Top 10 School in Pennsylvania
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 20/130
AP: 9 APs (by end of Senior Year) and Honor courses
Ethnicity: Indian
ACT (breakdown): 32
SAT II: Chemistry(700), Math II (800)
GPA: 4.10 Weighted / 3.63 Unweighted (Increasing Trend)
Extracurriculars/Awards:
President of FBLA (11,12)
Treasurer of Class in Student Government (10,11,12)
Debate Club
Tutor (250 hours)
States to FBLA (9,10,11)
Nationals to FBLA (10)
Volunteer: Hospital (200 hours)
Summer Activities: Internship at local Accounting Firm (10,11)
Essays: Will be unique, 9 or 10/10 (distinctive topic)
Teacher Recommendations: One will be unbelievable, 10/10. Other will be average.
Counselor Rec: Average
Interview: Will probably be average
Random: 1 applicant applied this year RD and is now enrolled at Davidson
@LordSwag Academically speaking I’d say you’re a pretty qualified applicant but I have seen people with higher denied. What really matters to Davidson is your quality of person as they want someone who can embrace there honor code to its fullest extent. They will also appreciate your leadership experience and level of commitment to your specific organizations. My only suggestion is for you to contact your regional admission counselor and simply introduce yourself - you wouldn’t believe how far apart that would separate you from other applicants.
Side note: You mentioned you were Indian meaning your a minority of a multiracial background. Consider applying for their Multicultural Visitation Program (MVP) that takes place in mid-October. They pay for a full-expense trip for about 35 high-acheiving minority students across the nation to come see all the amazing things happening at Davidson for three days for FREE! And if you get accepted to that it’s a pretty good sign that you’re going to get accepted - especially being early decision. Feel free to contact me with any more questions and I’d be more then happy to help you with the application process in anyway I can and give you nice tips that helped me get in for the Class of 2019 (Yeah!).
@LordSwag I’ll echo NIHHIHH’s comment: SHOW INTEREST in Davidson. More than most any college, Davidson wants you to prove that you are truly interested in going there. As recommended, contact your regional admissions officer–you can look up contact information on the Davidson website. Then, visit the campus. Take time to write a thoughtful answer to the “Why Davidson?” essay prompt. Finally, emphasize your passion, what makes you unique. Good luck.
@NIHHIHH @wstrav Thanks for your responses. I will definitely apply to the MVP program and will visit the campus this summer or beginning of next fall.
Sorry for the late response @LordSwage, coolest college confidential name ever by the way, but I completely agree with what @wstrav said with showing interest. Don’t just be another application without a face. Now for some tips straight from the admissions counselors themselves:
1). Only use the required recommendations because the application will allow you to submit more optional ones but this is a test. They feel like you’re trying to cover up for a weaker area with more recommendations. Now don’t get them wrong if you have some really important people who can write really personalized letters about you go for it but if it’s just another teacher don’t go for it.
2). Don’t be boring. Too many of them told me they are bored out of their minds from reading dull, standardized essays. Davidson wants you to be unique and original. Don’t be afraid to be bold and risky. I talked about how despite my Dad’s complete disapproval of me attending anywhere but Harvard, Yale, or Princeton that I just decided they offered me something they never could and so on like that.
3). For the peer evaluation don’t pick someone who is just going to write the good stuff about you. That doesn’t tell them anything that’s not already on your application… Find one that can talk about your quirks and any obstacles that you’ve overcome.
4). Submit all your ACT and SAT scores really don’t try to hide anything from Davidson including any area you might be weak in because again they want to see your whole package.
5). Also they don’t do interviews but they do track interest. Go to those college fairs, talk with alumni, and contact your admissions counselor. You said your from Pennsylvania so your regional admissions counselor would be Abby Jones the sweetest lady you could ever meet. Her email is abjones@davidson.edu. Also always feel free to contact professors in the area you want to study just to help you better develop that “Why Davidson?” essay on common app.
These are the biggest tips I can tell you for right now because I don’t know what the prompts for next year will be though yet? If you have any questions throughout the process feel free to PM and I’d be more than happy to help you through the application because trust me WE ARE ONE OF THE LONEST ONES but well worth the effort. Also if you PM I’ll give you my email which is a lot more efficient than this and we can go from there. Also, are you considering applying for the Belk Scholarship?
@NIHHIHH Thank you for your response, I am not sure about the Belk scholarship because I don’t think I stand a chance for it.