Similar to your son, my DS (3.9/1530, 3 sports, unique ECs) liked Colby a lot and flew across country to tour last summer, including meeting the coach for his sport who was recruiting him. While he chose to ED elsewhere (and was deferred), we felt he showed genuine interest in Colby through his interactions both with the coach and the admissions office, including a successful pre-read. So we were a bit disappointed with his waitlist decision yesterday. However, that was soon followed by an acceptance to Williams, his original ED school, which always remained his #1. So I too agree with Miggy’s thoughts about these schools’ ability to judge interest.
It should be noted, however, that in contrast to Williams, Colby is need aware. While our EFC is not low, he did apply for FA and this may have played a factor at Colby. The coach was also interested in his FA status.
This is our first time through the process and my main takeaway is that genuine interest and fit go a very long way. The schools that my daughter reached out to and found a way to show how and why she would be a great fit and bring value to the school are the ones she’s gotten into. At Colby, she received the Bunche scholar invite and used the more info section to talk about her leadership experiences and how she could see herself as a leader at Colby. It happens to be that Colby’s latest initiatives align very nicely with her interests so she talked about that as well. She genuinely fits. She had a similar experience with Northeastern. And then another school that ranks lower but she did not connect with as much, she did not get into. She was not as interested in the school, and I think it showed. She had the grades/scores/ECs but didn’t get in and not even waitlisted. It’s something that I will focus on more for my next child because it’s best all around. At the very least it gives them the best shot.
Correct imo. These small schools rightly hate losing kids to transfer more than anything. Not easy to find students who want to transfer to a remote, small liberal arts school and even if they can odds are higher that transfer student won’t find a niche if they missed out on first-year experience. So fit is very important for them. They also don’t like low yield so will waitlist a lot of qualified students to see if once on the waitlist the student will step-up and express strong interest to get admitted. Our daughter applied to a small liberal arts school in Midwest that is not as prestigious as Colby et al in the NE. Grades and scores would indicate clear admit, but she didn’t visit, didn’t tailor essays particularly to the school etc. and it showed. Got waitlisted with a note from the AO that they’d like to interview her, understand why she sees the school as a fit etc. At that point, she pulled her application as she acknowledged what they had picked up on, that she wasn’t that interested. Big state schools don’t mind being treated as “safeties” by applicants, they know it’s part of the deal and they are so big it doesn’t really affect them. Small liberal arts schools are very sensitive and averse to it.
I completely get it. And no one should ever consider a school like Colby a safety for any kid. The bind, though, some high stat kids get into, is if excellent schools assume they will ultimately choose the 10+ truly elite schools, and WL them. But getting into an Ivy or it’s equivalent is never something to count on. Tens of thousands of highly qualified applicants are rejected every year. So, you can fall through the cracks, as it were. That said, with enough applications, you play the odds. It worked for my kiddo this year and he’s headed off to the school of his dreams. But it could easily not have and he would have been just as happy/successful at Colby. It’s particularly surprising since he got the Presidential Scholar invite, acknowledging he was one of their top candidates. Why send that only to WL him? Anyway….
My sincerest congrats to all who are headed to Colby. It’s a fantastic honor. I offer these perspectives not as sour grapes, but to help others reading this next year, as I benefited from reading others’ experiences this year.
Getting the presidential scholar email doesn’t guarantee admission. It just means admission is likely since the regional admissions officer was highly impressed by your application. It is certainly likely that the AO advocated strongly for your child but there wasn’t enough votes at the final committee for him to get admitted.
Also, while Colby does consider demonstrated interest, they also had an 8% acceptance rate (lower than Cornell, an Ivy) last year, possibly lower this year. Getting in is no cakewalk!
DD admitted; 1560 SAT core, (perfect verbal); 3.7 gpa (challenging, well-regarded private school). Interests match Colby quite well. I think it came across in application. Visited, met with rep at school and sent letter detailing the programs at Colby that are of particular interest.
Can you remind me when students might hear whether they’ve been chosen as Presidential Scholars? I think I read somewhere it’s about a week after admission decisions go out, but I might be confusing that with another school. Thanks!
Daughter accepted! 1500 SAT, 4.0 unweighted, 4.65 weighted, NSLIY Moscow Finalist, President of Model UN and Mock Trial teams, serious ballet dancer, part time job, volunteer tutor. Assume she had great letters of rec. Local awards. Attends public school.
Congratulations! My Daughter is also a serious ballet dancer but waitlisted at Colby. If you don’t mind, can I ask about your daughter’s thoughts of ballet in college? And how is ballet in Colby? Thanks very much.
She wants to continue dancing in college but not as a major. Her intention is to take class (which is an option) and audition for the Colby Dance Company. At this moment in life, her focus is on academics (and is not choosing a school based on their dance program) but ballet is still important at to her.
