Chances at Wellesley?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Wellesley College
1

Hi! I’ve been feeling a little lost during this whole college application process recently so I thought I’d try to find some advice on here!
I used to live kinda close to Wellesley College, and so I first discovered it through the walks I took with my mom by their lake on weekends. Since then, especially starting from last year I’ve had some things happen that’s interfered with my schoolwork and I completely lost all motivation to try last year. I regret it so much but I ended up getting two C(+)'s last year which kinda murdered my gpa, that’s now at a 3.9 weighted which is really worrying. During the college application process I remembered Wellesley, the times I’ve spent there and how great I used to think the college was. After a college visit I loved it even more and I planned on applying early decision, until I remembered my grades would be well below most of the applicants… So now I’m doubting if I should even try if my chances of rejection are going to be high?

My SAT score was a 1450, which isn’t the best either, and I took one AP test last year: AP lang which I score a 5 on. I plan on taking 2 subject tests during October but other than that it’s all I have to offer in terms of grades.

For ECs I’m a 2nd chair flute player for my high school wind ensemble, which I don’t know will help or not, since i’m not first. There have been a couple clubs I’ve been in but because I couldnt get rides home it’s been difficult staying active. One of the things I’ve been most passionate about is photography, and I might include in my application that a few magazines have written articles about/featuring my work, but it’s not like I’m gonna major in photography or art so I really don’t think admission officers would care. Oh and I’m also Asian American, and after seeing how well prepared other people like me are has really lowered my confidence in getting into a good school haha.

My senior year grades so far have been much better but junior grades are the most important and I have no idea how I’m ever gonna make up for my performance last year. I hate to think how my whole future might be ruined by a few dumb hight school grades and bad experiences with teachers junior year but then again it might be the reality? I aspired to be somebody useful to the world someday and I think Wellesley will provide that chance.

I apologize for writing so much and making this post so pessimistic but it’s been stressful and I don’t know if I should take the chance to apply early decision? If anyone’s read up to this point thank you so so so much and any advice would mean a lot :^)

If only I could whip out my college essay this fast lol

2

Don’t be so pessimistic. Wellesley is a great school but there are a lot of great schools.

I think you are being realistic about your chances by comparing your scores to the profiles of accepted students, because Wellesley is no longer as easy to get into as it used to be.

When you say the reality is that your whole future might be ruined by a few dumb high school grades, you are not being realistic at all. Your future is still in your own hands, and it is what you make of it.

You still have a very good overall weighted GPA and you will be able to find a list of very good schools to apply to. Even if you don’t get into the elite schools, your future can still be bright.

You asked for advice - here’s a suggestion that may not seem obvious - have you had a conversation with the teachers you had a bad experience with, about asking them for a rec letter? You may find that you learned more about yourself through the adversity of that experience, than you would have if you sailed through getting an easy A.
What you may feel has been a negative experience may end up being the best motivation in your list of life lessons - its always what you learn from it, what you do from now on that matters.

I would recommend you talk with your guidance counselor about whether or not it makes sense to apply to Wellesley ED. I would think your chances are not impossible, and if you write a compelling essay about how you’ve grown from these experiences, you may find you have an advantage - there are plenty of students at Wellesley who have never yet gotten to experience this kind of disappointment, but there are also a number of students there who have gotten multiple C(+)'s.

One last comment - I was encouraged by your writing - you sound as though you are a genuine, thoughtful student who is experiencing the stress of the college application process. If you write this well, your essay will not sound overly “prepared”, but your true voice will shine through.

Whether you get into Wellesley, or a number of other great/very good/good schools, you still have an excellent future ahead of you.

Hope this helps. Best of luck!

3

I plan on meeting with my guidance counselor sometimes next week to talk everything over, and I think that will be good! I figured I just needed to relax a bit more, and I’ve managed to get myself together more since I wrote this post. Also I actually did end up asking on of those teachers for a rec, and thankfully he agreed! I have him for another class this year so I’m trying to show my best effort, Thank you so much for writing, it’s helped me feel much more positive! :slight_smile:

4

3puppies had some great advice. I think you should still give it a try, keeping in mind that Wellesley’s acceptance rate has gone down in recent years. Have you considered similar schools, such as Bryn Mawr and Mount Holyoke? Their acceptance rates are a bit higher, but they’re also amazing women’s colleges where I’m sure you’d be very happy.

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Haha not yet, but I will check them out, thanks!