Colgate 2021-Chance Me? ED II or RD?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Colgate University
1

Colgate is top school for me right now. I have a strong letter of recommendation from a teacher of mine who went there and who has known me since sophomore year (two years in her class, two years running her club). I also have another strong teacher rec, two strong outside recs (one from employer on a Congressional campaign and one from college adviser).

SAT (Old)

Math: 550
Reading: 720
Writing: 760
Essay:10

Comp: 2030

SAT (New)

Math: 610
Reading/Writing: 710

Essay: 19 (

SAT II:

Literature: 720
U.S. History: 620

AP’s:

English Language: 5
English Literature: (taking the class)
Government and Politics: (taking the class)

GPA: 4.0 based on Collegeboard chart (unweighted), 4.6 (based on calculations done by my school college advisers). 95.76 out of 100 (now I know this doesn’t add up when calculated through standard GPA conversions, but it’s done in some weird way of my school’s.)

Classes and 1st Quarter Grades:

Environmental Science (Dual Enrollment, Honors): 99

Humanities (Dual Enrollment, Honors): 99

AP English: 92

AP Gov’t: 94

Pre-Calculus: 92

Independent Study of Theater: 99

Religious Studies: 95

EC’s (school affiliated):

-Editor-in-Chief of literary magazine (Submissions Editor in junior year) (Grades 11-12)
-Co-President of one of the cultural organizations (Gaelic) (Grades 10-12)
-Fall Drama (supporting roles) (Grades 10-12)
-Bowling Team (Grades 11-12)
-Peer Tutor in History, English
-Newspaper (9-12)
-Debate Team (9, 10,12)
-Writer’s Society (9, 12)
-Diversity Club Officer (11-12)
-Quiz Bowl (11-12)
-Asian Cultural Society (9-12)
-Singer at school liturgies and events (11-12)

EC’s (non-school affiliated):

-Senior Girl Scout (Gold Award in progress, volunteering fundraiser to help local in need animal shelter) (K-12)
-Editor (I edit papers both academic and recreational for students of all ages in my community and in my school. It’s a volunteer thing I do on my own). (9-12)
-Altar Serving (9-12)
-Youth Group (9-10)
-Violin and Vocal Lessons (9-12)

Awards/Honors:

-In 3 honors societies (National, History, and Thespian) (11-12)
-Bronze Medal in National Spanish Exam freshman year (9)
-National Hispanic Recognition Scholar (11-12)
-AP Student (12)
-Honor Student (9-12)
-Honor Roll (9-12)
-Principal’s List (9-12)

Work Experience:

-I babysit
-Worked on Congressional campaign as an intern, both volunteer and paid work

Volunteered At:

-Congressional campaign (12)
-Local park for cleanup services (10)
-Center for autistic children (11)
-Food Bank (9)
-Local Blood drive (9-12)
-Urban Missions trip to Camden New Jersey, where I helped with Habitat for Humanity and assisted workers at a local children’s development center (9)
-Cleaned up Girl Scout camp (9-12)
-Altar Serving (9-12)

Additional Things:
-I earned transferable credits at Boston College taking two summer semester courses: English (Freshman Writing) and Introduction to Political Science.
-VERY strong essay, working on supplement
-I’m Hispanic, not applying for financial aid

I’ve already been accepted to Binghamton, Cortland (w/ Presidential Scholarship), Fordham, and deferred EA from BC. I’m torn between applying ED II to Colgate because of the fact it’s binding (I want some freedom in my decision and have thus avoided any binding programs). However, I do love the school. I’m just waiting on a few other decisions that may sway me based on financial awards or just other interests (such as BC, where I’m also interested, though to a lesser degree than Colgate).

Just curious to see what forums have to offer.

2

I’m also a declared English major with a potential concentration in creative writing, if that makes a difference.

3

If you don’t want the the binding decision, then don’t apply EDII. Also, you might want to compare FA packages.
You have a good chance but your scores are a bit on the low end. Are you planning to retake?

4

No. I don’t think there’s a way I can retake before the deadline and KNOW my scores before sending. To be honest I’m not concerned about the scores, my reading/writing is pretty good and math, I’ve known girls get in with the same or around my score.

5

Your math SAT scores are well below the 25th percentile for Colgate (which is listed as 670 for math). Scores below the 25% of a school are something of a red flag in terms of being a competitive applicant for that school. So I think those scores may be of real concern. And your gender is certainly not a valid reason for a lower math score. Barring some undisclosed hook, and without a good explanation for the math issue, my opinion (and I acknowledge that my opinion means nothing in terms of your actual chances) is that your chances for admission at Colgate are low - especially if you go RD. You are clearly a smart and motivated student, and I am sure you could thrive at Colgate. It is entirely possible that admissions will see beyond the math scores. But recall that nearly all of the applicants to Colgate have the requisite achievements and scores to merit admission. Acceptance at Colgate requires both demonstrated intelligence and additional qualities that help you to stand out among all of the other qualified applicants. I don’t want to dissuade you from applying, but I do want to suggest that you face something of an uphill battle. I wish you the best of luck!

6

Hey Max, didnt mean gender was a hook. I Go to an all-girls college prep (private) school, so I know girls who have gone to Colgate from who happen to have scores similar to mine.

7

Got it.