<p>Hey CC,
So my college counselor and I are very well-acquainted, but he said that he honestly had to tell me I have no shot at Bowdoin. I applied Regular Decision because I couldn’t choose between Bowdoin and Davidson. Is he right?? Please let me know so I can lessen my hopes if he is.</p>
<p>-Highly competitive private Jesuit school in IL, 1400 students
-White female
-No rankings, but I think top 15%
-3.9 GPA
-Honors With Distinction/NHS/French Honor Society/AP Scholar
-Most rigorous course load available-we are allowed up to 3 APs and I have Chemistry, Macroeconomics, and English this year in addition to Independent Study French 5 Lit Honors (AP French junior year), Honors Precalculus, Religion, Dance.
-SAT: 2080 (CR640/M680/W760), ACT: 31(34W/33R/29M/27S)
ECs:
-Competitive dancer on companies since age 8
Average 12 hours/week, year round (no breaks, except a week for Christmas)
Numerous platinum awards at competitions/conventions, LA Dance Magic Performer title last year, Final Cut scholarship at LADM. Work as a substitute/teaching assistant. Well-rounded in competition style and concert style.
-Model UN Executive Board (we do not have officers, so this is the biggest leadership) in a club of over 150 students
-Travel for MUN to Boston, New York, St. Louis, Champaign, St. Petersburg (Russia)
Best delegate at BosMUN 2010, WUMUNS 2010, Outstanding at WUMUNS 2009, CIMUN 2010
Most Improved in the club
Initiated a mentor program in the Model UN club, which turned into the 4 Houses of Hogwarts/Head of Ravenclaw House!
-Service trips to Panama, Jamaica, Pennsylvania
Essays: Common App is great, about a very unique topic
Bowdoin essay is good but I felt constrained within the 250 word limit.
Interview: Good. She definitely knows I love Bowdoin and would fit in well. But it’s hard to tell what the other person thinks…
**I also sent Bowdoin their online arts supplement with a dance video.</p>
<p>Help! Do I have a chance of being a Polar Bear??</p>
<p>I read through your whole post and I am surprised that your counselor would say that you have no chance! Looking at your stats I would say that you’re very dedicated to dancing and passionate about what you do! I’m not a counselor but I say you definitely have a good chance so don’t give up hope. Good luck!</p>
<p>I think your counselor’s concerns are probably based on your standardized test scores, which are not outstanding for Bowdoin: [College</a> Search - Bowdoin College - SAT®, AP®, CLEP®](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)
Still, they are within the range that Bowdoin does admit, so it’s sensible to apply. Make sure you have a list of schools that includes matches and safeties.</p>
<p>Thanks for replying!
He didn’t mention my test scores. He said it was because I’m a Caucasian female, and that there have been better students than me from my school who have been waitlisted in the past. A girl from my school got rejected ED from Bowdoin already…but she isn’t in any AP or honors classes and has a 3.5 so that didn’t bother me too much.</p>
<p>You definitely have a realistic chance, imo, at least enough of one to apply. I’d still say you are a low reach. Who else is applying to Bowdoin RD from your school? It almost sounds as if your GC may be trying to protect one of your classmates that you may potentially bump…</p>
<p>Thank you! I’m hoping my dance video/interview set me a little over the top.
There is an African American girl applying from my school as well, and another girl got rejected ED. I’m not sure who else. Normally, we have an average of about 5 apply, and normally Bowdoin takes 2. There is a girl from my high school class of 2010 who is at Bowdoin now.</p>
<p>I thought Bowdoin was one of the schools that didn’t rely on SATs.
I think you have a great chance. Don’t let anyone dissuade you from your dreams.</p>
<p>I think it’s better to have submitted your scores even though they are not the strongest aspect of your profile. They do not rule you out and I suspect Admissions assumes that the scores of applicants who don’t submit them are very low. Yours are not. For students who submit scores, they are an important factor in the admissions decision.</p>
<p>As the parent of a first-year male student athlete, I’ve spent a fair amount of time pre- and post-admission looking at Bowdoin’s admissions factors and the make-up of the class. Although Bowdoin doesn’t have a Dance major, there is a minor and there seems to be a lot of interest on campus in performing arts. If you hit it off with your interviewer and your arts supplement/video are impressive, I’d say you’re a good candidate to be a Polar Bear, particularly considering your MUL achievements. Good luck!</p>
<p>the admissions committee does not assume that non-submitters of standardized test scores are low scorers. otherwise, the policy would mean nothing. the score are just not considered if an applicant refuses to submit them. what it does mean is that everything else is considered a little more closely.</p>
<ul>
<li>1 of 30 or so applicants with SATs below 2150 were admitted … and that one looks like a special admit (legacy, athlete or something)</li>
<li>about 8 of 25 applicants with SATs above 2150 were admitted.</li>
</ul>
<p>Personally, I believe students should apply to any schools in which they are interested … in this case Bowdoin looks like a pretty big reach … however bad the odds of acceptance they are 0% if you don’t apply.</p>
<p>if you’re worried about the test scores, you can ask for them to be removed from you app. this is from the bowdoin website:
How do I ask Bowdoin to remove scores from my application?
If a student chooses to have his/her test results removed from an application, requests must be submitted in writing to the Admissions Office by letter or email (<a href=“mailto:admissions@bowdoin.edu”>admissions@bowdoin.edu</a>) by the application deadline. If that request is received after the application deadline, we cannot guarantee that we can accommodate the request but we will make every effort to do so.
It’s before the deadline. you can rescind them if you want.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information
I think I’m going to keep my scores with Bowdoin, though. Sure, they could be a lot better, but I don’t think they will kill my application. I’ve been thinking a LOT for the past few days, especially upon receiving some bad SAT II scores (no, I’m not sending them to Bowdoin). I’ve come to realize that if I don’t get in, it could be for a million different reasons-I’m the wrong skin color, I don’t dance well enough, I got a B in geometry sophomore year…but whatever happens, happens. All I know is that I put 110% heart and soul into my application, and if they don’t like it, I’m going to one of the 10 other schools I applied to. My college counselor could be right or wrong…I REALLY hope he’s wrong…but in the end, life goes on, right? :)</p>
