Early Decision Thoughts--Middlebury, Duke, Northwestern

Colleges and Universities A-Z Middlebury College
1

<p>So I applied Early Decision to Middlebury on November 15--A great school academically...I like the size, location (I love skiing, and it is Vermont after all) and when I toured the campus it felt awesome..every kid that I know who goes there loves it</p>

<p>However, for a while in October, I was considering applying Early Decision to Duke or to Northwestern...I like both schools (I like that they are a bit bigger and near cities, especially Northwestern)...and I occasionally think of what would happen if I did apply ED to either of those schools...they certainly have a "bigger name" than Middlebury not to mention D1 sports (especially big at Duke)</p>

<p>So do you think I would've had any chance ED at Duke or Northwestern? Also, I now have recently been hearing that ED doesn't help quite as much as it is played up to...athletes, legacies, and top students are all applying ED, so doesn't that "skew" the ED acceptance percentage?</p>

<p>My Stats:</p>

<p>-I'm white, Jewish...no legacy help at any of these schools...and not applying for need based financial aid anywhere
-Ranked 19th out of 270 in a top Connecticut public school
-4.24 weighted GPA (valedictorian has about 4.85)
-2110 SAT Score (Math: 740, CR: 680, W: 690)
-770 Sat Subject Test US History---710 SAT Subject Test Math 2
-Take a fairly rigorous high school course load (all honors plus 2 APs Junior year and 2 APs Senior year)
-5 on AP Stat exam---4 on AP US History Exam</p>

<p>-Essay was well written about how I started a mini business where I bought and sold popular items online and how it shows that I like to be a leader</p>

<p>-I consider myself good-natured, hardworking and pretty well-rounded and therefore I think I'll get great recommendations from Guidance Counselor and teachers</p>

<p>Extra Curricular:
-I went on a community-serviced involved biking or hiking trip to various parts of the country each summer of high school (close to 100 hours of community service total)
-I play Cross Country, Golf, and I'm active on the student government and I tutor first grade inner city students</p>

<p>So that sounds pretty good but the only thing is that my high school has a website (Naviance) that tracks all the students from my high school that apply to each college.....and I'm far from the average at each school....only 3 out of 25 applicants have been accepted at Northwestern...they had an average high school GPA of 4.55 and SAT of 2330....Duke was even harder to get in...they've only accepted 1 kid in recent years (perfect SAT score)</p>

<p>Sorry that was so long...but do u think I made the right decision applying ED to Midd? Could I have gotten in to Northwestern or Duke? Thanks</p>

2

<p>don’t dwell on the what ifs. you’ve already applied ed to midd and you can’t undo that so just roll with it</p>

3

<p>ya I know…I’m perfectly satisfied with Midd…</p>

4

<p>Midd was a good choice.
I’m sure you will enjoy it. I’ve only heard good about it. Good luck!</p>

5

<p>If you wanted to apply ED to anywhere else then you would’ve but in your heart you felt like Midd was the perfect choice. SO know that it will all work out.
If Midd doesn’t (for some reason) then you have those other two schools to apply to.</p>

6

<p>Graduate school is an great option at NW or Duke–both have superb medicine, law, business, and PhD programs.</p>

7

<p>You’ve got the best of both worlds in MIDD. Vermont, skiing, 9:1 Student faculty ratio (with no TA’s!) and a real city (Montreal!) within 2.5 hours. Close enough to make it an occasional week-end destination so you can actually have a legal beer and most folks know someone at McGill to crash with. I don’t see any transfer apps in your future.</p>

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<p>haha thanks badaro…and nervedoctor I definitely plan on trying to go to business/management school at Duke or Northwestern (whereas I couldn’t go the other way around, no grad school at Midd)</p>

9

<p>You know MIDD has its own golf course (5 min walk from arena) and ski hill, right? Once you get your work out of the way…</p>

10

<p>ya I know I was up there a month ago…do u go to Midd, Badaro?..do u know how popular those are? I know skiing tends to be popular during J-term…</p>

11

<p>Nope, alum/parent. Skiing starts in earnest J-term, but continues on a somewhat more limited basis thereafter. Have not played the course, but have run it with my dog. Will get around to it at some point. MIDD fosters an environment of physical activity…not that everyone is an athlete by any means, but most students do partake. So, assuming you’re admitted (I make you a reach) it’s all about how you want to spend your time. My son is not a varsity athlete, but participates in fall/spring and winter teams. It may be that you want to spend that time on the golf course or the ski hill, or you may want to try something new. At any rate, you won’t be alone…athleticism is very much part of the culture at MIDD, perhaps more than any other school I’m aware of.</p>

12

<p>Middlebury is in the “Little Ivy League”, and you’ll be very happy there…that’s why you did the the ED! Very exclusive school, and in my opinion, the best all-around of the little ivies. Duke is full of basketball fans and Ivy rejects :slight_smile: and Northwestern is…well,…yawn :slight_smile: If you want business school after Middlebury, go to Penn.</p>

13

<p>I don’t know of anyone attending Duke for business school after Midd, but I think Arcadia went there for something science related? I know of a lot of kids going to Penn, Dartmouth, and Cornell for MBAs. I know a few did go to Northwestern (Kellogg) though. The nice thing is that your chances of getting into a good graduate program (at any school) will definitely be helped by the Middlebury name - as compared to most other schools. I don’t think it’s any better or any worse than Duke, maybe SLIGHTLY (ever so slightly) better than NW - in terms of grad school admissions. And I’m NOT basing that on the ages-old WSJ report on admissions, but simply anecdotal evidence. Obviously that’s not very scientific. If you get accepted you’ll undoubtedly love Midd, everyone always does. Good luck.</p>

14

<p>thanks…what do you mean about Northwestern?</p>

15

<p>And does anybody have any insight on whether Early Decision really helps as much as people say it does? I know the admit rates are higher, but isn’t that mostly because of legacies, athletes, etc…and do you know if ED tends to help more at a big or small school? thanks…</p>