<p>I got my letter of deferral from Dartmouth via internet about a week and a half ago...and I know there have been threads about this, but is there anything else I can do to heighten my chances? I'm also a legacy, which may help, although I'm not so sure.</p>
<p>Anywho, I have also applied to Vassar, Skidmore, Wheaton College (MA), Ithaca, Wesleyan, Bard College, and Smith College.</p>
<p>Stats:</p>
<p>GPA: 3.55 Weighted. Unweighted, my guidance couselor said somewhere around 3.75-3.8.
SAT: 2010
SAT II'S: Math I- 670, Literature- 690
Class rank: 12/188 (Top 6% percent)</p>
<p>SATs aren't too impressive, but my college essay was very strong and I sent along with my applications clippings of my newspaper articles/my band's CD/sample research papers</p>
<p>Extra Curriculars:
-Opinion Editor of the school newspaper (Layout artist, columnist, have had several front page articles, and copy editing): 10-12
-Have been playing in a local band (myspace.com/sherode...shameless and unorthodox promotion right there) since sophomore year. (Singer, songwriter, rhythm guitarist)
-Marching band: Pit Percussion section leader (Xylophone Player, bass guitar)
-Tennis: 10-11
-Jazz Band: 12
-National Honor Society
-Tri-M Music Honor Society
-Volunteered 75 hours at St. Francis Hospital
-Aided in a democratic state representative campaign
-Scholar's Breakfast
-Volunteered 35 hours as a swimming aid
-Helped put together a benefit show that raised 1200 dollars for the Connecticut Children's Medical Center
-Have played countless coffee shops/school events/battle of the bands...solo/with band
-Piano Lessons/Bass Lessons/Guitar Lessons/Vocal Lessons</p>
<p>Academically, I'm taking difficult classes at the honors and AP level.</p>
<p>What do you think my chances are in terms of getting into the schools I've chosen to apply to? Also, getting past Dartmouth's deferral? Will being a legacy have any play in the situation?</p>
<p>Well, let's see: YOu're a legacy, and Dartmouth accepts legacies at nearly twice the rate of non-legacies. And you got deferred, not rejected, so maybe they want to see how you finish up this semester. That said, your GPA stellar. But if you're interested in Dartmouth, why are you applying to Ithaca? Safety? I don't view them in the same ball park.</p>
<p>Well, considering that my grandfather did not donate some grandiose amount of cash to school, I would not even know how much play that had in the decision. It's not like there's a building named after him or anything.</p>
<p>Let me put it to you this way: If it had not been for my freshman year, I would have a 4.0 unweighted GPA.</p>
<p>You know nothing of my writing skills, the weight of my essay, or the extent of my extra-curricular activities. Just because I don't go through the motions and make myself president of this and that, does not mean that I am not dedicated to the things I do. It just means I'm not a robot.<br>
So I'm not a good test-taker. Obviously something in my application made up for it.</p>
<p>I knew it was a moon shot going into the ED application process for Dartmouth and I was not expecting to get accepted or even deferred, so don't think I'm being pretentious or anything of the sort. I merely went above and beyond the school's requirements in terms of supplements and additional things that I believed would represent me.<br>
So don't say I'm not qualified, and that it's BS. As far as I'm concerned, you aren't the Board of Admissions.</p>
<p>I'd say you'll definitely get into the rest of your list with ease, aside from Vassar and Wesleyan, which pose a challenge for even 1400+ SAT score students. I'd give you about a 60/40 chance at Vassar and a 50/50 chance at Wes (which are the same odds I'd give myself).</p>
<p>And know what? Colleges can't tell. The thing that bears the most weight is academics. If they deferred you with legacy, that's telling you it's one of two things - they're either flatly not interested in you, or they want to wait and see. Either way, that means your GPA, SAT, and lack of ECs make this REALLY iffy.</p>
<p>Generally, the essay and recommendations are only tie-breakers between the well-qualified, and frankly, looking at the raw stats, I'm not sure you're in that category for Dartmouth.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm aware of that, which is why I was surprised that I was not outright rejected. My other post was in response to a girl who was kind of rude. You're just being honest.</p>
<p>I have such a low weighted GPA because our school's system is on a 4.25 scale, and I think the guidance counselor said that the highest GPA she's ever seen is like, a 3.75. My unweighted GPA is very good, and I have a lot more EC's that I didn't mention because I just wanted to give a brief summary. Maybe my recommendations were good? I only read one and it was fantastic, but the other two teachers I got them from don't let students read them over. </p>
<p>...can someone please give input on the other schools though? My second choice is Smith College, and if someone could help me out here, that would be super :)</p>