How can I make my app better/Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Middlebury College
1

<p>Based on these stats, how could I make myself a better applicant? I think Middlebury might be a bit of a reach for me, but I'm still planning to apply.</p>

<p>Sooo...if you could point to any weak spots that I should work on and what I should do, that'd be super. :)</p>

<p>Stats...
Female from Tucson, AZ.
GPA - 3.8 maybe (they don't tell us UW), 4.3 weighted. Upward trend.
ACT - 29 (30E, 28M, 31R, 25S)
SAT - 1890 (700CR, 570M, 620W)
Class Rank - No clue. Probably between top 15-20%.
Class Size - 75.</p>

<p>I think my ACT is stronger by a little--should I retake it?</p>

<p>Freshman year: Honors Biology, Honors English, Honors World Geography
Sophomore year: Honors English, Honors Geometry, Honors World History
Junior year: AP English, AP US History, and Honors Algebra II
Senior year: AP English, AP US Government, Honors Physics, and Honors Bible (not weighted as honors course)</p>

<p>AP Scores: APUSH - 5, AP Lang/Comp - 4.</p>

<p>ECs, Awards, Work, Volunteering, etc.
- Freelance graphic design and web development for private websites.
- Director of Design for 2007 Dance Show.
- 2 years of Yearbook, and I'll be an editor this year.
- National Honors Society
- 1st Place in Southern Arizona Language Fair for a Sign Language Dramatic Interpretation.
- High honor roll every semester
- Honorable mention in the science fair
- Award for Excellence in Beginning Dance</p>

<p>Intended Major: Computer Science</p>

<p>Thanks for your input. :D</p>

2

<p>To be blunt, your scores put you pretty far out of range, and your gpa and extracurriculars, though strong, aren't really impressive enough to compensate. I suggest looking at similar but less selective schools like Colgate and Bowdoin (SAT optional). good luck. i hope i wasn't too discouraging--if it's your dream school, take three SAT 2's and get above 700 on all and submit those instead of the SAT reasoning, which Midd allows, write a great essay, and i'd say you have a chance.</p>

3

<p>I'm not going to submit my SAT scores since they're...bad. Can I submit my ACT and AP test scores instead? I'm not really sure how the whole standardized test thing works since they let you do subject tests and such in place of other tests, etc.</p>

<p>Really, it's much better to hear the truth than something that's totally sugar-coated. Thanks for your response. :)</p>

4

<p>Bowdoin is just as selective as Midd. They only accepted 16% in the RD round this year.</p>

5

<p>Yeah there's no reason to call Bowdoin "less selective" than Midd, which is also SAT optional. </p>

<p>That being said, Middlebury does look like a reach for you, but I would agree that because of the standardized test submission policy Middlebury maintains, you could probably present yourself as a stronger standardized tester than your 1860 might indicate. Your 29 is a much better score, though I would suggest retaking the ACT, as you could probably improve. </p>

<p>If I'm not mistaken (sorry, my memory's a bit hazy), you could submit your ACT score + your three APs, which would satisfy the requirement and wouldn't even give Adcom's a chance to look at your SAT scores. If you submit SAT scores of any kind (SAT1, II's), your entire SAT report is sent, and regardless of what you self reported, they will probably end up seeing all of your SAT scores.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

6

<p>jesus, you people are so defensive about your schools...all i meant was that bowdoin will be easier for him to get into because they wont see his sat's at all...he has no sat 2's and midd would also be reluctant to admit an 1890 cause it affects their ranges and makes them think badly of him, "sat optional" or not. i did not suggest that middlebury is efinitively ultimately no doubt about it you can bet your ass because your school sucks and mine rules better than bowdoin.</p>

7

<p>Actually I'm going to Middlebury in the fall...I just didn't want the OP to get confused. Do Bowdoin's and Middlebury's SAT policies differ? </p>

<p>And BrownPlease, I'm going to have to disagree with you.</p>

<p>Middlebury is infinitely better than Bowdoin.</p>

8

<p>Yes, Bowdoin and Middlebury have different standardized test policies. Bowdoin does not require ANY standardized test scores, while Middlebury does, but allows you to pick and choose which you submit.</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
If I'm not mistaken (sorry, my memory's a bit hazy), you could submit your ACT score + your three APs, which would satisfy the requirement and wouldn't even give Adcom's a chance to look at your SAT scores. If you submit SAT scores of any kind (SAT1, II's), your entire SAT report is sent, and regardless of what you self reported, they will probably end up seeing all of your SAT scores.</p>

<p>Good luck!

[/quote]
</p>

<p>But I only have two AP tests I've taken...
Can it be ACT + 2APs or does it have to be 3APs?</p>

10

<p>I have to add my two cents here. I don't think a 29 is that stong a score either. Bates is another SAT optional school to consider.</p>

11

<p>I chose Midd over Bowdoin too. It's not defensiveness when you just wish to present accurate information.</p>

<p>SAT scores aside, I think your essay/the rest of your app will be much more important. I had a friend who got in with a 1900. And she submitted her SAT scores.</p>

12

<p>Bowdoin is SAT optional but it looks extra hard at the academic credentials and records of applicants who do not submit their scores. My guess is that this applicant would be at least as much of a reach at Bowdoin as at Middlebury as her academic record is decent but not particularly strong (in the relative scheme of things) and there is nothing that really stands out about her ECs.</p>

13

<p>you're right, farya...sorry i overreacted.</p>