<p>Hello Bowdoin forum! I have recently applied early decision and have not felt even the slightest bit of buyer’s remorse that apparently some feel after making such an agreement. I love the school. Nevertheless, I have never done one of these chances things before and thought I could give it a try.</p>
<p>At the risk of revealing my identity to the Bowdoin admins whom I suspect read this forum, here are my stats.</p>
<p>Allow me to preface this by saying I had a medical problem in freshman and sophomore years that hindered my ability to focus on schoolwork. For this reason, my schedule and grades are severely lacking in those years. I have more than one diagnosis and could prove that the problems were in fact real.</p>
<p>Standardized Test Scores:
CR: 700 W: 750 M:680 (2150 Total)
SAT II: 770 US History</p>
<p>Freshman Year (Before my medical problem was addressed)
All regular courses with a gentleman’s 3.1 GPA</p>
<p>Sophomore Year (Once again before my medical problem was addressed)
Slightly better with my GPA now 3.3, though still all regular courses</p>
<p>Junior Year (Started to treat problem)
Hon. English & AP United States History with the other classes regular. Ended year with between 3.7 & 3.8 GPA and got a 5 on the US exam</p>
<p>Senior Year (Treatment continuing regularly)
4.1 or 4.3 GPA (Not quite sure which yet) with all AP courses. I have followed guidelines and have taken 4 years of every academic subject for my entire career in high school.</p>
<p>Some other things to note:
-I had been working on my college essay from early August to November fourth. It is as perfect as anything I can write, as is the additional information section which explains my medical problems.
-The Bowdoin supplement, similar to the common app stuff, I started in mid July and wrote at my maximum ability.
-Teacher recommendations are from a teacher who had me multiple years and saw my growth and the other from a teacher who saw my grades consistently grow over the year and is a notoriously good writer of recommendations.
-I am a legacy at Bowdoin, if that has any effect. I have been hearing, though, that colleges really don’t care about it like they used to.
-I have shown great interest in attending Bowdoin. I have kept in frequent contact with admissions, visited the campus multiple times, gone to local meetings with Bowdoin Alums, and have done an interview (that I think went well) and overnight
-I have heard from a regional admissions person at an HYP that my public school is both known for grade deflation and high quality students. Therefore, certain colleges will give applicants from my school some type of GPA boost. This is off the record, though, and I am not sure how if at all credible this is.</p>
<p>In terms of E.C.'s, I feel they are pretty solid.
-Mock Trial participant (10-11) & Mock Trial President (12)
-Founded a chapter of the JSA at my school at the end of Junior year and am now president
-Regional board member of an international environmental organization focused on protecting the coastlines (Now you see one of the reasons I love Bowdoin). I have to do a lot of organizational things in this position.
-Have surfed for 10 years
-Have practiced martial arts for 12 years (Now I am an instructor)
-Various activities at my church. For example, I am the editor of my church’s newletter.</p>
<p>And I guess that last thing I should mention is that I did a 3 week long summer program studying constitutional law at Princeton through JSA and received an “A” in the class.</p>
<p>Now, ye wise and noble Bowdoin affiliates, I humbly request that you chance me. Do not be afraid to mention the worst, as I have already thought about it.</p>