<p>hello,
I am currently a Junior considering Hamilton college, Kenyon college, and Wesleyan for next year's application process. I will be visiting Kenyon on their upcoming junior visit day and possibly interviewing at Hamilton in a few weeks. The ED acceptance rate for these schools is about 50%, do you think i stand a chance for these selective schools despite the high ED acceptance rate?
GPA 3.4UW
0 honors/AP freshman year
1 honors class sophomore year
2 honors classes junior year
4 AP classes senior year
class rank mid 50% (pretty competitive high school)
State:IL
White Male
ACT:31
Extra curriculars
Lacrosse
Debate
Debate workshop at Dartmouth this summer
Thank You</p>
<p>When you say, you’re in the “mid-50%” of your class, what does that mean? One interpretation could be that only 25% of the class ranks lower than you, but, I don’t think that’s what you mean. Are you saying, you’re in the top half of the class?</p>
<p>I think it really depends on a couple of factors. Are you going to be recruited for lax? How competitive is your school? Also, do you have a strong academic focus–something that you want to major in/ have shown interest in?</p>
<p>I am not being recruited for lax, I am in the top 50% of my graduating class. My school is pretty competitive about 30 kids a year go to ivies/stanford/uchicago/duke/other ultra competive schools combined. My GPA from freshman and sophomore year was considerably less than my GPA this year and I have increased the difficulty of my courseload and began poicy debate, and I am becoming more academically focused. I think I can show these schools how I have been a self starter albeit I am a late bloomer so to speak. I will most likely be a varsity debate captain by next year, I am becoming more involved/interested with debate and I can illustrate that by my Dartmouth Debate camp experience.<br>
Sorry for the jumbled response</p>
<p>I aspire to go to law school and policy debate has helped me strengthen analytical and argumentitive skills that correlate with litigation and other techniques that are part of being a lawyer</p>
<p>ED to the school you like the most and not the one with the most prestige and you will have a solid shot, but it’s no guarantee whatsoever.</p>
<p>chibears- Your experience is scarily like mine. </p>
<p>I applied to Kenyon, Hamilton, and Wesleyan ED (among other schools). I was rejected from Wesleyan, but accepted to Kenyon and Hamilton with a 3.2 unweighted and a 35 ACT. Also did policy debate and rugby and, like you, was a late bloomer academically.</p>
<p>I think that you have a decent shot if you push hard to show lots of interest and write a tremendous essay, Kenyon in particular values the Common App essay far higher than most schools. Make sure you interview get great letters of rec in line. </p>
<p>The 4 AP classes you’re taking shows that you are serious about work. BUT, you must ensure that you do well in them. I’m taking 5 AP’s in my senior year, and trust me, first semester is no cakewalk and second semester doesn’t get much better.</p>