Does the kid have a chance for Bates?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Bates College
1

Chance for Test Optional Admission to Bates College

Male student from the South
Class Rank: 8/125
GPA: 3.91 unweighted/ 4.51 weighted

Freshman Year:
Algebra I: A+, Received Year-End Algebra I Award
Freshman Social Studies: A+, Received Year-End SS Award
PE: A
Honors Speech & Comp: A
ICP: A
Marketing: A - required course
Spanish I: A+

Sophomore Year:
AP World History: A+, Received AP World History Award
Biology I: A-/94
Honors Algebra II: A-/94
Honors Geometry: A
Spanish II: A-/93
History Elective: A+

Junior Year:
AP U.S. History: A, Received APUSH Award
AP Euro: A — doubled in AP hist here because Euro would not be taught sr yr, both taught by one of hardest teachers in the school, only kid to double, very challenging to do so
Honors Chem: B+
Honors English: A — School changed Eng program this year removing AP Eng replacing it w/ honors class
Honors PreCal: B-

Spanish III: A
History Elective: A+

Senior Year Schedule:
AP Language or whatever the senior AP Eng course is
AP Stats
AP Biology
AP Spanish IV
AP Government
Art Elective

Extracurricular:

Speech/debate team member: 4 years, National Forensics League Academic All-American, Team Officer Junior/Senior Year, Received Several Season-End Awards, Competes in Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu and Congressional Debate

Junior State of America member: 3 years, elected Director of Debate junior year, elected President for upcoming senior year.

Spanish Club: 4 years

Extracurricular / Volunteer Pursuits Outside of School:

Youngest docent ever at a significant historical site home to one of the most significant figures in 19th century U.S. politics. Has lead 47 tours to date and has participated in open houses and other volunteer endeavors at the home, 57 hours. Should have 75+ tours by the time ED1 apps go in. His boss will write a strong letter of recommendation for him.

Top 20 finisher in the United States History Bee National Championship sophomore and junior year. Has qualified for and competed in Nationals since 8th grade. An activity he does just for fun, on his own, outside of school. Not on an academic team, but competing against mostly kids who are.

Has earned an A at the College of William & Mary in History 218 (4 credit hours) summer after 10th grade as part of the W&M Pre-Collegiate Summer Program in Early American History. Currently taking History 217 at W&M as I post this. Working hard for another A.

Accepted to a selective summer student congress program which included 50 students from around the country, as well as several international students. Speech voted among the top 5 in the group by his peers.

Elementary School Volunteer: Occasional classroom volunteer

Again, asking for chance as a test optional applicant for Bates. I feel that his accomplishments outside of school are a strength for him and that his grades are solid and course load is solid. Hoping his volunteer work at a major historical site, his W&M classes and his history bee success help show his passion for history and augment his school extracurriculars/leadership on the speech team and in JSA. He has interviewed at three colleges and it seems his love & knowledge of history and politics comes across. We will make the trip to Lewiston for a tour and interview if we feel he has even a slight chance for admission.

Interested in Bates because of their leadership in test-optional admissions, for their inclusive, egalitarian philosophy, for their strong history & political science programs, for their debate society, for their general attributes of being a small LAC, and for their geographic location.

Would love to hear from current Bates students, those that applied to Bates, parents of such students and anyone in general that really feels they have their finger on the pulse of Bates admissions or LAC admissions in general as to if the kid has a chance. Thank you very much!

2

From what I’ve seen at my D’s school, yes he would have a chance at Bates. Grades are similar to the kids I know who were accepted. Bates seems to be looking for kids with strong overall academic records, but not necessarily the highest GPA in the school. Interview and reccs are very important as well.

3

I think the applicant has a solid chance. Is he applying ED to increase his odds?

4

Thank you both for your thoughts! Assuming Bates resonates as well with him after visiting/interviewing as it does online and in guide books, then I think, yes, he would apply ED1. He certainly will apply ED1 to his top choice.

5

He sounds like a fine student with a strong passion for history and ECs that reflect his interests.

Has he taken standardized tests? If his scores fall above the 50% line for admitted students at Bates, sending them might help his application. If they’re not consistent with the rest of his academic record, then obviously test optional is the way to go.

Will he be considering W&M as well?

6

Yes he will take the tour, info session and interview at W&M following the summer program he is currently in. He has taken the ACT several times and yes, the results are inconsistent with his academic record… having hard time with math/science sections. Will take again in September. In regard to his passion for history, I do hope that his pursuit and passion for history outside the realm of his school will resonate well with Bates and hopefully other colleges as well. It seems that I once saw an admissions video or discussion stating that Bates looked for the pursuit of academic interests. I hope that his independent pursuit of history outside of school will distinguish him in the application process. He should have very good teacher recommendations and should be able to get several supporting recommendations equally as strong. Thank you mamaedefamilia for your reply!

7

You should make an effort to do a Colby and Bowdoin visit at well while in the area to visit Bates.

What other colleges are being considered? I think it’s important not to get hung up on one favorite school and build a balanced list of safeties, matches, and reaches. Another school to consider for a history buff would be Gettysburg.

8

He has visited and interviewed at Lawrence, Grinnell, and Knox. Has visited Kenyon, Wooster, Oberlin, Kalamazoo. Going back to interview at Kenyon and Wooster. Will have spent 6 weeks at William & Mary after his current summer program/class and will interview. Over Fall Break plan to visit Bates and a few others to be determined along the way. Definitely not hung up on one school. I think we have a good balance or reaches, matches and safeties, safeties being in-state schools. Probably will apply to Grinnell if ACT improves, Bates, Kenyon, W&M all as reaches, Lawrence, Wooster, Kalamazoo, Knox as matches, a few state schools as safeties. Thinking of visiting Gettysburg and Dickinson,maybe Denison a little worried about the predominance of the Gettysburg Greek system, maybe not an issue, but one of the reasons he/we like Bates. Probably will visit Colby and Bowdoin. Final list I’m sure will change, but will apply to about 10 schools 3-4 reaches, 4-5 matches and a safety or two.

9

Sounds like a good plan you have laid out, @MrMicawber. You have some great schools on the list.

10

Thanks to all for the feedback. Would love to hear more chances and glad to here negatives. Wonder if absence of AP Calc and AP Physics will prevent him from being a serious candidate. Hoping achievements outside of school will help offset that.

11

I think you have a good chance. Definitely visit and interview. ED will help (even if deferred) if it’s really a top choice. Completely second looking at Gettysburg and Dickinson for history. Both offer good merit aid if that matters.

12

My son is a rising Bates senior from the South, majoring in math and philosophy. He had AP Calc & the equivalent of of AP Physics, but I don’t know if that made the difference for him–the admissions officer told me later that Bates is “hit or miss” attracting students from his high school (southern students often don’t want to go that far north). Bates was not at the top of my son’s list, but not at the bottom, either. He has been very happy there. I would recommend emphasizing the attraction of specific Bates qualities (inclusion, egalitarian philosophy, debate team, etc. that you mention) in the application–in the essay or elsewhere. A college loves to know in particular how and why a student would thrive and contribute on their campus.

13

Excellent chance, especially if he ED’s. It’s not a lock, but with their admission rates it rarely is. But super solid shot and great record. I did the exact same three categories (plus LD for a while) in the NFL when I was in high school.

14

@gardenstategal thank you for your reply. Definitely will apply ED if Bates turns out to be his top choice. On paper it seems the school’s philosophy aligns perfectly with the student/person that he is. Will continue to research Gettysburg and Dickinson.

@milestones3 thank you for your insight into Bates. He/we will make sure to emphasize the qualities of Bates that appeal to him in the interview as well as his application. Not to derail my own thread, and maybe best for a PM, but I’d love to know if being from the South presented your son any difficulties fitting in at Bates. My son is very much a liberal-leaning, independent-minded person and does not identify himself as being a the stereotypical Southerner. I wouldn’t think being from the South would be an issue, but I do wonder.

@citivas thank you for the chance. May I ask if you participated in the Brooks Quimby Debate Council or if you know much about it? My son loves forensics, especially congressional debate and I feel participation with that organization, if nothing else, would help him create a social connection that will help him settle in and enjoy life at Bates. Candidly, the Debate Council coupled with the Bates philosophy of inclusiveness is one of several reasons I think Bates could be the perfect school for my son.

Thanks to all that have replied. You have been a great help to us. I appreciate the time you have taken to consider and reply to this thread. If anyone else has input I look forward to your thoughts. Thanks so much everyone! Oh, and I figured out how to do the little @andthepersonsname deal lol thanks @doschicos for leading me to that!

15

@MrMicawber I did not. I also found, BTW, that competitive speaking and debate peak in high school – the college competitions are much less intense and competitive. After competing nationally at high school I quickly quit in college (and thankfully focused on new EC’s) because it wasn’t in the same league. That may have changed in the couple decades since.

16

I will PM you, OP.