Deferral Thread

<p>Well, we’ve all heard of those lucky people who get to participate in the accepted threads. But since it seems several of us have been deferred, I it would be quite novel to start a deferralthread. I know, there isn’t too much of a point, but maybe it will help us cope a little more. And if any of us do eventually get into Bowdoin- then we will have already met. Also, for the people who got deferred what other schools are you applying to?</p>

<p>My imited observation... </p>

<p>I do know that my mom was accepted ED to Bowdoin. She was the valedictorian of her (large) pubic high school. That said, her best friend was deferred, but accepted in April. Her recollection was that her friend went all out to make her case. In other words, Bowdoin wants people who really want to accept "the Offer of the College." </p>

<p>I really do hurt for all who are getting deferred, but that is not the end of the road for you. (Easy for me to say, I know.) </p>

<p>If you want to get into Bowdoin, show them what you have, work hard and hang in there with them. They (adcom) are incredibly sensitive and understanding people.</p>

<p>One more suggestion...visit again. Stop in and make yourself known. Though I am a legacy I have visited several times and made myself known at the college.</p>

<p>Bowdoin, in my opinion, has more to offer than any Ivy. It is worth the effort</p>

<p>Officially joining the deferrel thread now!</p>

<p>Go Neal! Thanks for taking pity and joining. Anyone else out there? Oh and Molly you can keep us updated if you want on any Bowdoin news. I'd greatly appreciate that.</p>

<p>My friend got deferred from Wharton- the undergraudate business school of u.penn and seems to think Harvard, Yale, and Princeton are his safeties.<br>
Another highly qualified kid I know got deferred from Brown and another from Georgetown. I think competition is getting fiercer and fiercer each year.</p>

<p>well, this is the first time I am ever applying to college. I would not know if competition is getting fiercer, but giving that more people are applying to more schools it would seem to make sence.</p>

<p>I guess we have to hope that (if so,unfortunetly) Bowdoin gets alot less applicant's this year!</p>

<p>i was defered. kinda upsetting, but things move on i guess. it seems like EVERYONE was defered, weird. where else are you guys applying?</p>

<p>whoops i meant deferred, forgetting my second "r" there.</p>

<p>ohh lol dont worry about the r! I think I may be applying to allegheny and colby, tho I know little about the schools</p>

<p>I've read that Middlebury's applications increased more than 20 percent this year Middlebury is also extremely selective and I think even more so than Bowdoin. And 20 percent can certainly make a difference at a school of that caliber. I've been told by a Bowdoin student that the majority of students get deferred but you still have to be a very strong applicant to be deferred. I"ve also read that Bowdoin is one of the 20 most selective schools in the country and virtually everyone who applies is qualified academically. I'm probably applying to Bates ED II which has a somewhat higher acceptance rate. I'm ****ed because I think I didn't get in because I didn't submit SATs. I was thrilled when I found out that Bowdoin was SAT optional but I still think not submitting hurts you. It's like three years of high school work thrown down the drain- well only for some schools. Of course, it could have been something else but I think we all had the grades which Bowdoin claims to put the most emphasis on. Well, as I mentioned before some of the smartest kids in my grade were deferred from top schools. It also doesn't help that our schools don't strive to make good relationships with Bowdoin. My school hasn't even heard of Bowdoin while other schools participate in college fairs, etc. I'd be fine with Bates or Colby- a lot of people who get into Bates seem to be waitlisted at Bowdoin. But if I get deferred from Bates- I'll probably drive the 8 hour journey to Maine in order to speak personally with the admission officers. Supposedly their very nice and understanding. I'll stop rambling but all we can do is hope for the best. And if I get into Bates I'll be able to join others who hate Bowdoin (I'll still probably love the school though).</p>

<p>I'm just so confused. I just don't know if Bates will be true to their word and not put much emphasis on the SATs. And everything besides grades can often be so subjective. I've done about 9 activities (including a sport, study abroad, leadership) and have related unique metaphors in my essays and have great recommendations. But I still don't know if that is enough. I really hope I will not have wasted my second ED. I'm wondering if Bowdoin is really just so competitive, or I just don't qualify for the Maine schools. I just don't understand how Bates, for example, accepts about 40 percent who don't graduate in the top 10 percent and I'm in the top 2 percent and people still aren't sure of my chances. If anyone can help me sort through this predicament or offer any feedback I'd greatly appreciate it.</p>

<p>Neal- I have some other schools you should know about. It's interesting that you mentioned Allgheny and Colby. Colby is referred to as "the high middle school." That means it is an excellent school but not as selective as schools like Bowdoin, Amherst, Wesleyan, and Williams. I'd think you'd have an excellent shot at Colby if it weren't for the SATs (Colby unfortuantely isn't SAT optional) and I think I would too if it weren't for my SATs. I still think, we both have decent shots at Colby. Colby is a liberal arts college which means it still places greater emphasis on grades and other factors. I saw Allgheny described in a college book. It is a good and liberal school, but not insanely competive like Bowdoin. I'd recommend Haverford, Vassar, Weslyan, and Trinity, and Tufts, but unfortunately you don't have the SAT scores, neither do I. But I still think you have a chance at them and would advise you to look into them if it is not too late. These schools are kind of similar to Bowdoin. I also recommend Lafayette, Gettysburg, Muhlenberg, Wheaton in Massachusetts, Ursinus, and Franklin and Marshall. All of these schools are very good and don't require SATS (I'm not sure about Gettsyburg). Some of them such as Franklin and Marshall rank higher than the rest - I think Franklin and Marshall is about 35 in the nation. I think you have very good chances at all of them since your grades are so strong. Anyway, let me know in a few months when you find out where you are going.</p>

<p>I also forgot to mention Hamilton which is also SAT optional. Hamilton is ranked 15 in the nation for liberal arts college and has an excellent reputation. It values many of the same ideals as does Bowdoin.</p>

<p>Ericgr, if you are deferred by Bowdoin, you still have many chances to be admitted. In the mean time, you should consider schools that best fit with you. Many school requires SATs but a low SAT, not high SAT</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice hpno. I am applying to some schools with lower SATs as safeties. I like them but really love schools like Bates. It's unfortunate, because if it weren't for SATs I could probably get into Bates. I have the grades and everything else, I'm just not a great testaker. I wish you the best of luck with Bowdoin!</p>

<p>well, like everyone is saying, deferred is not rejected, and for students like us, who are willing enough to chat extensively online about how great these schools are, I do not believe that there would be a significant reason for them to reject us. Like they said "keep your chin up", continue to perform in school this year, complete your midterms, and achieve the high upward trend scores you already get. Visit Bowdoin, write your letter, and when you get your fantastic midyear report, send it in.</p>

<p>No worries, we will be fine. We still have a chance to greatly affect the outcome of this;lets put it this way...they trust you, to be accepted in april, proove them correct. Just exhibit the behaviors you said you exhibit on your application
:-)</p>

<p>I agree with you. Students like us who chat consistently on this site must truly want to go. Wouldn't it be nice if a Bowdoin admissions staff looked at these threads and considered this. Nice fantasy! Unfortunatley, I've received two B's from two extremeley hard AP teachers this term. The majority of the class has gotten B's and I don't know whether or not this will hurt me. Other than that, my grades are mostly A's.</p>

<p>Hey! I dont know if you noticed this, but review.com says...</p>

<p>"Freshman Admission Statistics
Total applicants who are accepted: 24%
Total of accepted students who enroll: 40% "</p>

<p>Only 40% of student accepted(statistically), actually attend. That gives students who are deferred a better than good chance of getting in. I guess this also would explain why Bowdoin's Freshman class consists of many ED applicants, but than it gets into statistics and theory...and theory is only theory. So once again good luck :-)</p>

<p>I was pretty happy when I saw that too. In a way those statistics are good, since many people do not ultimately attend Bowdoin so they have to take some people off the deferred list. Unfortunatley, those statistics can be somewhat deceptive since Bowdoin knows that many people they accept will not decide to attend. So even though only forty percent go to Bowdoin, Bowdoin expects this and will not take a ton of people off of the deferred list. So Bowdoin takes many more people than it can actually fit since they know many will not end up going. Hopefully, we both fall on the high part of the deferred list. That would be awesome!!! Oh and how is college prowlar? ( I spelled it wrong because this site seems to think it is a bad word and blanks it out) Does it give you helpful and specific tips for how to get accepted? Are you done with your other applications and essays? Did you finish the Bates and Colby essays?</p>

<p>The acceptance rate is still only 24%. Bowdoin accepts 2.5 applicants for each available slot in the freshman class but it still accepts only 1 in 4 applicants to get to that 2.5 number. A more relevant question from your perspective might be whether Bowdoin has been dipping into its waitlist in order to fill out the class. In some respects, I see being deferred as a little bit like being put on the wait list. If Bowdoin has been dipping into the wait list to complete its freshman class, that would suggest that it is not easy to calibrate the relationship between the number of acceptees and the number of eeventual enrollees. If that's the case, there may be room for those on the bubble.</p>