I just got deferred from Georgetown University today; I applied Early Action to the Georgetown College. I was planning to apply to a lot of top tier schools (Penn, Brown, Chicago, Northwestern, Hopkins, Cornell) and close to top tier schools (Wash U, Carnegie Mellon, U of Rochester) (and also GW). I was also considering Tufts, Vanderbilt, UMass Amherst and Northeastern now that I got rejected (although these schools might still be too competitive). I’d like to find some more safety schools now that I didn’t get into Georgetown.
Here are some of my stats: SAT: 770 math, 800 verbal, 1570 overall (superscored). ACT: 33 math, 34 science, 35 english, 36 reading, 35 overall. GPA: 102.6 (weighted on a 100 pt scale), I’m not sure about unweighted- probably close to 99. Class rank: 2. Extracurriculars: co-president of Model UN, editor of literary magazine, public relations officer for math honor society, NHS, swim team for many years, lacrosse team, math team, volunteer at community outreach center, intern for the state assemblyman (I feel like extracurriculars are my weakest area). I’m white, female, from New York, middle class.
I really appreciate any help you can give with ideas for safety schools. I’d like to get a few more schools on my list that I have a good shot of getting into. Thanks!
Your stats are AMAZING which is why you were deferred, not rejected, by Gtown. You will probably be accepted regular decision! I’m not an expert, just a mom watching the Gtown action for my D’s friends (D is ED Barnard), but I think you’re “close to top” schools look like safeties with your phenomenal stats and very respectable ecs. Why shy away from top schools, too? You’re in the 1%!
depends on what field you are interested in, but for example Amherst College had more kids accepted into Yale Law school than Duke, Vanderbilt, or Chicago despite being 1/4 the size. (the year I saw the Yale law profile).
there are weird quirks for some schools; Brown has 6000 more females than males apply so as a white female unless you have visited the school or you don’t care about the application fee if you got into Brown you would get into more than half the schools on your list. CMU and Chicago have much more grade deflation than others so if you are an engineer or computer scientist CMU is near the best, but if your not in those fields be aware.
your stats are so good that RD may still happen for super elite schools but for mere mortals ED is like 5,000 applicants for 800 slots whereas RD is like 30,000 applications for 800 slots. So the super elite schools fill out their classes with 35/36 on ACT
you should think about $ and whether that matters or not in your case both for application fees and test scores but also affording it. Are there public NY colleges that are worth considering for cost benefit?
What to you want to study, and what is your budget?
Which division of Cornell? In the past, CALS, HUMEC and ILR were easier admits for NYS residents than CAS.
Why no SUNYs on your list? Did your guidance counselor recommend any? If so, what are your reasons for rejecting them?
Why no women’s colleges on your list? Bryn Mawr would be in the match range for you.
Your stats give you automatic admission and serious merit aid at a number of places. Start with the thread on that topic at the top of the financial aid forum for ideas.
Georgetown does a lot of yield protection in the EA round. I knew an applicant with high stats like yours who inquired as to why she was deferred, and was told that she’d be accepted in the RD round if she submitted a strong statement that G-town was her first choice. She was unimpressed with the “we’ll commit if you will” game-playing and ended up elsewhere… but the point is that this deferral doesn’t reflect poorly on your qualifications. Everybody needs safeties, so if you don’t have an EA or rolling acceptance up your sleeve at this point, it’s good to consider adding a few safety schools… but I don’t think you need to readjust your targets and reaches because of this disappointment.
Are you applying to SUNY’s? I agree with @happymomof1 that women’s colleges would be good to add for higher admission odds relative to their reputation. If you’re considering UMass Amherst, then Mt. Holyoke could be a great safety. In terms of the Boston schools, BC is much more Gtown-like than Northeastern (though both have low admit rates and definitely aren’t safeties)… and Brandeis and/or Holy Cross could be worth a look as safeties.
TBH I think it’s very unlikely that you’ll get shut out of the top-tier schools on your list (unless there’s some “third rail” problem with your essays, which doesn’t seem likely). Press on and good luck
The yield protection doesn’t really make sense since Georgetown is RESTRICTIVE early action so they know you don’t have another top choice and that you didn’t go ED or SCEA to an Ivy. I’m actually shocked with those stats that you didn’t get in. I agree that you probably will get in RD, unless there is something they didn’t like about your essay? Or interview? But with your great stats, I don’t think you need to adjust your list and definitely you should keep on some of those top choices. I would maybe add Boston College as a safer choice, and Dartmouth and Notre Dame like Valedictorians/Salutatorians for what it’s worth (this is a rumor I have heard…my daughter got into Dartmouth and she was #1…but she’s at Georgetown).
Good luck! I have a feeling you will have lots of great choices come April 1st. Hopefully Georgetown included.
While you likely get in Rochester & GW, & maybe some of the others, I agree there is enough unpredictability in the process that it might be smart to fire off a couple more. Boston College would be good…also Michigan, McGill, Lehigh.
You should get into UMass Amherst, so long as they believe you’re truly interested. I’d also suggest you pick one good SUNY and apply - Binghamton, Albany, Stony Brook, what have you. You should get into that SUNY.
pick your favorite SUNY and apply there+honors college.
apply to UVermont
Fill out Request info form from Macalester; after receiving your first email from them email Admissions with legitimate questions the answers to which aren’t found on the website. Apply RD.
seconding McGill
do apply to Tufts, Northeastern
Try to do all this by he end of the week and you’ll have choices in the Spring no matter what happens.
