Middlebury Admissions - SATs & Other

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi - This is a second open question seeking realistic admissions chances / advice for my son - This time for Middlebury College.</p>

<p>His SATs are 740/710/720; SATII's 770 Literature, 720 Math I
His GPA has been straight As until this year, where he's pulling B's in AP Biology (he hates science), and AP Economics. Math (pre calculus) and 2 AP English classes (literature and Lang & Comp concurrently) are no problem. His counselor keeps telling him if he looses the straight As, kiss the good schools good-bye. This is stressing him out terribly.</p>

<p>My son currently a Junior. He has a strong interest in English literature, writing, and Japanese language. He has studied Japanese in school since 8th grade, and will be studying in Japan at a Japanese HS for 6 weeks this summer. His leanings to Middlebury stem from his enthusiasm for every Japanese (language and culture). He is also very strongly attracted to English. He and my wife are visiting Middlebury in March. We live in NE Ohio.</p>

<p>He doesn't participate in school team sports, but is not a nerd. He's a 2nd dan black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and practices Kendo & Iaido.</p>

<p>He has also played classical bassoon for 8 years, and been in our city youth symphony for 3 years.</p>

<p>His main interests lie in English/Japanese as a double major.</p>

<p>I've got several questions:</p>

<p>1) We've been told the SAT Is are borderline, and my son keeps being told to retake. Is 740/710 OK for Middlebury? I know they are VERY competitive.</p>

<p>2) Will his Japanese language background and study abroad help with admissions?</p>

<p>3) Is dropping from straight A's to several B's as bad as the counselor is beating him up about? Frankly I'm getting annoyed because I think his HS experience needs to be balanced an not total torture just to get a grade. He works hard - and my thought is if a B is what he's capable of, so be it.My son has also started doing drama this year, as well as debate. He is THRIVING in these activities .. both socially with friends and as a growing experience (he used to be very shy ... much less so now). His HS experience needs to be balanced and not total torture just to get a grade. I'd rather see him balanced in activities he enjoys, even if that means a few B's.</p>

<p>4) My son has also been a committed bassoon player in orchestra, but in the last year this has become secondary. I think he's participate in music, but certainly not as a major. Does Middlebury support music as an extracurricular activity?</p>

<p>No one in my wife's or my family has ever had an opportunity or potential for being where my son is now. As such we are all very excited about the possibilities .. Any recommendations concerning the SATs, grades in general, or interviewing/contacts with Middlebury during admissions would be VERY APPRECIATED. Thanks -</p>

2

<p>SATs are well within Middlebury’s middle 50% ranges. However, be aware: Middlebury is not a school that requires SAT plus two SAT IIs. Test requirement is met by submitting either SAT or ACT or three SAT IIs. In other words you need three SAT IIs if you want to rely on them and if you have three you don’t need an SAT. If you send both SAT and three SAT IIs, then you basically get two bites in that they evaluate for admission based on SAT and then also based on the three SAT IIs.</p>

<p>Grades also look good. A few B’s will be OK. I am not sure what you mean by “several” – your post varies from a couple to several – and if you really talking about a lot then yes you may have an issue.</p>

<p>Middlebury is highly slective and nothing is certain no matter how high your stats; it is just the type of college, like most high ranks, where you should always consider it a reach no matter how good you are, but based on what you show he is currently a candidate well within the range of those who do get accepted.</p>

3

<p>I really don’t think your son’s SAT scores are much of an issue, although he want to take a one or two additional Subject Tests in disciplines he is strong in. That 3 SAT II option would have been great for my daughter if she had been interested in Middlebury. I also don’t think a student taking a rigorous courseload with a B in two AP courses and straight As in every other class should be stressing. Your son’s guidance counselor has no idea what he/she is talking about. Not that he shouldn’t try to pull his grades up by the end of the year (he can always score a 5 on the exams and prove his course mastery). </p>

<p>His SAT scores put him at about the 70th percentile of admitted Middlebury students. I believe he should consider taking them again as his two AP English classes certainly don’t hurt his chances of bringing that CR score up 20-30 points. </p>

<p>So, yes, he does have a realistic chance of admission. But as drusba said, at schools like Middlebury an acceptance letter is never a sure thing.</p>

4

<p>By several I mean 2 … AP Econ and AP Biology. Thanks for your input, this is a tough time, and will be glad when it’s done.</p>

5

<p>Update – My son just completed a visit to Middlebury, and didn’t like it … other visiting families were “snobs” and he thought the evironmentalism was too over the top and “rammed down your throat.”</p>

<p>Therefore the question on admissions is mute.</p>

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<p>Just out of curiosity, what schools does he like?</p>

7

<p>@Class –</p>

<p>I know he prefers small, more intimate settings, and setting where he can have spirited discussions. He’s cautious of environments where agenda’s are obvious and overt. </p>

<p>I was not with him when he visited Middlebury, so his experience is his own. His impressions were two: </p>

<p>1) Snobby parents trying to get their dressed to the hilt daughters in (his words)
2) Environmentalism being “rammed down your throat” (again, is words)</p>

<p>One or my son’s great character traits is being able to stand up to group think, and be suspicious of any “orthodoxy,” be it liberal or conservative. </p>

<p>I think he had a feeling at Middlebury akin to an agnostic being thrown into a stadium of evangelicals. </p>

<p>But hey - that’s what college visits are for — he’s got to find himself. Better to do it now that after being enrolled.</p>

8

<p>My experience is that the families who “visit a college” on some particular day are not a credible reflection of the school, and that drawing any conclusions from who just happens to be in your tour group, or for that matter, who happens to lead the group is unwise.</p>

<p>You would be wise to rethink how you are approaching the college selection process.</p>