Middlebury - Deferred ED I Applicant

I applied ED I to Midd, and my sister is a senior at Midd right now. After visiting her dozens of times over the years, and witnessing her growth as an intellectual, applying ED I was a no-brainer. I was deferred to the RD round, and while I have relinquished some hope and accepted that I very well may not end up at the school nestled between the mountains, I can’t help but wonder what my chances are at this stage.

Here’s what I did after learning of my deferral:

  • Hand-wrote and sent a letter (the same day I learned of the deferral) to the dean of admissions outlining ‘Why Middlebury’, some minor academic/athletic awards, and how Middlebury still remained my #1 school. I also thanked them for considering my application.
  • On the same day of the deferral I sent an email to my regional representative reiterating what I said in my handwritten letter (I told her that I also had sent the letter to the dean); I emphasized Middlebury as my top school, and how it has been for years.
  • My AP Euro/Government teacher, who also was my AP World teacher freshman year, was itching to write a letter on my behalf after the deferral. He constantly tells me that I’m ‘remarkable’; we often engage in thoughtful discussions after class. He wrote a letter (basically a rec) that my counselor sent with my mid-year report (Midd allows additional info/documents). She told me that she has never seen a teacher so ecstatic about a letter for a student (I’m not trying to boast at all, just being thorough).
  • The superintendent of my district also wrote me a letter after the deferral. We met beforehand and discussed ‘Why Middlebury’, as well as my extracurriculars and a general overview of what I see in my future. My counselor also sent this with my mid-year report.
  • Had my counselor send my mid-year report (this is required by Middlebury). Quarter 1 GPAW: 97.467/100 , Quarter 2 GPAW: 95.733/100 .
  • About two weeks ago I sent another handwritten letter addressed to my representative. This is what it said:

Dear ______,

It has been a little over a month since my last contact with Middlebury Admissions, and I would just like to update you on what I have been up to over the last several weeks!
As point guard of the varsity basketball team, I’m looking forward to chasing a third consecutive regional championship with my teammates in March! We currently have a 14-2 record, and with only 2 regular season games left, I hope to relish every moment during the rest of my final season.
I competed in the Regional DECA Competition in early-January; I took a Human Resources Management exam. I won in my category and qualified for the state competition.
My best friend and I were hard at work on our Rube Goldberg machine for our AP Physics class for about a month and a half. My partner and I designed the ‘Rube’ in the theme of our favorite show, Stranger Things; I reveled in the opportunity to explore my artistic and engineering abilities! While the Rube project is one that is often anticipated with horror, we found the challenge to be fulfilling and a valuable bonding experience (don’t get me wrong, it was also stressful!).
Last week, I was elected Vice President of my school’s newest club, Future Farmers of America (FFA). My former Earth Science teacher, Mr. , recently instituted _'s first ever FFA chapter. I’m really excited to experiment with hydroponics, visit local farms, and implement some knowledge I’ve garnered working on an organic farm and my parents’ native plant nursery. This weekend my dad and I will be propagating an infamously tough-to-grow native plant called ‘Hudsonia’. I hope to translate my agricultural background to the Midd Knoll one day!
I have also included a newspaper article from my local newspaper and a photo of my Rube Goldberg machine.
Middlebury still remains my first choice, and I will undoubtedly enroll if admitted. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sincerely,


Here are more stats/info (comment if you need more info):

GPAW: 96.20/100

Rank: 11/115

SAT: Did not send

ACT: 31

APs: AP Scholar w/ Distinction
AP Biology - 3
AP World History - 4
AP Language and Composition - 4
AP Psychology - 5
AP US History - 5

ECs:
Leo’s Club - 9,10,11,12 (Club Director for the 2017-2018 year)
Community Service Organization - 11,12 (President)
Mock Trial Team - 11,12
Student Council - 9,10 (Class President)
Fishing Club - 11,12
DECA Club - 9,10,11,12 (Vice President of Finance for the 2016-2017 year, Vice President of Communications for the 2017-2018 year)
Stage Crew - 9
Spanish Club - 9,10,11,12 (President)
Varsity Basketball - 9,10,11,12 (Captain)
Junior Varsity Soccer - 9 (Captain)
Varsity Soccer - 10,11,12 (Captain)
Spanish Tutor - 11,12
Future Farmers of America (started this year) - 12 (Vice President)

*75 community service hours logged with the high school. Over 140 community service hours when combined with undocumented community service.

Honors/Awards/Recognitions:

2017 Girls’ State nominee
High Honor Roll every quarter 7th grade-present
2017 National Honor Society inductee
2015 & 2016 NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete (Soccer)
Awarded All-Conference player and All-League academic from ____ County Girls Soccer (2017)
2017 DECA Regional Competition winner in Human Resources Management
2018 DECA Regional Competition winner in Human Resources Management
October 2014 Science Department Student of the Month
October 2016 Language Department Student of the Month
November 2017 Physical Education Department Student of the Month
AP Scholar with Distinction

Freshman Year
Algebra
Honors English
Earth Science
Spanish I-B
Design/drawing
AP World
Electricity
Film

Sophomore Year
Geometry
AP World
Meteorology
Marine Biology
CAD
Honors English
Spanish II (honors/AP Spanish is not offered at my school)
Chemistry

Junior Year
Trigonometry
AP Composition
AP Biology
AP U.S. History
AP Psychology
Spanish III (honors/AP Spanish is not offered at my school)

Senior Year
AP Physics
Government
Economics
AP European History
Calculus
Pre Calculus
Spanish IV (honors/AP Spanish is not offered at my school)
AP Literature

I took 8/9 APs that my school offers (did not take AP Calculus).

I did a tour/info session in the fall, and I emailed my representative last summer/this fall depicting my interest.

I had an alumni interview in November that went exceptionally well (same person who interviewed my sister); it lasted for an hour and a half.

My common app essay is 9/10.

Counselor rec (7/10, she knows that I’m driven and that I’ve been wanting this for years, but she has a poor reputation for recs). She also did not want to call Middlebury Admissions when I asked if she would assure them that Middlebury is my top school.
AP Bio teacher rec (10/10)

Additional Info:

Studied abroad in San Sebastián, Spain for 16 days during Summer 2017 (earned a form of credit)
2017 Summer volunteer farm laborer at an educational farm 30 minutes away from my home
Employee (farm laborer) at my parents’ plant nursery (2014-present
Volunteer with a local environmentally conscious foundation (participant in numerous beach cleanups)
Volunteer coordinator for the ______ Town Democratic Committee during the 2017 town election
I am a white, upper-middle-class, female from rural Long Island, NY.

At this point, I will not be contacting Middlebury again. I do not want to bombard them with useless information.

I also applied to:

Bates (wonderful interview/tour)
Bowdoin (wonderful interview/tour)
Colby (never visited)
Kenyon (never visited)
SUNY Geneseo (never visited)
UNH (never visited) (accepted with scholarship)
UVM (tour)

^ I reached out to my regional representative at each of these schools.

I know this is immensely long, but any response is greatly appreciated. I am impatiently waiting for March 24th to arrive. Thanks in advance!

I failed to mention that my Spanish teacher (for junior and senior year) most likely wrote a 9/10 rec.

You’ve done all you can do. The only thing left is the hardest, and that is waiting. Good luck!

@wisteria100 Thank you! I hope luck is on my side.

I agree - it looks like you have done everything you can do. If you are WL in the regular round, you can follow up again. And on that note, not succumbing to senioritis can be your friend! Good luck!

Thank you, @gardenstategal ! I’m really hoping for no WL, I’d actually prefer an outright rejection.

Insufficient input. Need more info.

You really need to adjust your focus as you have done & shared more than enough with Middlebury College.

Seriously consider Bowdoin, SUNY Geneseo, & Kenyon.

@Publisher , I have very seriously considered SUNY Geneseo, Bates, and University of Vermont. I feel that I have a minute chance of getting into Bowdoin. Geneseo is tempting due to its cost!

Over the past decade, I have read many positive reports on College Confidential from students attending SUNY Geneseo.

If you are considering graduate school in the future, then you need to minimize college costs.

The only weakness appears to be your ACT score - did you consider retaking?

You have done enough to show Midd the love and how much you want to be there. Now it’s time to get excited by your other possibilities while you wait. Best of luck to you!

You’ve done everything you can but bake a cake. I’d sit on my hands now. Sometimes, the more attention you require, the worst the effect. I know its hard, but I think sending more would not be in your best interest. You’ve done all you can and now you just need to wait. Good Luck!

I posted this on one of your threads in 2016:

Prove me right, @mac123.

@Deaston , I considered doing so. I decided not to because I had my AP Physics midterm project to tend to. I suppose it is what it is.

@PPEATT and @preppedparent , thank you for your kind words! Yes, just trying to play the waiting game now. I could see myself being happy at just about all of my schools, even though Midd has stolen my heart!

@merc81 , it is so funny you say that. I’ve never forgotten about that, and I’ve been thinking about that statement now more than ever. Thank you for giving me that hope two years ago! We’ll see what happens in March; going to my sister’s graduation in May will be painful if I am not admitted.

Yes, that was partly a hope and partly a true belief, @mac123. So bring it home. (And, on the off-chance you don’t, know that the CC community will offer their further support.)

I selected a username prompt too quickly, @macd123!

Did you end up getting in?