Do I have a realistic shot?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Union College - New York
1

<p>Intended major: Biology</p>

<p>Also applying to Roger Williams, UVM, Ursinus, and Bates (possibly EDII).</p>

<p>Mom is a special Ed teacher, don't have a dad. Adopted from Moldova, and have dual citizenship. </p>

<p>Income is only about 41k</p>

<p>Not sending scores.</p>

<p>Unique situation during my junior year...</p>

<p>90 gpa in 9th grade, 1 B in math and a B in art</p>

<p>92.59 gpa (sophomore year) B in math, B in env science</p>

<p>Junior year - had a severe case of mono, combined with hypothyroidism caused me to miss 3 months of school (could hardly watch TV, it was a nightmare), as a result, I was forced to drop some of my classes and catch up as quickly as possible so I wouldnt have to retake the 11th grade. 87 in AP english and comp, 89 in chemistry, and 72 in geometry honors <em>cringe</em> but I made it. Will mention this in my essay so they don't think i just screwed off junior year.</p>

<p>Senior year schedule will be AP bio, lit, human geography and stats, and spanish III honors</p>

<p>Volunteer work: (shows determination and focus)</p>

<p>Global impact apprenticeship: co captain freshman year. Worked with several schools overseas to improve water quality, wildlife and other things, all while documenting and presenting a video to broadcast with te other schools participating. This got lots of press, was in the news paper just about every month in my town, and when I search my name, half the results are from the GIA program</p>

<p>Ambassadors group member</p>

<p>Ran XC fresh year</p>

<p>Shadowed/assisted a horse vet over the summer: ~30 hrs</p>

<p>Worked on a dairy farm feeding calves twice a week : ~ 20 hrs</p>

<p>Green Mt Horse Association jumping crew, vet assistant/scribe and other various jobs: ~15 hrs</p>

<p>Shadowing/ assisting various vets every Saturday morning 9-12: 15 hrs</p>

<p>Volunteer at The Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences, orphan baby bird feeder</p>

<p>Attending Cornell Summer College Course in Captive Raptor Management junior year</p>

<p>Job as a dog sitter on an as needed basis</p>

<p>Strong essay writing skills.</p>

<p>Attended Adventures in Veterinary Medicine sophomore year.</p>

2

<p>I know you’re looking at Bates for EDII but I think you have a better shot here at Union.</p>

<p>You cut and pasted the above from the many threads on which you posted it this summer/fall. How did your senior first semester grades turn out? If they are in the A or A- range, I think Union is a realistic place for you to try EDII.</p>

<p>I reviewed my earlier comments re: your situation and they still apply. Union would be analogous to the St Lawrence suggestion I made months ago, and I think it is the right niche for you to be looking at for ED.</p>

<p>One final thought, and it’s a sensitive one. You always start out these threads by highlighting your family income as the first part of your story that you want to tell. You also always tell us about your mom’s occupation and your dad’s absence before you tell us anything about yourself. I hope you are not presenting yourself in this way on your applications. Although you may not intend this, it makes it seem like you are looking for favorable treatment because of your family income, and I don’t think it reflects well on you. You have plenty of your own achievements to shout about; shout about them. If you want to convey your family’s economic situation in some manner, do it in a more subtle way. You are not going to be admitted somewhere because of your income, or your mom, or your dad - it’s going to be because of you. You have plenty to offer and not a lot of space to convey it in the common application. Don’t waste the space talking about anything other than yourself.</p>

<p>My comments from past threads (still relevant):</p>

<p>Feedback will be exactly the same as it was when you posted on the Bowdoin and Bates boards. Your extracurriculars are very nice, but academic considerations rule.</p>

<p>It sounds like you think you may have a hook at Midd by being a Vermonter, but still remember you will be competing against other Vermonters who are likely to have a better academic record and higher scores.</p>

<p>I urge you not to waste your ED shot at this high of a reach, and to consider an LAC for ED where your scores are solidly within the median range, and not way below.</p>

<p>Here is my post responding to your prior chances request re: Bowdoin and Bates. Just substitute Midd for Bowdoin/Bates and the feedback would be the same. I am not trying to be mean, there is always “a chance”, but you only get one ED1 shot. Use it strategically and wisely.</p>

<p>Prior feedback:</p>

<p>Your best shot is UVM since you are a state resident, then UNH.</p>

<p>For Bates and Bowdoin (or Midd), they will be looking for demonstrated success in a rigorous courseload, especially since you are not sending scores. You mentioned an 87 in AP English junior year and a 72 in Geometry Honors. That Geometry grade will not be helpful. You mentioned that you will be taking one AP course senior year. If your school offers a more rigorous courseload, your record probably will not make the cut at the Bates/Bowdoin (or Midd) level. </p>

<p>Take a look at the Decisions threads for Bates and Bowdoin (and Midd) for the past few years, you will see what your competition looks like.</p>

<p>You might want to take a look at St Lawrence and/or other LACs that are not quite as selective as Bates and Bowdoin. Regardless, you will need a few safeties. I think you will do fine but you will need to be a bit strategic, perhaps not reach quite as high …</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>^ as a student here, I agree with the post above that you should apply to Union ED 2</p>

4

<p>Trekslxchick, this was helpful. Since it sounds like you know about multiple schools, can you name some more LACs that makes sense for a B/B+ student with ~1800s on SATs? DS is being recruited by schools well beyond his academic reach and we need to get on the radar of better D3 fits.</p>

5

<p>Trinity and Conn College might be a reaches, but you could consider them. More great safeties would be St. Lawrence, Hobart, Gettysburg, Dickinson (possible reach), Denison, Wheaton, and College of Wooster.</p>