Hello everyone!
Stats:
-ACT: 25
-GPA: 3.695
-LOTS of EC’s and I am an equestrian
It would help to know the name of the school, but I listened to an admissions-themed podcast where the admissions rep said that it is very, very rare for an admissions decision to be changed. If the school you applied to is selective enough to have a waitlist, that’s the place for students who are on the fence. Typically, the decision is more or less final (unless there is some compelling aspect not covered in your application). I am so sorry. Remember that there’s no such thing as a “dream school.” Most students who are turned down to a first-choice school end up elsewhere and are so happy that they cannot even believe that they ever cared that much about the supposed “dream school.”
Unless the college made a flat out error it is unlikely that they will re-review your application. If you wanted to retake the ACT and have the new score considered you should have waited to file your application.
I suggest you move on and start looking seriously at other college options. There are so many amazing colleges and universities out there that is unreasonable to believe that there is only one college you could be happy and successful at.
I don’t argue with anyone who wants to appeal a decision or apply to a school that is a high reach. Anyone who has a piece to share, an argument to give certainly should do so if the momentum and motivation are there.
Be aware that schools rarely go back and review rejected applications unless some avert mistake was made. However, with excellent grades at any ther college, you’d be a good candidate for transfer admissions
I realize most times the decisions are final. I’ve made peace with that. I’ve just decided appealing would be the best route for me. Thanks!
I have no experience with this, but my hunch is that you would have to have fairly compelling evidence that your application wasn’t reviewed properly, or you had inadvertently left off important details. I am not sure improving your candidacy now (with better test scores) is grounds for an appeal. Your improvement will make you a better candidate at any of the other schools you decide to apply to! Very best of luck to you!
The school is tOSU. You are OOS. Your ACT was below the 25th percentile. I don’t see GPA percentiles for but almost all are in the top 25% of their class. The ones that are not in the top 25% are from in state schools like my DS’s where about 50% of the class gets accepted. It is time to move on.
You said you retook the ACT and scored significantly higher. What’s your new score?
I retook and got a 29
When did you retake?
When did you receive your score
Did you receive your scores in time to for it to be added to your file so that the school could consider this new score in their admissions decisions?
If you just received the score and the decision has already been rendered, you have no basis for an appeal.
I have other information as part of the basis of appeal, however it is not something I felt I wanted to post to a public blog. All I felt was appropriate to add was my statistical things. Thank you to those who have replied kindly. I started this thread more so to get advice on letter format and peoples own experiences; not to hear that it is rare they reverse decisions, a thing I am very well aware of.
@Eeyore123 Thank you for the information, however I am aware of those things. I do not appreciate you assuming all the information and telling me to move on, when this is a decision I have made already. It is not tOSU, even though that was my first choice, but thank you for assuming that anyway.
Did you submit this other information to the school in time to make a decision on your application? If you did, how do you know for certain that the admissions office did not take this information into consideration?
Unfortunately, they are not going to consider other information after the fact.
You have the right to appeal.
Based on this statement, it sounds like you are not accepting their decision and that you believe they are wrong.
If there was a clerical error on their part, or on the part of your high school, then you might have a basis for an appeal. Adding an appeal, with “new” information now, will actually confirm their rejection because they will conclude that the application wasn’t proofread or thoroughly submitted. Submitting scores “late” or adding new EC’s tells them that you didn’t plan well and that you’re desperate at this stage.
[I have a friend in admissions at a very tough school.]
Submit your appeal but you have to consider what your option will be if the decision remains the same. This is what the posters above are referencing.
@“aunt bea” The personal information was something I actually legally wasn’t allowed to put on my application but is now available for me too. I do not think they were wrong, I did not intend for that statement to come across that way. I have several options if the decision stays the same, I just want to see what happens.?
Since you are set on this, go on ahead and appeal. Otherwise, it’s likely to be a regret you carry. Put together your case , send off the information and see how it goes.
It is your application process to manage so if you want to appeal then go ahead and do so. Although the odds are against you, I’m sure we all wish you luck.
At the same time you are appealing please: 1) get the remainder of your other applications filed (be sure they get your new ACT score) and 2) start looking at other schools as places you could thrive at – there is more than one right college for everyone.
When a poster say “I’m interested in…”, it usually means the poster actually wants to hear various experiences to understand various options and results. In the future it would be easier to post up front that you’re only looking for responses that agree with you.
The facts of the matter are:
So, As long as you know these things, go right on ahead. It is unusual to appeal a college rejection unless some mistake in fact was made. Even so, and it has happened, it’s rare a school will reverse such decisions—they really don’t want to go there. Most of us do just move on and reapply another season. Chances of success are probably better, depending upon the school.
All good advice so far. Adding that I would have your GC (or a trusted adult familiar with college admissions) review your appeal letter/supporting documents.
Good luck.