Chances at Bowdoin and University of Rochester

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Alright so I was looking at sat optional colleges. What do you think my chances are if I applied to Bowdoin and diddn't submit my sats. Would early decison help? Also what are my chances at the University of Rochester. Finally
someone recomend any other colleges similiar to my interests. I want a small college that is sububan and real scenic (outdoorisie, woods, lakes, etc)</p>

<p>Sat: 1890 (610 w, 640 v, 640m)
GPA:4.221 weighted 3.9? unweighted
rank: 2/431</p>

<p>Intended Major:
Dual major Computer Science and English (concentration in Creative Writing) or Computer Science w/ minor in Creative Writing</p>

<p>Honors courses:
Bio
Chemistry
Algebra II
English</p>

<p>Languages:
two years french
three years latin
twelve years sanskrit</p>

<p>Ap projected (we only have three and they are only for seniors):
AP English
AP Bio
AP US History</p>

<p>College Courses (Seton Hall):
Calculus: A- (about 93.95) (college grade 3.5 B+)
Computer Science: A+ (100) (college grade 100 A+)
US History A+ (97ish i think)</p>

<p>Senior courseload:
AP English
AP US History II
AP Bio (not sure yet)
Calculus II and III (William Paterson University)
French III
Computer Science IV</p>

<p>International College Courses (NIIT India)
Sun Java
Sun J2ME
Sun J2EE</p>

<p>EC:
FBLA
Student Council/ Interact - Parlimentarian
ERASE (end racism and sexism everywhere)
Literary Society
Demolay
Gifted and Talented
Boys Scouts of America
Chess Team - Captain</p>

<p>Awards:
Principal Honor Roll (i.e gpa 3.8+) all semesters til date
Kodak Young Leaders Award
Eagle Scout
National Latin Exam- summa cum laude
Rotary Youth Leadership award</p>

<p>Other</p>

<p>volunteer work:
tutor to children at library
March of Dimes
Hunger Hurts
various others....</p>

<p>expierance and work:
writer (a few published works mainly short stories)
beta tester for various palm os software
web site design
independant programming
intern, web site management: PCTI, Faith Foundation, North Jersey Country Club</p>

2

<p>Also on the side note, I got three days in school suspension for something real stupid, "playing games on your terminal". Real long story, but since then I have perfectly clean discpline record. Since both UofR and Bowdoin look heavily at you character, should I mention the ISS. I did learn alot from my mistakes, and it was stupidity. I am a serious student and not a menance to society (well that is until I drive)</p>

3

<p>bump....Please I need your feedback</p>

4

<p>You have an excellent chance at both schools, and your rank and extracurriculars are impressive. Rochester is not THAT selective anyways. I don't really know much about outdoorsy colleges since I prefer big polluted cities, but what about: Dartmouth (NH), Colby (ME), Bates (ME), and Middlebury? Bates would be a good fit, I think.
Definitely mention the suspension on the part of the application that asks you if you have been, basically, in trouble for anything other than a speeding ticket (you will see it, trust me). Write the admissions officers letters, contact them, call them-whatever it takes for you to get your story to them. Colleges definitely want you to be completely honest about your background-it's not really about what you did but about how honest you were . They won't mind much if you were suspended for, say, drinking, but they will mind if you try to gloss over it in your application. Say exactly what you said: that you are serious, you learned from your mistakes, blah blah blah.</p>

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<h2>stain99 the school is actually really selective, but unfortunatley in the eyes of people like you who dont know what they're talking about, people just look at the higher acceptance rate. The applicancy pool at UR is very competitive. And on another note, schools like Rochester have a very personalized perspective when it comes to viewing applications, a student may have a ridiculous gpa or sat , but is really talented in a particular subjected..and may gain acceptance. The average gpa at UR is around 3.75...so thats nuff said.</h2>

<p>You do have a good chance at UR, if you apply ED I really think, with the ISS (if you explain it well), you should be a shoe-in. If not ED, i dont know , you still have a really good chance..but just make sure you take advantage of the fact that the adcoms want students that know they want to go there versus safeties.</p>

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<p>thanks, any more feedback, please. What about Bowdoin, so I have a chance there. What if I applied there ed</p>

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<p>Khan Tim, you were right, I don't know a whole lot about U of R (but I do know a lot about colleges). I assumed it was fairly easy to get into based on the fact that they have a high acceptace rate compared to other private schools of its caliber.
Membrane you are set for Bowdoin. If it's your absolute favorite and you don't want to go anywhere else, apply early.</p>

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<p>Your GPA etc. are good, but your SATs are on the low side for Bowdoin (possibly Rochester?). Good thing is that Bowdoin doesn't require SATs, so if you are not confident in your scores, you do not have to submit them. I would use one of the essays to explain away the ISS (its on your school record, and they will see it, so be honest about it). Say what you did wrong what you learned, how you matured as a student, etc. I would also look at the other Maine LACs (Bates and Colby), as they share a lot in common with Bowdoin, but are marginally less selective. If Bowdoin is your clear number one over Rochester (or vice versa), I would definitely apply ED. It would improve your chances considerably.</p>

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<p>If you can do so financially, apply early to Bowdoin without the SAT's. Best of luck - its a beautiful place.</p>

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<p>"If you can do so financially, apply early to Bowdoin without the SAT's. Best of luck - its a beautiful place."</p>

<p>Thank you to everyone for your feedback. But what do you mean by the above quote. Does Bowdoin have a bad financial aid package?</p>

11

<p>No - but they do needs-based aid, so whatever they calculate as your need is pretty much going to be what it is (they don't gap like some places). If you you and your folks need to compare Bowdoin with, say, U of Rochester (that offers merit aid as well), you have to do RD at Bowdoin. The problem is that going RD reduces your chances at Bowdoin.</p>

<p>If your family has looked carefully into the financial aid situation - and done some of the EFC estimators, and is pretty sure it can afford the EFC, then ED may be an option. The main thing is that you and your parents make a truly informed choice.</p>

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<p>What are your guys thoughts in prestige and general reputation/level of education versus Rochester and Bowdoin. Which do you think is the victor?</p>

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<p>Bowdoin for sure.</p>

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<p>Thanks everyone for your input. I'll definately take another look at my situation, before I state which college to ED. Though Bowdoin is looking real good now.</p>

<p>On the side note Bowdoin is ranked #7 by USNEWS for Liberal Arts colleges. Thier incoming class had 460 something seats and their acceptance is 24%. Wish me luck</p>

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<p>btw can anyone comment on bowdoins comp sci program.</p>

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<p>Insane_Membrane,
the Princeton University EFC estimator has been giving a lot of us pretty actuate results. Make sure your folks add back in 401K contributions (my bad when I did it the first time!).</p>

<p>Comp. Sci. was one of the majors was one of the majors that my son was looking at. Both Bowdoin and U Rochester would be good (but not MIT/CMU level) for that major, as well as for many other majors that you might change to. My son and I visited both - he loved Bowdoin (was WL'd there), and did not like Rochester enough to apply. Both places would other a great education, but Bowdoin, IMO, would be more likely to be enjoyable.</p>

<p>The problem with LAC's like Bowdoin is that in the job market, you will be more likely to get name recongnition with U of R than Bowdoin.</p>

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<p>@Ohio_mom</p>

<p>Thanks for your advice. Can you tell me where your son ended up going to. And does Bowdoin support double majors, in my case English and Computer Science. Because at UofRochester they not supported it but nutured and encouraged it via thier unique cirriculm.</p>

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<p>Bowdoin does support double majors</p>

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<p>yeah, but is there curriculum surrounding the fact that everyone doubles? or how does bowdoin work curriculum wise?</p>

<p>bowdoin def. has an awesome compsci program, because my friend in boston right now, he's a bowdoin alumn, making easy 100k in the IT computer field....consulting, only 24</p>

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<p>good point, University of Rochester's curricula not only allows for doubl emajors but also nutures the idea. </p>

<p>@KhAn_T1m
Did your friend also get a masters. Because Bowdoin has 3+2 program which can lead to masters at columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, etc</p>