<p>Hi (: I’m a junior, and Bowdoin is my dream college, but I’m not sure if my application will hold up, as people on this site have said that their kids with perfect GPAs and SAT scores weren’t admitted, or were waitlisted. It would mean a lot to me if anyone could hep decide wether or not Bowdoin is a reach, and if there’s anything I can do to improve my application. </p>
<p>Grades: I take the IB, so my school doesn’t really “do” GPAs. But my grades are usually 5-6 (mostly 6)
Sat scores: practice tests suggest 2000+
EC: President of the Fight for Endangered Wildlife Club, Secretary of the Stop Pet Abuse Club, Editor of News in my school newspaper, three year varsity soccer
Courses: higher history, higher bio, higher chem, standard lang & lit, standard math (equivalent to ap level), standard spanish
other: taught myself ASL, travel soccer for six years, advanced pianist, Irish citizenship? (will that help at all? I was born and raised in NYC, but will the international school aspect appeal to them?), formerly 7th best chess player in the country for my age group
recs: extremely prominent Bowdoin alum (who has asked me not to tell anyone that he’s writing a rec), director of my marine biology camp (which is in Maine), history teacher, bio teacher
Volunteer: animal centers, cooking for homeless shelters, and will my history of animal rights activism help or hurt?</p>
<p>Without even reading your stats I can tell you Bowdoin is a reach. Like you said, even people with perfect stats aren’t a sure thing - top schools, of which Bowdoin is certainly one, are reaches for everyone.</p>
<p>^^True…any college with a 16% admissions rate is a roll of the dice for just about anyone who throws their hat in the ring…but I think your profile is eclectic and interesting…and you have just as good a shot as anyone. I know it’s a haul but if there’s any way to visit that would help…they really seem to be reaching out more aggressively to students who aren’t from Maine and Mass. I think I read somewhere that this year NY was the state with the largest # of admits. Good luck!</p>
<p>You know, as with some of the others, I also think that you have a chance. You can’t apply to all safeties. There is nothing wrong with a reach, and until you have your scores, you don’t know for sure that piece. Keep in mind the SAT scores while optional, probably should be provided, based on 5s and 6s in the IB…you could go optional more easily if you were predominantly 7s with a few 6s.</p>
<p>Not to discount how difficult it is to get into Bowdoin, but don’t get worried about the people with perfect SATs and GPAs who are not getting accepted. I think that for some of these people Bowdoin admissions can tell that They are considering Bowdoin a safety (sorry all…no need to explain that Bowdoin is not a safety, but for those getting accepted at HYPS, they also have applied to schools that they are pretty sure to get into) there is not a full out Tufts effect, but it looks like there is something to it.</p>
<p>But, you have to show Bowdoin that it is an important school to you. Visit if you can by any means and make sure that you interview. Keep up to date with what is going on on campus and try to participate in activities that the Admin Office is offering that are feasible for you (online ask the students, etc.). If you have questions that are not answered already on their website, make sure you contact the admissions office to ask them.</p>
<p>I would say Bowdoin is definitely a big reach for you, but if you really like the school there is no downside to putting your best foot forward and applying to see how things fall. I always say, “Let the school decide you don’t get in, don’t make that decision yourself.”</p>