something extra. Are you also first generation? It should be prominently displayed on your application.
5)Your standardized testing is excellent for someone in your socioeconomic group, and good for Midd in any case.
6)With a compelling essay, I think you are in. I give you 80% with ED, esp if you can run and are 1st generation.</p>

3

<p>OldbatesieDoc- thanks for your encouraging response. I’m not a first generation, and both of my parents went to prestigious undergrads and grad schools (mom is a doctor, dad was a lawyer). The reason for our low income is that my father passed away when I was younger, and his passing and the events leading up to it really took a toll on us financially, and we’re still dealing with the effects of it. I don’t come from a tragically disadvantaged background or anything, we just don’t have very much money. I’m writing my essay about my father (not a survivor’s tale, don’t worry) so hopefully I’ll be able to convey most of this.</p>

<p>As for track, I could definitely run at Middlebury if accepted, but I haven’t heard much from the coaches. They don’t seem to be as interested as some other schools that have recruited me.</p>

<p>Your assessment gives me optimism, but don’t you think my relatively low GPA and unofficial class rank will be detrimental? That’s what I’m most worried about.</p>

4

<p>If you’re being recruited for track by Bowdoin, I think that’s your best best. You’re on the borderline for Midd (without coach’s support) and Bowdoin and Midd are very similar schools. So if you visit Bowdoin and like it and have the coach’s support, I’d apply there ED. Good luck!</p>

5

<p>Poor is poor. No matter why, you still are disadvantaged on paper.</p>

<p>However, if the Bowdoin coach has interest, what’s not to like? ED is your best chance, and if you think you can get support, I would go with Bowdoin.</p>

<p>Where are you a legacy? Seems your dad’s alma mater might be able to give you a little edge.</p>