<p>I go to a large public high school in delaware. We don't get ranks but I am definitely top 10%. My weighted GPA is around a 98. I took all Honors/AP courses every year of high school.</p>
<p>Here is a basic resume (not including fluff or hobbies or awards etc.):</p>
<p>-French Honor Society: 3 years (Elected Historian Senior Year)</p>
<p>-Environmental Club: 4 years </p>
<p>-Media Club: 3 years (report and record the morning announcements)</p>
<p>-Hospitality Club member: 2 years (basically one of the few students who regularly hosts events in the community and assists guidance counsellors)</p>
<p>-Community Outreach Program: 4 years, 2 years officer (essentially coordinating & volunteering 4-10 hours per month at local events for foster children, firefighters, senior citizens, etc.)</p>
<p>-Pediatric Hospital volunteer: 2 years
-Project Graduation:1 year
-Assisted Living (retirement/nursing home) volunteer: 3 years
-I play bingo and host coffee talks once a week
-I teach the residents who have computers how to use e-mail
-I organized and help with a pinnochle club, prize system, game night, etc.
-summer environmental camp teacher: 2 summers</p>
<p>I have a 102 GPA with all AP/Honors classes for the first quarter and I will be sending those grades. I have heard that ED really increases your acceptance chance and I am absolutely in love with Wesleyan. How do you think I stack up?</p>
<p>You seem to have equal involvement in a lot of a different activities. Is there a passion you have or something that you were president of, being an officer of the community outreach program will help you but in general just being a “member” of a club doesn’t do much. Your SAT is kind of in the middle I guess but EDI would probably make that negligible anyway.</p>
<p>Other than that you seem pretty solid. </p>
<p>Are you “ethnic” at all? That would probably seal the deal.</p>
<p>The passion is sort of a volunteerin thing, and the connections that I have mad in that community club and at my other volunteering positions, which have madea significant impact on my life (I wrote my essay about this). </p>
<p>No I am not ethnic in any way unfortunately. Actually my grandmother was Australian, so my parents joke that I could put aboriginal on my apps… but I don’t practice any tribal stuff and I’ve never been to Australia hah.</p>
<p>Are you (or anyone else reading) farmiliar with Wesleyan’s ED? I have heard that it significantly increases acceptance chances but I’m not sure if the same goes for EDII.</p>
<p>I had an interview with an alumus who used to be assitant dean of admissions… it went really well. We had alot in common, he seemed to really like me, and we have spoken since. Does that make up for me…being white?</p>
<p>I posted this to a similar thread a few months ago, and it applies here, too:</p>
<p>I think you’re misunderstanding what ED (both I and II) is for. ED is not a “ticket” you use at a school to boost your chances at getting in. It is used for a school you absolutely love and will definitively attend if accepted. It seems that is the case for you and Wesleyan, so apply ED! </p>
<p>Applying ED doesn’t necessarily give you a better chance of getting in, it’s that stronger applicants typically apply during ED, so that’s why the ED acceptance rate is higher than the RD rate.</p>
<p>You definitely have the numbers to get in, and would definitely stand a great chance for ED, but don’t think it necessarily gives you a better shot at getting in. You are within range, though, so go for it!</p>
<p>I completely agree that ED is by no means a “ticket” into any school. However, I have read a few times, and heard from an admissions officer myself, that ED is an advantage at Wesleyan. I know that it could all be garbage and wishful thinking; I am still wondering if anyone on here has further insight.</p>
<p>An exerpt from an article called ‘Considering Early Decision’:</p>
<p>"* YOU MAY GAIN A COMPETITIVE EDGE. At some colleges, admission rates are significantly higher for early decision candidates than for regular candidates. At Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, 43 percent of the early decision applicants get the thumbs-up, as opposed to 25 percent of the regular applicant pool. “Applying early is to your advantage here,” says Nancy Hargrave Meislahn, dean of admission and financial aid at Wesleyan. “We think of it as a definite plus–for the student and for Wesleyan.”</p>
<p>She adds that if you don’t quite have the average GPA or admission test scores expected by the school, early decision may help. “There may be some cases where a student whose academic profile is closer to the middle of the road and is admitted because of other qualifications,” says Meislahn. “During early decision we may give more weight to things like community contributions and personal qualities.”"</p>
<p>By the way, Wesleyan is my top choice and I am not applying early decision simply for the ‘competitive edge,’ yet I would like to know my chances =)</p>
<p>While we can accept the 43/25 numbers as true, the caveats “early decision may help” and “during early decision we may give more weight” must be heeded. The average RD Wes applicant does not get a boost from 25 to 43 by applying ED.</p>
<p>I do think you meet the criteria for at least the “average” Wes applicant. For example, last year the average SAT for admitted students was 2190. The average for matriculating students was 2100. So in both cases, you were above last year’s numbers. Whether that holds true this year, we do not yet know. From everything I have read and heard about Wesleyan–I am an alum and my son applied ED I this fall–your teacher and counselor recommendations and your Common App essay all will play a role apart from the numbers. Don’t forget that Wesleyan and other highly selective New England liberal arts colleges try to put together a class each year that is highly diverse, not just in ethnicity and geography, but also in interests. I would expect that somewhere in your essay and/or recommendations, you made reference to your servive work in the residential care center and what that meant to you. I think that would make you stand out and I have not read of other students who have had that interest to the extent you have shown. Good luck to you! Hopefully my son and you will be classmates next fall!</p>