Honestly, I was really surprised by where I got in and where I didn’t. I had a 2290 on the old SAT (800 math, 770 writing, 720 reading). Took SAT II and did well (800 math/ 730 English Lit). 3.9 UW/ 4.6 weighted GPA. I had quite a few leadership roles and played tennis and swam. I put a lot of effort into my essays and am also interested in art (so I submitted an art portfolio but not as art major). I took pretty much all AP classes and got 5s and a few 4s on exams. I did visit Wesleyan very early on but I did not do anything special since then honestly. With Bowdoin, I really think that it was my interview. I hit it off so well with my interviewer and we still keep in touch (but I never visited before accepted students day). I am in Virginia FYI, which probably helped geographically. Hope this helps! One thing that I’ve learned from this process is that when it comes to the very best liberal arts schools and schools in general, sometimes the smallest thing can make a big difference— and don’t rely on the SAT scores to determine what’s a reach and what is a safety school because a lot of it depends on things outside of your scores even if you are in the 75%.
@Dorothy28 thanks for all the information. It is very helpful. You are very qualified! You are right about the college process and how it often comes down to small things. Congratulations on Bowdoin!!
@Dorothy28. Congratulations on Bowdoin! The importance of the little things such as interviews at elite schools where they are evaluative can be tricky if they are conducted by students - great to hear that yours worked out well.
Thank you. I feel like Bowdoin is the perfect fit. I did not have a student interview though because of my location; I had an alumni interview, so the interviewer had been out of school for some time. I did not know that students conducted interviews. Does that happen often?
Yes, it does with on campus interviews sometimes - my DD’s had students at Bates, Bowdoin, Swarthmore, and Wesleyan, but at Hamilton they had admissions deans. Hope my DD gets the spot you so graciously gave up - if not she’ll be in a good place at Hamilton.
Hope she gets it! Good luck. Either way, Hamilton is great!
I received a phone call last night and was accepted off the waitlist. Wesleyan was a top choice and I now plan on attending, super excited, good luck to all!
@simchajean As with the other people, mind sharing stats, ECs, what you think made you stand out/be accepted? Did you send in a letter and updated grades?
Missed a call today and had a voicemail saying it was from Wesleyan Admissions. When I called back they said I’d be getting a formal acceptance email tomorrow and had a week from then to decide. They had a New York City area code and I realized they tried calling yesterday as well (I didn’t pick up because I didn’t recognize the number).
As far as stats: 34 ACT, 3.5 UW GPA. SAT II’s were 770 (Lit) and 660 (Bio E… lol). I had unusually strong EC’s geared towards my major, specifically several substantial accomplishments since being waitlisted (don’t want to list them here but you can DM me if you want specifics). I updated admissions about… twice I think? In addition to my initial LOCI. One of my updates was physically mailing them a copy of a newspaper I’d recently been published in along with a handwritten note reiterating my interest in attending (sent last week). Given my relatively low GPA I’m nearly 100% positive that my extracurricular accomplishments and continued interest made me stand out.
I still need to discuss with parents and figure out financials (esp. the significant deposit I’d be losing :/), but I’m fairly certain I will be accepting the offer. Good luck to everyone, I know this process can be awful!!
EDIT: I didn’t send any updated grades besides my final transcript that my guidance counselor sent. I’m not sure if they would’ve received them yet, but my grades did improve slightly this past semester.
@justanotherdreamer Absolutely! I didn’t send in my ACT score, but I had a 700 literature and 720 US history subject test as well as some 5 and 4’s on AP exams. 3.77 UW GPA and a wide range of EC’s including leading a service club fighting domestic violence, school newspaper, theater, and soccer. I sent in two LOCI a month apart. As to what made me stand out it’s hard to say, the college process can be so random and arbitrary (and cruel.) I think I fit the Wes mold in my clear interest for social justice/ service. Hope this helps and wishing the best for everyone!!
Over the weekend, DD got an email asking if she wanted to be a smaller summer waitlist.
Update: Both DD and a classmate passed on the summer melt waitlist - DD’s starting orientation at her committed school mid-August so too close at this point.