Chances for a Midd obsessed junior?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Middlebury College
1

<p>Hello everyone.</p>

<p>Well, first of all, congratulations to all those who have been accepted to various colleges! I hope you all got into your top choice or something to that extent. All this immense amount of excitement for decisions coupled with fears of rejection creates a very stressful and chaotic state of emotions in many high school seniors.</p>

<p>Next year, at around this time, I too will be waiting on college decisions. JUst this past week, I went to visit colleges on my springbreak. I visited Middlebury College, Skidmore College, Hamilton College, Bard College, Vassar College, and Sarah Lawrence College, all of which were amazing. I was particularly stunned by Middlebury, and it's now one of my top choice schools. I'm filled with an intense eagerness to attend Middlebury, but honestly, I don't think I stack up to other competitive applicants...What do you think?</p>

<p>I live in Arizona, attend a small, college prep private school.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.4
SAT/ACT status: took my SAT for the first time in March, recieved a horrible score. I plan to retake it, and take the ACT, and then send the better of the two.</p>

<p>Courseload:</p>

<p>9th
Geometry C+/B
Spanish II A-/A
Biology B+/A-
World History B+/A-
Computer Science PASS
Literature and Composition A/A</p>

<p>10th
Adv Algebra C+/B
Spanish III A-/A
Physics C+/B-
Art I B+/A-
Literature and Composition A/A
European History B/A-</p>

<p>11th
FST (Functions Statistics Trigonometry) B-
Spanish IV A-
Chemistry C+
Art II A-
American Literature A
US History B+</p>

<p>12th
Precalculus
AP Spanish
Creative Writing/Connections
Journalism
Adv Art
AP Brit Lit
Masterwork (a unique program my school provides in which a senior student, if he/she wishes to do so, may create a senior project of sorts. This masterwork project is an integration of a student's personal passion and an accumulation of the things he/she has an interest in academically. I will create a 150-200 page graphic novel in which I design the characters and story, draw it out, so on.)</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<p>Vice President of class in freshman year
President of class in sophomore year
Computer Science --> contributed to creation of school website
National Art Honor Society
Advanced Art and things
Took japanese language class in sophomore year outside of class
Study abroad in Tokyo my summer before senior year</p>

<p>Race: Caucasian</p>

<p>Gender: Male</p>

<p>Hook: masterwork, Japanese studies and travels (I have an intense interest in languages and international affairs, something Midd is renowned for), art interests, being from AZ?</p>

<p>In Need of Fin Aid?: No</p>

<p>So...Not a stellar GPA. Not a wealth of ECs. But I personally think I've got the "individualistic hook." I can also write excellent essays, and my teacher recs/counselor recs will be good. As you can see, my strong suits are English, Spanish, and History..sort of. Math and science are not my best areas. I'm hoping Middlebury will notice my interest in languages and international affairs. So, do you think I have a shot at Middlebury College?</p>

2

<p>Well, generally, the most weight is on the difficulty of courses you've taken, then grades, then test scores. I would say middlebury is a real stretch for you. It has an acceptance rate of 25% which is very selective. If you are only taking 1 AP class, your grades aren't great (I don't know about your school, some places are just hard to get all A's) and your test scores are bad, an essay and EC's wont really help you too much. But you never know.</p>

3

<p>I'm actually taking 2 APs, one Advanced class, and a masterwork, which when in the context of the available courses my school offers, is a tough schedule. I see what you mean though, thank you for your insight.</p>

<p>Any other thoughts?</p>

4

<p>I too would suggest that your chances are slim. It's been astonishing seeing the qualifications of the kids who have been rejected by Middlebury and the othr NESCACs this year . . It will be very tough for you to overcome the unspectacular grades and the poor SAT scores unless your writing skills (your "hook") are really amazing and demonstrable . . .But you should go ahead and submit your application and try to make your best case as a lot of the admissions decisions do seem to be somewhat idiosynchratic. Nothing ventured nothing gained but try to set your heart on some other school if you can . .</p>

5

<p>Thanks for your insight. Middlebury is actually one of three top choices for me. Reed College and Vassar College are the other two. I plan to ultimately apply to the following schools</p>

<p>Middlebury College
Vassar College
Reed College
Skidmore College
Bard College
Hamilton College</p>

6

<p>I woldn't get my heart set on Middlebury with the profile you describe...not that there is anything terribly wrong with it but it seems a bit on the low side of their profile. If you continue to feel the same way between now and next year, I would pull out all the stops to start developing a relationship with people at Middlebury who might become advocates for you and KNOW who you are when they are reading your file. Attend every possible event Midd might hold in your area, make another trip to campus to interview and find a person or two who head up areas of the school you are interested in so they can let admissions know of your interest. Like you, I thought for years I was going to attend Middlebury. When I started visiting more schools, I found there were places I might be a better fit in. You mention Hamilton..when I visited both schools (along withe some of the others you mention) I actually
realized I like that school even better! And at the very end of the day, I found a school I liked better than both of them! Once I came to this conclusion, I focused all my efforts on the school of choice doing exactly what I described above...even to the point of going there last summer to take a summer class to show my interest. I then applied ED w/ no request for FA and got in...and couldn't be happier about the process I went through and my choice. Since you are from the west, have you checked out Whitman? It was on my list and I liked it too..and seems close by for you. Good luck.</p>

7

<p>Yeah, I looked at Whitman and Reed, and of the two, I partiuclarly liked Reed. </p>

<p>I realize my profile may be rather...average. Or not even that. But I'm filled with an intense passion and desire to attend Middlebury, and I guess that in that, I will work my hardest to try and get in. </p>

<p>Any other thoughts?</p>

8

<p>elite LAC's are elite LAC's, and no matter how much you like it and no matter how great of a fit you are, a low gpa and low sat's are likely get you rejected.</p>

<p>apply early, foster relationships, and do all you can to bring up that sat...good luck, dude.</p>