<p>I don't understand---
Some people got likelies with lower SATs and GPAs than mine...
My stats aren't outstanding, but they're a bit higher than 1720 and 1980...and i got an unlikely! why is that?</p>
<p>Many students place an over-reliance on SAT scores. There always can be compensating factors...or not. There is also a distinction between admitting students and admitting a class; never forget that adcoms are doing the latter. There are dozens of attributes that they're looking for in any given class and they'll never hit all of them. But if they can snag a tuba player, the sheep herder's daughter from North Dakota, the tetra-lingual daughter of a single mother in San Francisco, etc. they will get at least some of the composite picture they're looking for in building a campus community.</p>
<p>Somebody at a party brings you a platter of cookies: why did you take <em>this</em> one instead of <em>that</em> one...sometimes it's just hard to say.</p>
<p>The most important thing to remember--whether you get in to a particular college or not--is that admissions does not constitute an absolute ranking on the worth of applicants, either as students or as individuals. Good luck.</p>
<p>i'm really sorry coffeetoffee, that can't be easy. but if i remember you correctly from the mcgill boards, you've gotten in there! and that's something to be proud of!!!
i only applied RD to wellesley, with very little hope.. maybe we can make it in as transfers?</p>
<p>thanks TheDad, you always seem to come through with wise words!!</p>
<p>coffeetoffee646...i'm sorry about your results. i guess the only way i can really explain my decision is my essays. i truly conveyed my desire to attend Wellesley and also my absolute passion in my activities. maybe if you called the adcoms you could find out why</p>
<p>I called in but they only said to bring in more awards. They weren't specific. Is there any way to get them to specify?</p>
<p>There's no need for them to specify. It's not as if it's a checklist you're frantically trying to make. The situation is thus: bring to their attention anything of significance that might cause them to re-evaluate your file. </p>
<p>There's no need to narrow by being specific.</p>
<p>D just got a likely letter.</p>
<p>Stats:
CT competitive public school
SAT I: 2260 (740M/730CR/790W)
SAT II: 750 Math II, 750 French, 740 Chem
GPA: 3.91 UW by midyear report
Rank:top 5 students in class of 430
ECs: Cardiology Internship, Town government, rowing
Awards: Nationally published research, National Merit Commended, NHS, AIME, National French Exam Winner
Most Rigorous Courseload, 7 APs
No particular hooks</p>
<p>So, the "Likely" letter says (paraphrasing) that in late March the student will be sent an invitation to an "accepted student" visitation weekend in April. They didn't say "if you're accepted", they said "we will be sending you". Umm, doesn't that seem to imply acceptance? Assuming all the "likely" letters are the same form letter. Am I missing some nuance here?</p>
<p>Yeah I noticed that too. The first paragraph kinda darted around the difference between "likely" and "admitted."</p>
<p>But the whole spiel about "accepted student" day seemed to imply that it was a sure thing.</p>
<p>Likely means 99% certain, maybe 25%, unlikely 1% chance of admission.</p>
<p>Yeah I've heard that on other threads, but I like how they choose to remain ambiguous in the letter :]</p>
<p>"Likely" = "Admitted" in the absence of academic fraud, committing a crime, or some fairly high eyebrow-raising circumstance or set of grades. Thus the very slight wiggle room. In the two years that I was intensely following this, no Likely was subsequently not admitted.</p>
<p>TheDad: The reason I question why they did not mention was because
a) they have a message machine that allows them to call back the next day and hopefully bring up your file especially since I said I wanted to talk about it. I want to know what would really want to make them re-evaluate it. Like I doubt AMC test scores around 100 (out of 150 except anything above 100 is considered around a 800 mathiic at Caltech) or distinguished participant in the biology Olympiad would really make them look over my application over again. I kind of doubt that wellesley would have the familiarity with these competitions to give a lot of weight to them. Unless I've been to USAMO or some other math/ science competitions all my highschool career.</p>
<p>b) From what I heard, Caltech told the deferred EA students what was lacking or what was good about the application .Especially since they care a lot more about numbers than Wellesley,I was hoping for a more personable response from a very warm (not literally in the winter obviously) school .</p>
<p>I already knew the situation because I've spoken with other wait listed and deferred students. I was calling mostly to tell them I'm still very interested in Wellesley and was hoping to get some insight as to what was wrong with my application and how to correct it in any way possible.</p>
<p>Sorry if I sound defensive, but you sounded like I didn't understand the situation. I do. I was just hoping for a little bit more.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I kind of doubt that wellesley would have the familiarity with these competitions to give a lot of weight to them.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>you're wrong</p>
<p>Sorry. Though they may have much familiarity, I wanted to stress that I don't think they'd give as much weight to it as some other schools. Would they?</p>
<p>MallomarCookie: How would you know? Just out of curiosity</p>
<p>Dianal, I repeat: it's not up to Wellesley to provide a check-list which, by being overly specific, might discourage someone from mentioning something worthwhile. E.g., if they mentioned the Loren Ipsum award but neglected to list the LMAO award....</p>
<p>I'll turn the question around: why would you possibly think that Wellesley would discount a high AMC score or Biology Olympiad or whatever? The wouldn't...but I'm curious why you think they would.</p>
<p>Try to keep in mind that there is most likely nothing "wrong" with your application that needs correction.
Ultimately, Wellesley is building a community. So most likely they aren't going to be able to say "your application was weak in areas x,y,z".
I know that this might sound a bit harsh, but I think that if you are eventually denied acceptance in April, Wellesley might actually be doing you a favor by saying that the Class of 2011 is not the right fit for <em>you</em> just as much as they're saying that you aren't the right fit for the Class of 2011.</p>
<p>Don't be too obsessed with what Wellesley "wants"--keep in mind that it is unlikely that they would pull out your app and even know why, right off the bat, you were possiblied (yes, I did make up a new word!) unless they personally were involved in the description. </p>
<p>If I can be so bold to offer my advice: look over your app with a really critical eye. What do you suspect are your weaknesses? Did you leave anything (ANYTHING) out? Can you make anything better? Example: I was deferred from my EA school. After reviewing my app, I realized that I had neglected to explain an ec situation, had left out a summer activity, and had underestimated my hours on my ecs. I was pleased with everything else. So, I wrote that school a letter that stated that they were still my top choice (the truth...don't lie!! If Wellesley isn't your "top" choice, say that you are still excited about W) and that corrected these mistakes. I also added an expanded ec resume, to flesh that part out. I closed by mentioning my successful semester and reiterating my excitement about the school. Did I have anything earth-shaking to add? No, but I still think it was a productive and worthwhile letter. </p>
<p>I am sure that anyone can look at their app (really LOOK at it, not just reread and say "Yup, everthing's great") and find something that can be fixed, expounded upon, or highlighted. If you don't feel like you are getting everything, have another person well-versed in college admissions (or just applications in general) read it. Don't count out mom or dad! My mother is no college admissions expert, but her years as a business woman are more than adequate to look critically at a resume/letter/even an essay.</p>
<p>TheDad: I'll turn the question around: why would you possibly think that Wellesley would discount a high AMC score or Biology Olympiad or whatever? The wouldn't...but I'm curious why you think they would. (they*)</p>
<p>The awards I listed aren't exceptionally high or amazing. So I assume that Wellesley would just be like,"Oh that's great. You took the initiative to take these competitions but what about results? You aren't doing well enough to show a lot of passion."</p>
<p>I understand it's not their responsibility but I really thought Wellesley would have a different touch.</p>
<p>Millionlittlepieces: I completely second the idea that if you aren't a true fit for wellesley, they'll reject you. Honestly, what is a fit for Wellesley? The representative said that they want all different types of people. The feeling I get from actual Wellesley students is personable, helpful, charismatic leaders that also know how to have fun but also work hard when needed. I'm still wondering if I'm a fit after being so sure so many years. We'll see when the letters come in and I finally decide...Thanks for reminding me of reality. :-)</p>
<p>advantagious: Thanks for the advice! You totally sound like my friend at Wellesley.</p>