So, I am an international students so I don’t know very much about entry procedures to American colleges. As you can see from the title of the thread, I’m applying to small liberal arts colleges, and I was wondering whether you could tell me if I have good chances to get in or not. These colleges don’t require SATs or ACTs but I’m going to submit my A-Levels results.
Nationality - Italian
Education - boarding school in England for two years, so I’m fluent in English and Italian. Prior to that, very selective private school in Italy
A-Levels - History (A overall) - Modules breakdown - 1B, 2As, 2A+
Government & Politics (A overall) - Modules breakdown - 1B, 3As, 1A+
English Literature - (B, though only 1 mark off an A overall) - Modules breakdown - 1C, 1B, 1A, 1A+ (100% in my coursework)
German (AS Level worth half an A-Level) - (B overall) - Module breakdown - 2Bs
(To achieve an A+ you need 90%, an A 80%, B 70% etc)
Extra-curricular activities
Head boarder, House Captain, President of Interact (Junior Rotary Club) at my school, First XI field hockey, senior choir.
Interview - Have one scheduled with Union so far
Also currently taking a gap year. I’m going volunteering in Tanzania for a month and doing an accelerated course in French in order to achieve the DELF B1.
What do you think? Be honest! And good luck to everybody else applying to college!
Bowdoin and Bates are very difficult schools especially for female applicants. Acceptance rates are well below 20%. However, do apply and even if you have to Skype for an interview definitely show interest.This is key.
Union I think you have a great chance at. I would look at The College of Holy Cross. Dickinson, Gettysburg, Franklin & Marshall, Connecticut College as well. They are all test optional. There are also some top all women colleges that are test optional. Bryn Mawr is an excellent school in a consortium with coed schools.
I would not consider Sarah Lawrence. If you are the typical student, this would not be a match for you. It is nothing like the other schools you mentioned.
Thank you @ScaredNJDad ! I added Connecticut and Trinity to my choices, and got rid of Sarah Lawrence.
Do you think my subject combination is good enough? I know many US colleges prefer students take a mix of humanities and sciences, but the english school system is different, and I wasn’t planning to apply to US colleges when I chose my options in grade 11th.
@Livvy97 This is hard to say. I think that question is case by case by school.
Also, Holy Cross is a Jesuit school, so the images of the Catholic church are there but the day to day life is somewhat secular.
You will have to take some philosophy and theology but it is academic in nature and not overtly Catholic. You will like see a course like Human Sexuality in World Religions as a choice, or Religion in Modern Culture.
Thank you!
I think that is what puts me off applying to Holy Cross - the jesuit approach will be there and my family is not Catholic so they wouldn’t want me to go there either.
Do you think having Bowdoin as my early decision would help getting admitted? @ScaredNJDad
The Jesuit approach is secular education. Holy Cross is a big party school. It is not a convent or monastery. American Jesuits are very light on religious dogma. Being Italian you are used to seeing religious symbols, so HC would be like being in any Italian piazza.
I do not think ED will help at Bates or Bowdoin. If you get in it will be because you are an international student. Neither of these schools have too many and want more. But if you apply ED to one, do Bates because it is a better risk.
Is it because they have more female than male students? Do all colleges in america try to get a 50/50 balance? Unis in the UK don’t work like that so it’s weird to think gender might be a setback for you application!
They have more female applicants, so to keep balance fewer females are accepted.
At some schools the reverse is true, but these two and similar schools female acceptance rates are lower. Figure around , 13% for Bowdoin and 17% for Bates. If you are not an athlete or legacy figure lower still.
Just out of curiosity, are you able/willing to take the ACT/SAT at your present location? The reason I ask is that you look strong academically and just because schools are test optional, submitting strong scores can give you a boost. Having that piece of your application might expand your options.
I would be able to, but I have never taken them before and I am working full time till december so I wouldn’t have a chance to prepare properly! @mamaedefamilia