4.0 weighted, 3.7 unweighted, 1370 SAT, have had six direct family members go and I would have been fourth generation, had a letter of recommendation by one of the top lawyers in FL who went there for his bachelors degree and law degree, lots of EC’s including basketball assistant coach, run my own pro football analysis website that incurs $1,000+ monthly in ad revenue and hired other pro writers, which I had included, visited/toured three times, in state applicant with FL prepaid, and taken 4 AP’s in my career, adopted at age of 2 which is what my essay was all about, had very nice grade progression as I received a 3.6 freshman year, 4.0 sophomore year, and 4.5 junior year, applied to school of education for Sports Management, signed up for Pre-law, have taken college credit courses over last few years in sports journalism and sports broadcasting, worked four different jobs besides my own self employment through website, participate in plenty of clubs, total at least 150 service hours each year, most was 310 in sophomore year, and made it clear it was my #1 choice, Eagle scout in boy scouts, cannot play sports due to a severe heart condition but included this in my essay and how it gave me my passion for analyzing sports instead of playing and sparked my interest in creating my website, also said I was planning on volunteering for their football staff all 4 years, and even applied for summer term…please explain how on Earth I did not get in? Was told by my college counselor I was basically guaranteed, and so many wayyyyyy less qualified students with like 3.2’s and 1140’s that go to my school got accepted and I cannot believe I did not get in.
Ask you guidance counselor to call. Sometimes mistakes are made.
If it was not a mistake, the things that come to mind are:
-You didn’t submit everything that was required.
-Named the wrong school in an essay – for example, said UF instead of FSU.
-Didn’t write the optional essays, if there were any.
-Poor recommendation.
I am very sorry you did not get in. I assume you applied to more than FSU, correct?
I recommend you contact your admission counselor and ask 1) why and 2) if there is an appeal process.
This is such a crazy process. Sometimes you do all the right things and it still doesn’t go your way. I’m sorry for this disappointing decision.
Onward and upward!
I’m planning on calling. Yes, I applied to other places but also got declined from Univ of Wash at Seattle, still waiting on Indiana, Florida, Miami, Mich, Texas, and Maryland. Got accepted to only USF and FAU so far. Rechecked my app w my counselor today and didn’t miss anything required. She said my recommendations looked completely fine and that’s definitely not the reason. And I did write all optional essays, which was only one. Also didn’t name any colleges in my essay so that’s not the problem either.
I recommend that you have your guidance counselor call. They will be more honest with him/her. You’ll get a more straightforward answer.
Some possible problems, from your description –
- You emphasized your legacy and came off as entitled to admission which turned the reader off
- Your letter writer is a friend of the family who never saw you in a classroom or contributing to your school
- You wrote about something that happened at age 2, not enough about who you are today
- Your major is more competitive than the college as a whole
- Your high school courses did not meet minimum admissions standards (e.g. not enough foreign language or something), or your competition did much more than the minimum
Did your guidance counselor or someone familiar with FSU check over your application before you hit submit?
Yes, see if you can have your counselor call so you can update your other applications and fix any problems/mistakes
Highly doubt I emphasized anything besides just putting down 6 names on application that are direct relatives who also graduated from FSU. My letter writer has never seen me in a classroom, but I worked under them this summer as an intern and they wrote about how great of an assistant I was and how I surprised him by actually bringing insight to his law firm by giving him an idea of an argument for a case he eventually won and used my argument in court. Yes, I did write about something at age 2 but also progressed into how learning of my heart problems in 9th grade and learning I would no longer be able to participate in sports sparked that passion for analyzing sports and made me want to create my site which became immensely successful and also sparked me to want to become a coach/front office personnel in the NFL in future, and how I planned on volunteering on their football staff as an assistant. I also took all 4 years of foreign language, and they require 3, so I took one more than required, so that can’t be it either. For the major, I was told by admissions directors when I visited that college of education was one of easiest to get into especially for sports management. Maybe the last one is right but I doubt that’s the only reason I didn’t get in. Makes no sense.
You sound pretty amazing to me…your GPA is below the 25th percentile? You may never know, but it doesn’t define you. You’ll be successful wherever you go.
Were you denied admission, or simply deferred? If the latter, I would recommend sending a letter of continuing interest, emphasizing your achievements. My daughter was deferred three years ago with only a 1270 SAT (but a very rigorous high school schedule), and she ended up getting accepted after she sent them a letter. If you were denied, it almost looks like a mistake to me. Did you maybe have widely disparate SAT scores–i.e. 800 in reading and only 560 in math? That is the only thing I can think of that would ding your application.
Flat out denied.
And 760 in reading and 610 in Math. Separate but not that far off. Also I had only taken it once and without studying at all. Looking back it was very stupid and I should’ve definitely studied further and gotten my scores up, but I was very pleased to have that on my first one and had very little free time with such a busy schedule so I decided to justtake that one.
I claim no real expertise about admissions, but I do know when it is time to “fight.” I would definitely call and ask for an explanation and clarification. You can be upset but don’t be angry. Mistakes happen. Reach out and get more information because based on everything that I have seen, you are qualified. My Daughter was admitted for summer with a 3.94 and 1270. She had outstanding ECs and a great essay. Of the 30,000 kids who applied, very few actually have a real reason to call the admissions staff – but you do. Good luck. (And congratulations on your Eagle Scout Rank, always impressive.)
Well, it seems pretty harsh to me, and I understand why you are perplexed. Outside of some extrinsic factor that we aren’t aware of (i.e. five felony convictions which would have probably foreclosed admission to USF and FAU as well), you seem like a good fit for FSU. Definitely call or email. Mistakes happen.
Did your rejection letter say that they were unable to offer you admission as a freshman and did it give you a link to TCC with the suggestion that you could complete undergrad courses there and reapply for admission as a junior?
Yep, gave me the TCC thing. I’d rather go somewhere else however and not have to worry about transferring. And no, don’t have a criminal record haha. Nor any behavioral incidences whatsoever from my school or anywhere.
Have you called them yet? If I were you, I wouldn’t waste time going back and forth here when you can get an answer directly from FSU.
The only thing I can think of is a bit crazy. They may be concerned that your pro-football analysis website is somehow tied to gambling, and could in some way create issues for their team or athletics department (especially since you indicated that you want to volunteer for the team).
Admissions will likely not give you any information. I would definitely have your GC call them.
Definitely call them and ask. My son also applied for summer and got denied. His stats were lower than yours though but he still has pretty solid grades and decent course rigor. Maybe something odd happened with their summer session applications? Doesn’t hurt to ask. Good luck!