Need to know if applying is worth it.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vassar College
1

<p>Ok, here I go. Please give me your advice and be honest, I can take it. I also am expecting that my GPA will prevent me from getting into the colleges I want, namely Vassar. I am also looking for input on my chances at Mcgill, Tufts, Bates, Colby </p>

<p>GPA 3.1
SAT's:2260</p>

<p>SAT II's - Not sure as of yet, but I expect them to be very high
Classes: Honors English and History for 4 year. Accelerated Sciences. Low level math and Spanish. No APs. </p>

<p>Recommendations- Very Good
Essay- In my opinion, extremely good</p>

<p>Extracurriculars-
Two year Speech and Debate President
Editor for School Paper
Writer for School Paper
Procter
Wrestling (10 Years)
Frisbee (3 Years) -Captain
Conservation Community Service Work
Political Campaigning all summer
Model UN -Rarely Participate </p>

<p>Awards:
Two Year Public Forum Debate Nationals Qualifier
4th in PF sophomore and Junior year in Massachusetts state Debate tournament
Princeton National Debate Tournament Champion
Yale National Debate Tournament Quarterfinalist
Winner of 6 Local/regional debate tournament
1st place in a regional Speech tournament
Ranked 9th in New England for Speech and Debate
4 time New England Junior Prep Champion in wrestling (5-8th grade) Should I include this in my application.
Winner of 3 different Regional type Varsity Wrestling Tournaments (sophomore year)
Winner of Divisional Wrestling Tournament (junior year)
Winner of School Film festival 2009</p>

<p>(OTHER)
Both my Mother and Grandmother (who was a widely respected debater at Vassar) went to Vassar. Many other members of my family on my mother side went to Vassar as well. I could also probably give an extremely convincing interview.</p>

<p>I am aware that most of the schools I want to get into are reaches and that my transcript is typical of the slacker type that many schools try to avoid. Through my essay, however, I paint an image of one who has overcome great adversity and is able to excel in those subjects that interest him. On my transcript I have done extremely well in all of my high level, difficult classes while doing poorly in lower level classes. I hope that this affirms the image I am trying to project. Any ideas on my chances at Vassar would be greatly appreciated. </p>

<p>PS: I will most likely be submitting a video portfolio as part of my applications. The videos in it are very good and have won some awards at local and distant film festivals.</p>

<p>Thank you for any comments you may leave.</p>

2

<p>I think you’re a toss-up candidate. The transcript will bring you down, but the legacy status will help and your EC’s are solid. It could all depend on how the Committee will perceive you when they go over your application.</p>

<p>Good luck. :]</p>

3

<p>Go for it. As the earlier poster indicated your EC’s are impressive and your legacy status may help. Two questions. 1. does your school offer AP’s and you didn’t take them or are they just not offered? 2. do you have any idea of your class rank? Even schools that don’t rank give an estimate to colleges. Your counselor should be able to help you with the past history of applicants from your school to these colleges. That will be a good guide as to your chances.</p>

<p>I think you have very good chances at Bates (an active debate team there which you should contact) and Colby with Vassar and Tufts being reach schools, as I suspect you know. In their information sessions Vassar says they are looking for students with an unweighted 3.8 GPA taking the toughest schedule their HS allows. Legacy does help of course. Are you considering ED at any of these places or wrestling anywhere (contact the coach if you are)? Likewise for debate of film.</p>

<p>I suspect you have a longer list but you might want to look into Bard if film and an alternate vibe is your thing or Franklin and Marshall if wrestling is of interest. Skidmore, Wesleyan, Conn College and Trinity are others that come to mind for LAC’s in New England. Good luck</p>

4

<p>I’m not saying you will get in, but it is definitely worth applying to Vassar. You are a legacy, and unless you just flat-out do poorly in high school, I’d say it’s almost always worth it for legacies to at least apply. </p>

<p>Like ctParent said, Vassar does want students who took the most rigorous program their high school offers. If your high school doesn’t offer AP classes, then your Honors ones will be perfectly fine.</p>

<p>Your SAT score is very impressive.</p>

<p>For more schools similar to Vassar that may be a better fit for you, I suggest: Hampshire, Skidmore, Bard</p>

5

<p>as a current vassar student i would say you have a good chance.</p>

6

<p>You are only setting yourself up for inevitable disappointment with a transcript such as that.</p>

7

<p>if you love the school, it’s definitely worth it. and just an fyi to you an all the other people looking for input on their chances, don’t pay attention to this abettertitum person.</p>

8

<p>Your gpa and level of academic rigor is going to hurt you a lot. However, to me you still seem like a strong candidate and I think you should apply anyway. I’d say no for Tufts and Colby though.</p>

9

<p>All you have to lose is $65.</p>

10

<p>I’m also a current student, and I think you have a pretty good chance of getting in.</p>

11

<p>As others have said, you have nothing to lose except $65. With their careful selection process, the admissions committee will look at every aspect of your application carefully and I’m sure things other than your transcript will catch their eye and maybe even forgive some poor math or Spanish grades. It can’t hurt to try!</p>

12

<p>I would say it never hurts to try. But they are going to wonder what’s going on with your GPA and those unbelievably good test scores…anytime things are out of sync with one another, it makes folks notice and dig a little deeper. Legacy is a plus. I just have my fingers crossed that you absolutely knocked the ball out of the park in terms of your first semester senior year grades…THAT is what will tip things one way or another with you, I think.</p>

13

<p>Checking Naviance, I see that an applicant from our well respected public suburban Boston high school with 1580 SAT (verbal + math) and a 3.276 GPA was denied.</p>

14

<p>fenrock, for a state school that might be a reasonable way to make a guess at admissions, but with a school like vassar which is holistic in the admissions approach, it’s impossible to gauge by numbers alone. recommendations, activities, interview, and essays are an essential piece of the process.</p>

15

<p>Personally I think the fact that a high school such as ours has not taken an applicant with a 3.1 GPA in the past four years, regardless of SAT score, is a significant data point.</p>