My daughter is a first year presidential scholar at Colby. Discussions on this forum were helpful to us a year ago so I’ll share a few things that could be helpful to others. First, as others have suggested, receiving the presidential scholar email is a good sign but it is not a guarantee. If you look at last year’s discussion, a few students who received the email reported being waitlisted. Also, I wouldn’t take not receiving a scholar email as a bad sign since a majority of students are not admitted through one of these programs. In years past, students had received admissions decisions and presidential scholar notifications at the same time. Last year, the notifications were sent about a week apart. Not sure what will happen this year but just be prepared they could be staggered.
One recommendation I have is to take your time responding to the project interest form. Research the departments, professors, etc. My daughter was contacted about her first choice project shortly after being admitted and she knew, if she enrolled at Colby, she would be matched with that project. I don’t think the project choice impacts admission decisions but, if you wind up enrolling at Colby, it is great to have a project you’re excited about. For anyone who didn’t receive a scholar email I would add that, aside from a few social things and the academic research assistant position, the program has not given my daughter any kind of special status as a first year student – though it was great that she did not have to find a job her first week on campus!
Finally, one thing to consider is whether you may have a reason to reach out to your AO, even if you were not asked for additional information. I don’t recall whether this question came up in Colby discussions last year or not but my daughter decided to reach out the AOs at a few colleges she applied to (including Colby) when she found out she was a NMF. She had read different things about whether to do this or not and decided to contact the ones that give scholarships to NMFs and a couple she thought might care. Especially since she didn’t have a ton of demonstrated interest, she decided sending one carefully crafted email wouldn’t hurt. In the end, I think it helped.
Best of luck to everyone navigating the process this year – the waiting is truly the hardest part!!
Additional Info request-- most common, yet some reported they have not received this, I would recommend them checking their SPAM.
Presidential Scholarship Invitation-- Rare
Pulver Program Invitation-- not everyone as science major
Bunche Scholars Program Invitation-- Less rare
Just for your info, I signed up for a conversation with a current student of Colby after the admissions sending me a link to sign up. We actually had a “conversation” as in JUST ME asking questions. I don’t think it is evaluative in any sense, compared to the “informational” interview I had with Bates where I have been almost interrogated with questions after questions.
Also, I have sent email to the Admissions on what to include in the Additional Info, and I’ll conclude what they’ve said.
The additional information should be used if you feel like you have pertinent updates to share with the admissions committee. Can be:
Awards or honors you’ve earned since submitting your application
Updates on your senior year progress, or similar
Updates of activities
Continued interest in Colby
Neither expect nor require that you’ll write another essay (like Why Colby) or that all students will complete this section
We encourage you to use the text box provided, but if you have additional materials to attach you may do so through your applicant portal
I did not get an additional info request and it is not in my spam. However, I did get the invitation to interview for the Pulver Scholars Program, and when I go to sign up for a slot, there is a box that says “Please use the space provided to include any additional information you would like to share with the admissions committee. Additional information can include updated grades, new honors or awards, or your continued interest in Colby.”
Maybe that is why I didn’t get an additional info request as there is a space for me to include it there? It seems like they want additional info from everyone but those who got an email about one of the special scholar programs do not get a direct email but instead are encouraged to include it in a different way? I’m no expert though; just my thoughts!
So happy to see your post. IIRC, there were some very cool projects in the humanities. Colby wasn’t in her top group, but that might have changed if she had been able to go up for an in-person admitted students day. They did have a virtual event for Presidential Scholars, which was interesting, but she wanted a better feel for the overall vibe.
Hey my financial aid checklist updated randomly 2 days ago. For some other colleges, it might mean that I’ve made it through some preliminary round I guess. Did everyone else’s financial aid checklist date change? FYI, I’m an international.
some schools simply just doesn’t have the time to give out FA after all decisions have been completed, the FA process and admissions work simultaneously…
Getting an email is a good sign (the amount of positive indication depending on the specific email you get). Not getting one isn’t a bad sign, per se, you’ll just have to wait until the decision to see what happens!
Not surprised! People tend to gravitate to similar groups of schools, especially when it’s comes to LACs! Hope we both get into lots of places! I’m just eagerly waiting for Colby right now because I want to be sure I got in LOL