<p>My D just visited Bates and loved it. She would love to attend but we feel that it’s a reach school. She is an IB student with high B’s low A’s. Science/Math all the way. Her SATs were 540 Verbal, 670 Math, 600 writing. She is a 3 season varsity athlete in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. She wants to run in college and has met the Bates coach. Currently is setting up an overnight based on being asked by the Bates coach. At this time she is thinking ED which could help. She is considering taking the ACTs but it depends on when she goes to Maine for the over night. Just too many activities to put in a couple of months. Is there anything that she can do to strengthen her chances other than retake the SATs? She has already taken them twice and she did do better the second time. She interviewed and thought it went well but she has only had that one interview so hard to say. Any words of wisdom to get into the college of her choice? Things she should highlight? I’m sure that they know that she needs 50 hours of action/ 50 hours of creativity/ and 50 hours of service just to get her IB. She is full diploma IB.</p>
<p>Definitely try the ACT. At least see how she does on a practice.</p>
<p>Other than that, she seems on track.</p>
<p>Thanks mythmom. She did some online ACT questions and said that they were easy. May be worth picking up a book for her to practice. Not sure when but she really needs to try. Double practice (6 am and 3 pm starts tomorrow) for cross country. She is still completing all of her summer homework. The amount is mind boggling as I'm sure most IB students have over the summer. Just seems like she doesn't really even get a summer with stats, calculus, english, biology, and french homework plus working on her IB essay. Of well -- keeps her out of trouble.</p>
<p>Have her take an ACT exam without practicing. Score may surprise you. My S balked at taking it and studying for another exam so we had a pact. If he scored above X on a practice he could take it cold. He did. And then his score on the actual day was even higher. Significantly higher than his SAT score which he had studied for plenty.</p>
<p>The biggest difference with the ACT is that there is no penalty for guessing.</p>
<p>Great idea mythmom!! Having no exposure to the ACT what is a reasonable score for someone looking at Bates? Anyone know the answer? Oldest just took the SATs (he's more English based and did great). D is more science based and the SATs just don't lend themselves to her strengths. My understanding is the ACTs may. I know that she would love to have some down time. I hate to put one more thing on her. Good news is the common ap is almost done. She is starting the essay. She has an idea for the Bates supplimental essay but hasn't started writing it yet. She wants to basically be done prior to cross country season starting in ernest. Great goal. We'll see if she makes it, gets her summer homework done, and everything else that is on her plate.... Well at least she is learning time management skills.</p>
<p>30 would be a very reasonable place to start. My S got 36 on the science section, and yes, that helped him have an amazing ACT score.</p>
<p>And perhaps she could also fall in love with a school that is SAT optional and make friends with the coach there. A sort of ace in the pocket.</p>
<p>Each of my kids ended up at their first choice schools, but each had back up schools that they also loved that were easier admissions for them. Made the process so much more bearable.</p>
<p>It's great to apply to a school with rolling admissions or EA along with ED so if ED school does not come through (both kids were deferred) they get some positive news at the same time.</p>
<p>My S's best friend attends Bates and loves it.</p>
<p>Thanks. She does have a couple of back up schools. I'd just like to have one that she was more interested in then the 2 that she has. One is a no brainer -- she's in. The other one I think is the same although a bit more selective. Big thing is that they say that they will take any student with an IB diploma in our county so that's an easy one for her. She likes (to some degree) both of these but doesn't feel that they are the right ones for her. Unfortunately we haven't found another one that she feels the same as Bates. Bates is optional for ACT/SAT so that may be a plan also -- just not submit. I didn't know that you could do EA if you were doing ED. Hoping to hear something from the Bates coach today or tomorrow. So should know more about a trip to Maine (again) in the near future.</p>
<p>Yes, you can do EA. Sounds like you're on top of things. Good luck with Bates!!</p>
<p>From the Bates site:</p>
<p>"At Bates the submission of standardized testing (the SAT I, SAT II, and the ACT) is optional for admission."</p>
<p>Hi smoda61. I know that Bates is optional for testing. However it looks like from the statistics that 1/2 the people submit. I'm sure that most are to help them get in - which we would use for our D as well if they were better.</p>
<p>Problem is that on paper she doesn't look THAT good. She is only in the top 1/3 or her class. Her HS doesn't weight - so people taking much easier classes are much higher up. Her IB grades are good (high B low A) but she would do better if she was taking easier courses. May not like it as well but oh well. I'm just afraid that they are going to look at the numbers and say - not a fit because they don't know anything about her HS. The HS has a DB that indicates any kid over the past few years who has been accepted and then entered - no one from our school has been accepted. Of course that could be the no one has applied. They don't give you that info. I'm going to try to stress to the her guidance counselor to mention that they don't weight in the recommendation letter.</p>
<p>Currently waiting on the coach to get in touch with her for an overnight. Afraid that the coach is either too busy to set it up right now or they have already decided that she's not a fit based off of her interview. Not sure if they do that or not. I'm just anxious to get things set up and moving forward. I need to be patient I know.</p>
<p>RochesterMom: Along with the transcript high schools usually submit a school profile that allows the college to evaluate the students grades in the context of the pool she's in.</p>
<p>The fact that your high school doesn't weight should be made clear by that.</p>
<p>Check it out.</p>
<p>You can even ask to see what they enclose.</p>
<p>If not, then the GC can explain the unique system of your school.</p>
<p>Thanks mythmom. Good to know. This is my second one but my first applied ED to a safety school and there was no worry. S knew where he wanted to be. He's going back to American Univeristy tomorrow and for his junior year and still seems to really like it. I'm learning all kinds of information with one who wants to do ED to a reach school. Hard when you know that that is where their heart is set.</p>
<p>Yes, but I've seen that people do seem to end up where they're meant to be. I hope your D does too.</p>
<p>Make those essays really fabulous. If it helps, I know that Bates really admires service.</p>
<p>Hi mythmom - thanks for the info. I had heard that Bates admires service. Now the question is is volunteering to help at road and cross country races really service? My D has a one track mind and does volunteering but it's still around her love of running. Oh well. She did do some work for the local kids cancer camp as well....</p>
<p>Definately apply ED if she is sure she wants to go to Bates. Try to meet and get to know an admissions officer. Does one visit her school or have an info session in your area that she can attend? Talk to that person and let them know your interest in Bates. Don't forget that Bates is SAT/ACT optional. You don't have to send scores.</p>
<p>Thanks millermilt. As far as I know they do not come to her school and I haven't seen them at any of the college fairs in our area either. She will be going up to Bates to spend and overnight and work out with the cross country team in Sept. She'll be attending a couple of classes etc. So another trip to Maine. I'm hoping that 2 visits from someone who is 8 hours away will help her out to. Shows that she is interested plus she is finding out a lot by staying overnight on campus.</p>
<p>RochesterMom:</p>
<p>Just dropped our daughter off at Bates for the AESOP program. Thought I'd put in my two cents worth. First, my wife and I both were struck by the number of student-athletes we met. Our daughter played a varsity sport in HS but has no plans to continue in college. We have met many kids with definite plans to continue. That suggests that you daughter's interest in running will be a key part of her application. Second, I agree with folks who have suggested taking the ACT; I can tell you that D, who was in top 20% of public HS class, had great SAT scores, and that was a definite boost for her application. She was one of only two admits from her HS (out of 20 applicants) and most of the other folks had higher GPAs but lower SATs. Third, apply early if Bates is #1. Virtually everyone we have met up here applied early. Bates seems to be filling a significant percentage of the class in December! Good Luck to your daughter. Bates is a wonderful school.</p>
<p>Great to hear from you and the info you had from your D. Mine is interested in running (3 seasons) and will be meeting with the coach for an overnight in a few weeks. Current plan is to NOT submit the SATs. Math was fine but you would think English wasn't something she has spoken all her life. Of course she just doesn't have the interest on the questions. Current plan is to apply ED #1. Hoping that being an IB student will help also since at least at our HS that is the hardest classes you can take. Oh well as another poster wrote she will ultimately end up where she is supposed to be. I just knwo that in her mind that place is Bates and I hate for her to haver her heart broken. Our S everything seems to come easy for. Our D has had to work very hard for everything she has accomplished. Builds character that's for sure.</p>
<p>Also it was interesting to see that you had 20 applicants from the HS. Here no one even knows the name. I don't know how many people have asked me "Where is that?" and "Is that a good school?". Course I haven't seen them at the HS's here or at the college fairs so that may be part of it. Perhaps they don't like western NY?</p>
<p>bates is an incredible school! have her apply ED and dont submit her scores. with her sports and an interview, she has a good chance. one problem with the college, which they are aware of is lack of name recognition. it is common to hear"wheresthat? except if you are talking to a "mainer. the school is trying to address this issue, but on the scale of what s really important in a choice, it is minor.</p>