F&M chances? (please!)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Franklin & Marshall College
1

<p>Hi, I was just wondering if anyone would be willing to throw a guess as to whether or not I'll have a chance at Franklin & Marshall. I've already applied, I'm just getting nervous that I may not get in there (mainly thanks to this overachiever website! hah). Any insight from current students/parents of current students/other prospectives/accepted students would be highly appreciated! c4c if your advice is helpful! :)</p>

<p>Stats:
SAT--660cr, 630m, 730w
ACT--30 composite
GPA-- about 3.6, including 6 AP classes and all college prep credits (physics, chem, calc, ap lang, bio, us, pol/gov, etc)
Rank--top 20%
School--public, 1800 students, suburban area (Washington state)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
PIANO--10 years private instruction; numerous awards/honors/performances/scholarships; currently teaching beginning level students; regularly accompany other musicians, theater productions, etc.
THEATRE--performer in over a dozen school and community theater productions; school drama club Vice President (12th), drama club Public Relations Officer (11th); letters earned all years; numerous awards/state honors; initiated into International Thespian Society
LEADERSHIP--member of executive board on student government (12th); attended leadership summer camp; chair of both recognition and assemblies committees; link leader in school's Link Crew (11th and 12th)
BUSINESS--member of FBLA (Treasurer last year, President this year; numerous area and state awards; letter awards received), member of DECA; attended Washington Business Week summer camp
OTHER--National Honor Society (member 10-12; Junior Rep 11th grade; Senior Rep 12th grade; academic letter awards all years; over 100 hours documented community service), Debate/Competitive speaking (9-11; a few awards/letters received), tennis (played at local private club 10-11), photography (hobby; many art show awards won), delegate to Evergreen Boys State, served as page to Wa State Senator, volunteer 5-10 hours a week at Junior Achievement</p>

<p>Other Info:
white, male, no alumni ties (parents both went to college though), live in Washington state.
Long Essay: about how I never thought I was diverse, until I realized that diversity is more than demographics, and that experiences shape who we are. I then talked about how I've changed since the death of my Dad (start of my 9th grade year)
Short Essay: about piano, and how music has always been a huge part of my life, and that even though I've achieved much, what I enjoy most is pleasing others with my music.</p>

<p>Thank you so much!</p>

2

<p>Well right now I know that admissions at F&M are getting more and more competitive each year, I’m not sure I would get in today if I applied (I’m a senior there). Your GPA and SAT seems about average for those accepted here. Everything else seems good, you have a lot of extracurriculars and its good that you took AP courses. Did you apply ED? Did you (or are you planning on) interview? I know it’s very far away to go for an interview. The only thing I could potentially see as hurting your chances is that you are from a public school, but they still do admit I think 30-40% from public schools so with the rest of your profile you should be OK. I’d be surprised if you didn’t get in, but like I said admissions have changed a lot from when I applied 4 years ago. A record number of people have applied in the last few years BUT I also know (this may or may not be insider information, I’m not sure how much other people outside F&M know about this) the President John Fry is trying to increase the size of the student body from just under 2000 to about 2200, so the acceptance rate may temporarily go up in order to accomplish this. I think it happened last year that way and it may continue for a few years. I know they are admitting a lot more people than they used to and there is a new dorm in construction to hold them all! So good luck and I think you have a very good chance! Have fun… it was a very interesting experience there</p>

3

<p>Thank you so much for your insight. It really helps to hear things from people who actually are IN college, not just the dorks like me who sit on sites like this wasting our time thinking about college. haha. I know that F&M is becoming a more and more competitive school, and that’s part of the reason I don’t know if I would be accepted. I feel like I have the stuff (ECs, experiences, etc.) to get in, but they might seek more academically rigorous students (I’ve heard that F&M is known for having difficult, sometimes unnecessarily difficult, academics). I also know that the students there are very homogenous in terms of diversity (mostly wealthy NE white kids), so I had assumed that maybe being a public schooler from the far West and not being fabulously wealthy might actually help my chances, but maybe I was wrong. You said it was an interesting experience attending?? Good…or bad? hahah. I’ve heard Lancaster can be pretty dull after awhile, and that the party scene there is pretty big, but I assumed you’ll find that at most all LACs. Anywho, thanks again for your help. Oh, and to answer your question, I have not visited PA, but I’ve been doing an email interview with my admissions counselor for the past few months…so they kinda know who I am! :)</p>

4

<p>I am a junior at F&M. I think you have a great chance. I was top 20% at my public high school too. I did apply ED, but I got a scholarship, so I am pretty sure I would have gotten in regular too. And my class was more selective than the class of 2013. The class of 2013 was 62% public school, 38% private. I do think geography helps a lot. Most of the students are from PA,NJ,NY,MD. Just make sure to show a genuine interest in the school.</p>

5

<p>ahhh! same stats, but from PA…</p>

6

<p>My son was just accepted ED class of 2014. He’s in the top 25% at his diverse/well-respected NE public HS, Latino, middle-class family, has a high GPA, applied SAT optional, talented musician/performer. F&M tries to meet 100% need with financial aide/scholarship package (this is what was offered to my son). ED is the way to go if you’re 100% sure it’s your #1 school. Definitely show them you are VERY interested in attending.</p>

7

<p>Hey Congrats to your son! He will be joining the 5 other latino students at F&M! Lol sorry but its true. That F&M lack of diversity comment from another thread was totally right, I’ve also heard people say that on campus… but its a good education</p>

8

<p>how do you show interest other than just applying?
thanks in advance</p>

9

<p>probably by visiting, having an interview, keeping in touch with admissions counselors.</p>

10

<p>Does anyone have any experience with athletic recruiting? In particular, do the coaches have any pull if academics are somewhat marginal, specifically sat scores, which we expect to be in the 1200s; grades, class rank, and other extra curricular activities (music) are good. I don’t think he would come in as the coach’s top recruit, but I think he would fit in.</p>

11

<p>We are a D3 school for almost all athletics, I doubt they recruit anyone. It’s all about academics here, they want an even more impressive freshman class every year based on test scores and grades.</p>

12

<p>photogirl - Recruiting happens (at least in my son’s sport) but it is unofficial since this is a D3 school. Per our experience, athletes can “walk on” and participate and depending on NCAA rules, team size for competitions may need to be limited…but they can still participate, work out with the team etc. My son was a D1 candidate and went through the same process at F&M as his D1 schools. The differences were no student helper, no scholarship etc at D3. F&M still had a recruiting weekends and such. I also know that in my sons sport, the coach was able to “support” an applicant or two in the admissions office.</p>

<p>My son tells me that many students participate in at least one sport.</p>