*****Official Brandeis Class of 2019 RD Results Thread*****

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brandeis University
1

Since decisions are coming out in a few hours, I thought I’d make a results thread. Copy, paste, and remove all the spaces in the brackets. I took this from the Class of 2018 page (created by godiva123).

[ size=+2][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted**[/color][/size]
[ size=+2][ color=orange][ b]Decision: Waitlisted**[/color][/size]
[ size=+2][ color=red][ b]Decision: Rejected**[/color][/size]

[ b]Objective:**
[ list]
[ *] SAT I (breakdown):
[ *] ACT:
[ *] SAT II:
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis):
[ *] IB (place score in parenthesis):
[ *] Senior Year Course Load:
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
[ /list]

[ b]Subjective:**
[ list]
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
[ *] Job/Work Experience:
[ *] Volunteer/Community service:
[ *] Summer Activities:
[ *] Essays:
[ *] Teacher Recommendation:
[ *] Counselor Rec:
[ *] Additional Rec:
[ *] Interview:
[ *] Supplementary Material:
[ /list]

[ b]Other**
[ list]
[ *] State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant):
[ *] School Type:
[ *] Ethnicity:
[ *] Gender:
[ *] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate):
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):
[ /list]

[ b]Reflection**
[ list]
[ *] Strengths:
[ *] Weaknesses:
[ *] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
[ *] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
[ /list]

[ b]General Comments: **

2

Decision: Accepted

Objective:

  • [] ACT: 35C (34E, 33M, 35R, 36S, 6W)
    [    ] SAT II: 770 Physics, 740 Math 2
    [] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): ~3.9
    [    ] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): n/a, but top 10% at least
    [] AP scores: 3 5s, 1 4
    [    ] IB scores: n/a
    [] Senior Year Course Load: 4 APs, multivariable calc and intro astronomy at local uni
    [    ] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Harvard Book Award, Merit Commended, some AP thing, nothing special

Subjective:

  • [] Extracurriculars: Mock Trial (Pres. and Founder, ranked 1st in state last year), Science team (treasurer), Varsity Tennis (all 4 years), research internship at local non-profit, started tutoring program at local middle school, few other things
    [    ] Job/Work Experience: 100s of hours as babysitter
    [] Volunteer/Community service: 100s of hours as volunteer farm hand and tutor
    [    ] Common app essays: Really liked mine, about overcoming personal fear.
    [] Supplemental Essay/s: Pretty good I guess
    [    ] Teacher Recommendation 1: Great, incredibly complementary
    [] Teacher Recommendation 2: Never read, but I assumed it was very good
    [    ] Counselor Rec: Excellent, we have a great relationship
    [] Additional Rec: nope nope
    [    ] Interview: On campus with current student. It was really fun and relaxed!

Other

  • [] Intended Major: Biology
    [    ] State (if domestic applicant): MA
    [] Country (if international applicant): USA
    [    ] School Type: -1400 kids, competitive urban public
    [] Ethnicity: blanco
    [    ] Gender: Male
    [] Income Bracket: upper middle?
    [    ] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): aha no…

Reflection

  • [] Strengths: ECs, taking college classes?..not sure
    [    ] Weaknesses: Haven’t taken many APs, weak SAT IIs, other things
    [] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
    [    ] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: WUSTL, University of Rochester (+merit), Brandeis, UMass Honors (+merit) Deferred: Harvard SCEA Rejected: MIT

General Comments:

[list]
Very Excited! Brandeis is an awesome school! Congrats to everyone else admitted! For those who weren’t, just remember that, though it may seem important now, in the grand scheme of things, college isn’t that big of a deal :smile:

3

Decision: Accepted

Objective:

[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 790 writing, 670 math, 730 reading
[] ACT: N/A
[] SAT II: N/A
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 5% of 188
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): APEH (4) APUSH (3) APCalcAB(5) APLit(4) APLang
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP Language, band and chorus, music production, french, physics, first aid, psychology
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): RIT creativity and innovation award[/li][/ul]

Subjective:

  • [] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Band, chorus, jazz band, marching band (captain), orchestra (1st flute), GSA (president), poetry, poetry out loud, drama
    [    ] Job/Work Experience:
    [] Volunteer/Community service:
    [    ] Summer Activities:
    [] Essays: My common app essay took a big risk in discussing my recovery from an eating disorder. I think it was very well-written.
    [    ] Teacher Recommendation: Very good, but only from english teachers
    [] Counselor Rec: My counselor was new this year, so I’m not sure how well she recommended me.
    [    ] Additional Rec: None
    [] Interview: None
    [    ] Supplementary Material: None

Other

  • [] State (if domestic applicant): Maine
    [    ] School Type: Public
    [] Ethnicity: White
    [    ] Gender: Female
    [] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): Rich enough to not qualify for much FA but poor enough so that my parents can’t actually pay for college
    [    ] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

Reflection

  • [] Strengths: Essay, ECs, Recs
    [    ] Weaknesses: Essay, lack of volunteerism
    [] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I really have no idea.
    [    ] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I was waitlisted at University of Chicago
4

[ size=+2]Decision: Accepted[/size]

[ b]Objective:**
[ list]
[ *] SAT I (breakdown): 2270 (740 CR 800 M 730 W 11 E)
[ *] ACT: N/A
[ *] SAT II: 800 Physics 750 Math 2
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 89/100 UW
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): About top 30% but school doesn’t officially rank
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis): APUSH (5)
[ *] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[ *] Senior Year Course Load: AP US Gov, AP Comp Gov, AP Physics 1, AP Calc AB, Chem H, Philosophy, Music Theory 2, Military Science (JROTC)
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): N/A
[ /list]

[ b]Subjective:**
[ list]
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Varsity Jazz Band 1st Chair Trumpet 4 years
President of New York State Science Honors Society chapter at my school 3 years
Architecture Club 4 years
Philosophy Club 2 years
3 courses at American Museum of Natural History
NHS 2 years
JROTC 4 years
[ *] Job/Work Experience: N/A
[ *] Volunteer/Community service: About 100 hours
[ *] Summer Activities: Higher Education Program Tutor at my High School for rising 8th graders 1 summer
[ *] Essays: 9/10 I liked my common app essay, and I thought my uninvent a thing essay was pretty good
[ *] Teacher Recommendation: Probably 9/10 and 8/10 from Physics teacher and English teacher
[ *] Counselor Rec: Probably 8/10
[ *] Additional Rec: N/A
[ *] Interview: N/A
[ *] Supplementary Material: N/A
[ /list]

[ b]Other**
[ list]
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): NY
Country (if international applicant):
[ *] School Type: Private Jesuit
[ *] Ethnicity: Caucasian
[ *] Gender: Male
[ *] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): About 180k
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): N/A
[ /list]

[ b]Reflection**
[ list]
[ *] Strengths: SAT Scores, essays
[ *] Weaknesses: GPA
[ *] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I think that my essays showed that I was a good fit for Brandeis
[ *] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: Northeastern, UMN TC, Stony Brook Waitlisted: UChicago
[ /list]

[ b]General Comments: ** I’m really excited to get accepted to Brandeis! It may not be my first choice, but I think I can get a really great education there, and that I’d make many great friends at the school. I am highly considering attending in the fall! Good luck to all, whether you got accepted, waitlisted, or rejected, because no matter what school you go to, you can still do wonderful things!

5

[ size=+2][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted!!

[ b]Objective:**
[ list]
[ *] SAT I: did not submit
[ *] ACT: 30
[ *] SAT II: did not submit
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.94
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis): Junior year AP Lang and Comp (4)
[ *] IB (place score in parenthesis):
[ *] Senior Year Course Load:
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Brown University Book Award, Hometown Hero
[ /list]

[ b]Subjective:**
[ list]
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Triathlons- National Championship twice, Make-A-Wish volunteer (40 hours per week) other basic stuff like theatre, sports
[ *] Job/Work Experience: Occasional babysitting
[ *] Volunteer/Community service:Make-A-Wish Wish Granter
[ *] Summer Activities: St. Paul’s Advanced Studies Program, Brown University Summer Program
[ *] Essays: excellent
[ *] Teacher Recommendation: great
[ *] Counselor Rec: great, but she was hired three weeks before she wrote my recommendation
[ *] Additional Rec:
[ *] Interview:
[ *] Supplementary Material:
[ /list]

[ b]Other**
[ list]
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): NH
Country (if international applicant):
[ *] School Type: Public
[ *] Ethnicity: White
[ *] Gender: Female
[ *] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): Over 200,000
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):
[ /list]

[ b]Reflection**
[ list]
[ *] Strengths: Essays, unique extracurriculars
[ *] Weaknesses: I missed four months of school this year, don’t have any senior year grades
[ *] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: GPA, course load, essays
[ *] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted to UVM Honors College, Fordham and Northeastern, waitlisted at BC, waiting to hear back from four
[ /list]

[ b]General Comments: **

6

Decision: Accepted

Objective:

[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 730 M, 730 CR, 740 W (2200)
[] ACT: didn’t send
[] SAT II: didn’t send
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.82
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school doesn’t rank
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): school doesn’t offer
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
[] Senior Year Course Load: All honors plus one elective
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Gold medalist on National Spanish Exams 3 years in a row[/li][/ul]

Subjective:

  • [] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Varsity soccer, Travelling folk dance troupe, Literary Magazine (editor-in-chief), Peer tutor
    [    ] Job/Work Experience: Camp counselor
    [] Volunteer/Community service: Various things that added up to 100+ hours
    [    ] Summer Activities:
    [] Essays: Very good. I loved the one I wrote about uninventing something
    [    ] Teacher Recommendation: Probably good
    [] Counselor Rec: Probably great
    [    ] Additional Rec: n/a
    [] Interview: didn’t have one
    [    ] Supplementary Material: n/a

Other

[ul]
[] State (if domestic applicant): Mid-Atlantic
[] Country (if international applicant):
[] School Type: private
[] Ethnicity: White
[] Gender: F
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): Upper-middle
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): My dad got PhD at Brandeis[/li][/ul]

Reflection

  • [] Strengths: SAT scores, difficult classes, good essays
    [    ] Weaknesses: No demonstrated interest
    [] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
    [    ] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted at University of Maryland Honors, McGill; Likely letter from GWU

**General Comments: ** Yay! If I can afford it, I would love to go.

7

Decision: Accepted

Objective:

[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2140 (750 math, 670 critical reading, 720 writing)
[] ACT: Didn’t send
[] SAT II: 750 literature, 730 math level 2
[] Unweighted GPA: ~3.75 UW, 4.0 W
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 11%
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): Biology (4), APUSH (3), Literature (4), Statistics (5)
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): None
[] Senior Year Course Load: 4 AP’s, 1 IB
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, bronze on National Spanish Exam, AP Scholar with Honor[/li][/ul]

Subjective:

  • [] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Environmental club (president), poetry club (vice-president), Best Buddies, environmental group through my town, Spanish club, other random things.
    [    ] Job/Work Experience: I work as a tutor at a tutoring center.
    [] Volunteer/Community service: I volunteer as a tutor in my school library and am in a few service clubs in my school.
    [    ] Summer Activities: None
    [] Essays: Good, I think.
    [    ] Recommendations: Waived my right, did not read any
    [] Interview: N/A
    [    ] Supplementary Material: I thought my supplement essay was very good.

Other

[ul]
[] State (if domestic applicant): New York
[] Country (if international applicant):
[] School Type: Public
[] Ethnicity: White
[] Gender: Female
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): Low
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): I don’t think I have any[/li][/ul]

Reflection

  • [] Strengths: SAT math, weighted GPA, course load
    [    ] Weaknesses: SAT critical reading, rank, no major hooks
    [] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: My strengths, I guess.
    [    ] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted at Binghamton, Stony Brook, Marist. Still waiting on Tufts, Vassar, Wesleyan, Skidmore, Brown, and University of Rochester.

**General Comments: ** I was very happy to get in. Congratulations to everyone!

8

[ size=+2]Decision: Accepted[/size]

Objective:

[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2140 (630 CR, 730 M, 780 W)
[] ACT: 32
[] SAT II: Chemistry 710
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 93.4/100 UW
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Chemistry - 4, AP English Language and Composition - 4, AP US History - 3 :frowning:
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[] Senior Year Course Load: Post AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science, AP Microeconomics, Honors Creative Writing
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None in school, but in Girl Scouts: Gold Award (focused on animal abandonment and adoption/fostering, encouraged others to adopt animals and held adoption events for them) and Bronze Award (focused on the environment).[/li][/ul]

Subjective:

  • [] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Girl Scouts (Senior Patrol Leader), Key Club, Book Club, indoor track, wrestling
    [    ] Job/Work Experience: Daycare teacher assistant
    [] Volunteer/Community service: Mainly from Girl Scouts, no exact number though
    [    ] Summer Activities: I worked at the daycare, and attended programs regarding leadership and education, plus going on camping trips with scouts (don’t know if that counts)
    [] Essays: Probably not great, I’m not very proud of them
    [    ] Teacher Recommendation: AP Chem - She was my teacher for two years, should be pretty good
    AP English - didn’t really participate in class so it was probably generic
    [] Counselor Rec: Also generic I guess, even though I am pretty close with him
    [    ] Additional Rec: N/A
    [] Interview: N/A
    [    ] Supplementary Material: I genuinely wrote about my interest in Brandeis, though it might have been really common and applied to other schools

Other

  • [] State (if domestic applicant): NYC
    [    ] School Type: Large, competitive public school (3000 students)
    [] Ethnicity: Asian
    [    ] Gender: Female
    [] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): Didn’t apply for financial aid
    [    ] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Not really, first generation college in the US

Reflection

  • [] Strengths: My grades, probably (GPA, SAT, ACT)
    [    ] Weaknesses: Essays, definitely. Also I’m really inconsistent as in I was only in Key Club and Book Club for like two years, wrestling for one, and indoor track for one. However, I’ve been in Girl Scouts for 10 years.
    [] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: My consistency in keeping up my grades throughout high school
    [    ] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: Northeastern University, Binghamton University
    Rejected: Bowdoin College

**General Comments: **
I’m not sure if I want to go to Brandeis yet; I’m still waiting for future decisions! :slight_smile:

9

[ size=+2][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted**[/color][/size]

[ b]Objective:**
[ list]
[ *] SAT I (breakdown): 2110 (660 CR, 730 M, 720 W)
[ *] ACT: N/A
[ *] SAT II: N/A
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A but in top 5%
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis): 7 I think, all 4’s
[ *] IB (place score in parenthesis):
[ *] Senior Year Course Load: 4 AP’s
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None really :frowning:
[ /list]

[ b]Subjective:**
[ list]
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Cross Country (MVP), Basketball, Theater (lead actor)
[ *] Job/Work Experience: Work 20 hours a week at a local coffee shop
[ *] Volunteer/Community service: Fundraise to send kids from my school to New Orleans to rebuild homes
[ *] Summer Activities: Work, mostly
[ *] Essays: Fantastic. My Supplementary essay was about fracking and how it affected my life
[ *] Teacher Recommendation: Haven’t read but I assume very good
[ *] Counselor Rec: Very good
[ *] Additional Rec:None
[ *] Interview: N/A
[ *] Supplementary Material: N/A
[ /list]

[ b]Other**
[ list]
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): MA
Country (if international applicant):
[ *] School Type: Small Charter School (ranked top 5 in state last year)
[ *] Ethnicity: White
[ *] Gender: Male
[ *] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): My mother is very poor, but father (divorced) makes over $100,000
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none
[ /list]

[ b]Reflection**
[ list]
[ *] Strengths: My essays as well as my GPA
[ *] Weaknesses: SAT
[ *] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:I wrote a very strong supplementary essay that aligned with Brandeis’ liberal views
[ *] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: accepted: Babson College, UMass Amherst, Ithaca College, Bentley University. Waitlisted: Northeastern.Rejected: None
[ /list]

[ b]General Comments: ** I’ll have to see how the financial aid is, but Brandeis impressed me a lot

10

Decision: Accepted

Objective:

[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): N/A
[] ACT: 29C
[] SAT II: N/A
[] Weighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.4
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): I’m in IB, so I don’t take that many APs. The ones I do have are: 5-French, 4-U.S. History
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): 6- Environmental Science
[] Senior Year Course Load: IB Math (HL), IB Psychology (SL), IB French (Bilingual Diploma), IB History (HL), IB English (HL), Comparative Religions, Foundations of Art
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar[/li][/ul]

Subjective:

  • [] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Piano, Chinese School, Dance, French Honors Society, Girl Scout, Volleyball (2 years JV, 2 years V), Newspaper Editor
    [    ] Job/Work Experience: Babysitter
    [] Volunteer/Community service: 270 service hours
    [    ] Summer Activities: Lots of traveling mostly, and I interned last summer at an animal shelter
    [] Essays: Clearly, I’m not a great test-taker, but I am a decent writer. I think my essays were pretty solid and I’m assuming they made up for my ACT score
    [    ] Teacher Recommendation: Both were most likely somewhere between mediocre and good
    [] Counselor Rec: Mediocre
    [    ] Additional Rec: N/A
    [] Interview: N/A
    [    ] Supplementary Material: I sent in a dance video to accompany my application

Other

  • [] State (if domestic applicant): VA
    Country (if international applicant): USA
    [    ] School Type: Large public school with a highly competitive and rigorous IB program
    [] Ethnicity: 1/2 White, 1/2 Chinese
    [    ] Gender: Female
    [] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): 150K+
    [    ] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Nothing that I can think of?

Reflection

  • [] Strengths: I think this just goes to show that standardized tests aren’t everything! If you’re really passionate about the school in your essays and really personalize your application, you definitely have a chance anywhere! My essay (particularly my “Why Brandeis” essay) stood out (presumably) because I really expressed how much I wanted to go to Brandeis.
    [    ] Weaknesses: (Painfully low) ACT score
    [] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: My “Why Brandeis” supplemental essay, mostly. It was pretty out-of-the-box.
    [    ] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted to AU. Still waiting to hear back from BU and Vassar

**General Comments: ** Thrilled to have been accepted, and grateful that my test scores didn’t hold me back! Congrats to everyone else, and don’t be discouraged if you weren’t accepted. You’ll find the right place for you :slight_smile:

11

[ size=+2][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted**[/color][/size]

[ b]Objective:**
[ list]
[ *] SAT I (breakdown): didn’t send
[ *] ACT: 34
[ *] SAT II: didn’t send
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 6/425
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis): APUSH- 4, AP Lang- 4
[ *] IB (place score in parenthesis):
[ *] Senior Year Course Load: AP Bio, AP Lit, Calc 1/2, Col. Econ
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): state, local
[ /list]

[ b]Subjective:**
[ list]
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Interact Club, Human Services Academy, National Honor Society, Tennis(Captain), School Musical and Plays
[ *] Job/Work Experience: none
[ *] Volunteer/Community service: Hospital Volunteer, ESL Tutor
[ *] Summer Activities: Local School Medical Academy
[ *] Essays: 8/10
[ *] Teacher Recommendation: 10/10
[ *] Counselor Rec:7/10
[ *] Additional Rec:
[ *] Interview: none
[ *] Supplementary Material:
[ /list]

[ b]Other**
[ list]
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): NY
Country (if international applicant):
[ *] School Type: 2000+ public
[ *] Ethnicity: African American
[ *] Gender: Female
[ *] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate):
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM
[ /list]

[ b]Reflection**
[ list]
[ *] Strengths: ACT score, GPA, Essay
[ *] Weaknesses: Leadership, Extracirriculars
[ *] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Really good supplement essay
[ *] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted- Stonybrook University, Hofstra University, Northeastern University
[ /list]

[ b]General Comments: ** Really happy to get in. But as with every other acceptance I’ve gotten, I need to consider how much FA I get. Would love to go though.

12

Decision: Accepted - Neuroscience

Objective:

[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): Did not submit
[] ACT: 28 Composite (31E, 29M, 23R, 27S, 11W)
[] SAT II: Did not submit
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): Valedictorian (4.0 GPA un-weighted at graduation; 3.897 after final semester)
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): Scholar w/ Distinction
[] Senior Year Course Load: (Second Semester) Harvard University Dual Enrollment (12 credits) + AP Calculus BC, Honors French 4, AP Biology
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None major, but did receive a school-wide award for over 300 hours served tutoring. [/li][/ul]

Subjective:

[ul]
[li] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Piano (Since the age of 5; guest pianist for church + received recognition in local music competitions)… High School: Pre-Med Club (Founder/President), Mock Trial (Lead Defense Attorney), Student Council, Creative Writing Club (Co-President)[/li]
[li] Job/Work Experience: Summer Research Intern, University Hospital (full-time work with clinical glioblastoma research; contributing author to chapters of a new text book on cancer stem cells) [/li]
[li] Volunteer/Community service: Gap Year (10 months of full-time volunteering in Tanzania, India, Nepal, and Vietnam); Oklahoma Relief Fundraiser (Initiator and facilitator, raised $4,000); Sole Coordinator of a charity fashion show (Made all garments, arrangements, etc. + raised $5,000 for a local breast cancer initiative) [/li]
[li] Summer Activities: Extensive Travel [/li]
[li] Essays: Common App essay was about the loss of my mother. I did the “un-invent one thing” prompt for the supplement, and I chose God. I know this was kind of a bold answer for Brandeis, but apparently it worked! [/li]
[] Teacher Recommendation: Presumably good
[] Counselor Rec: Presumably good
[] Additional Rec: 1 from employer + 1 from piano instructor
[] Interview: None
[li] Supplementary Material: Resume + Additional Information[/li][/ul]

Other

  • [] State (if domestic applicant): NY
    [    ] School Type: Public
    [] Ethnicity: White
    [    ] Gender: Male
    [] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): ~$ 60,000
    [    ] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None

I was probably a rather unusual applicant considering I graduated high school in 2013. I have taken two gap years – one for international volunteer work and another for an internship in NYC. I’m very honored to have been accepted!

13

Decision: Accepted

Objective:

[list]
[] SAT I (breakdown): didn’t send
[] ACT: 32
[] SAT II: 750 US History
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.82
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 23/425
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): US History (5)
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): Enviro System (5)
[] Senior Year Course Load: IB Diploma
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None[/li] [ /list]

[ b]Subjective:**
[ list]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): MUN, JSA, newspaper, Speech & Debate, National Honor Society
[] Job/Work Experience: None
[] Volunteer/Community service: American Red Cross and food bank
[] Summer Activities: exchange student
[] Additional Rec: None
[] Interview: None
[li] Supplementary Material: None[/li]
[] School Type: Publc
[] Gender: Male
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate):
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None

**General Comments: ** Whether or not my son can attend will be a financial decision.

14

Decision: Accepted

Objective:

[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): N/A
[] ACT: 35 (36R, 36E, 34S, 32M)
[] SAT II: didn’t send
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.9
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): didn’t send
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP Eng Lit, AP Psych, AP Stats, AP Span, AP Gov, 1/2 yr Econ, 1/2 yr Sociology, Choir
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): 3 writing contests[/li][/ul]

Subjective:

  • [] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): dance, theater, music, etc
    [    ] Job/Work Experience: none
    [] Volunteer/Community service: singing at nursing homes/benefits, social action with synagogue, etc
    [    ] Summer Activities: summer camp/theater programs
    [] Essays: strong Common App about my passion for using music to help others
    [    ] Teacher Recommendation: 2 academic teachers I am close with and my choir director at school
    [] Counselor Rec: close with her also, she’s come to some of my performances
    [    ] Additional Rec: none
    [] Interview: N/A
    [    ] Supplementary Material: wrote about my great visit to campus last April and how I would thrive in the liberal arts environment, also sent in a music supplement of me singing 3 songs (including one I wrote)

Other

  • [] State (if domestic applicant): NY
    Country (if international applicant):
    [    ] School Type: competitive public
    [] Ethnicity: white/Jewish
    [    ] Gender: female
    [] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): didn’t apply for FA
    [    ] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): my grandma and aunt both went? not sure if that counts as legacy

Reflection

  • [] Strengths:
    [    ] Weaknesses:
    [] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
    [    ] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: accepted to UMiami and Muhlenberg, haven’t heard back from anywhere else yet!

**General Comments: **
This is a crazy and sometimes random process where no acceptance is to be taken for granted… Very happy I got in!! Still waiting to hear back from 8 other schools to decide. Congrats to everyone else who got in!! Good luck to those waitlisted, and for those rejected, hang in there… everyone ends up where he/she is supposed to be!

15

Decision: Accepted

Objective:

[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 740 M 610 R 650 W 10 essay
[] ACT:
[] SAT II:
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.93… weighted 4.2
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 70/600
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): HumanGeo (3), World (3) Lang (3) Psych (3) Spanish Lang (3)
[] IB (place score in parenthesis):
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP GOV, AP MACRO, AP LIT, AP EURO, AP CALC AB, and Clinical Lab Internship
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):[/li][/ul]

Subjective:

  • [] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Internship at Children’s Healthcare and Northside Hospital
    [    ] Job/Work Experience:
    [] Volunteer/Community service: HOSA, Reach Program, Youth Leadership Forsysth
    [    ] Summer Activities:
    [] Essays: strong and talked about diversity
    [    ] Teacher Recommendation: strong
    [] Counselor Rec: okay
    [    ] Additional Rec:
    [] Interview: na
    [    ] Supplementary Material: my resume

Other

  • [] State (if domestic applicant): GA
    Country (if international applicant):
    [    ] School Type: Public
    [] Ethnicity:
    [    ] Gender: Female
    [] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate):
    [    ] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

Reflection

  • [] Strengths: Common App essay and Recs
    [    ] Weaknesses: idk… rushed supplement
    [] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted bc of diversity in my activities
    [    ] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: UGA and uDub as of now
16

Decision: Accepted

Objective:
[ *] SAT I (breakdown): 2070 (720 CR, 620 M, 730 W)
[ *] ACT:
[ *] SAT II:US History (720), Lit (730)
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.7 UW, 4.4 W
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Biology (4), AP Psychology (5), AP Lang (5), AP US History (4)
[ *] IB (place score in parenthesis):
[ *] Senior Year Course Load: Advanced Physics, AP Stats, AP Lit, Poli Sci 101 and 102 (college course offered at my high school), AP Art History
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):AP Scholar with Distinction, Highest Honors in national WordWright competition, California Scholarship Foundation member

[ b]Subjective:**
[ list]
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Trainee with a professional ballet company (involves daily classes, rehearsals, and performing with the company), head defense attorney of my high school’s mock trial team
[ *] Job/Work Experience: Interned for a US congressman the summer before my senior year
[ *] Volunteer/Community service: assistant teacher for a program that provides free ballet lessons to underprivileged and at-risk youth
[ *] Summer Activities:Summer intensive ballet programs, Georgetown American Politics Institute
[ *] Essays:My common app essay was pretty good. I chose the why Brandeis essay for the supplement, and I think how much I love the school really showed
[ *] Teacher Recommendation:Obviously haven’t read them, but I think one of them is pretty good, and the other, excellent
[ *] Counselor Rec: My school literally just got a new counselor this year, but she seems to really like me so I think it was good
[ *] Additional Rec: One from the founder of the ballet company I dance with who has been my instructor since I was nine. Another from the head field representative at the congressman’s office I interned for
[ *] Interview: It was my first college interview so I was pretty nervous, but I think it went well
[ *] Supplementary Material:
[ /list]

[ b]Other**
[ list]
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country
[ *] School Type: highly-ranked public school
[ *] Ethnicity:White
[ *] Gender:Female
[ *] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate):200,000+
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): nada
[ /list]

[ b]Reflection**
[ list]
[ *] Strengths: My extracurriculars are quite unique. Also, I visited Brandeis and absolutely loved it. I think how much I want to go there really showed in my interview and essays
[ *] Weaknesses:My math SAT score
[ *] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:Like I said before, I showed a lot of interest
[ *] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:Accepted- USFCA, Denison, Beloit, George Washington, and University of Michigan. Rejected ED from Northwestern :frowning:
[ /list]

[ b]General Comments: I still have to wait to hear back from a few other schools, but Brandeis is definitely one of my top choices and I’m so thrilled to be accepted!

17

Decision: Accepted

Objective:

  • [] SAT I: 1920
    [    ] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.7, weighted: 4.3
    [] Rank: 50 out of 879
    [    ] AP’s: AP Lang (4), AP Calc (3), AP Euro (3), AP Japanese (5)
    [] Senior Year Course Load: 3 AP’s
    [    ] Major Awards: Kikkoman National Scholarship recipient to study abroad, AP Scholar with Honors, Distinguished Vice President in Cal-Nev-Ha KIWIN’S District

Subjective:

  • [] Extracurriculars: 4 year member of KIWIN’S (3 yrs board member & Vice President), 4 year member of Orchestra (2 years Section Leader & 1 year VP), 3 year member of Mock Trial (Defense Team Captain & 2 year defense attorney), Student Govt (1 year, Clubs Commissioner)
    [    ] Job/Work Experience: n/a
    [] Volunteer/Community service: 360+ hours in KIWIN’S (an extension of Key Club)
    [    ] Summer Activities: study abroad in Japan on a full scholarship through YFU and Kikkoman Foods Inc!
    [] Essays: Definitely my strong point! I answered the prompt about uninventing inventions :wink:
    [    ] Teacher Recommendation: My english teacher who is also my mock trial coach probably did an amazing job on my recc letter so I’m super grateful to her
    [] Counselor Rec: Didn’t know me too well but I come from a public school so she had to write recc letters for like 50 kids she’s never heard of.
    [    ] Additional Rec:
    [] Interview: no interview
    [    ] Supplementary Material:

Other

[ul]
[li] State: SoCal! [/li]
[] School Type: Public
[] Ethnicity: Asian
[] Gender: Female
[] Income Bracket: <$20,000
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):[/li][/ul]

Reflection

  • [] Strengths: The essay, my extracurricular activities, passion for a field of study that I greatly emphasized through the choices I made in high school (what classes to take, what clubs to pursue, etc)
    [    ] Weaknesses: My stats (GPA & SAT) are definitely not the highest. I’m very surprised that I got accepted.
    [] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I honestly still can’t fathom why I was accepted but I am extremely happy to have been selected as a candidate for the class of 2019.
    [    ] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted to UCI, UCSB; Rejected to Northeastern & Waitlisted at UCSD.

    Still waiting on a few other out of states!

**General Comments: I’m super excited about the prospect of going to Massachusetts for college and if the financial aid process goes well I would be happy to call Brandeis my home for the next four years! **

18

[ b]Decision: Accepted**

Disclaimer: If looking at this stresses you out, get off CC and go to the library or go read a book or go watch TV or read a magazine. I’m posting this because I read through threads like this a few times and thought they were interesting, so please don’t use this to worry.

Objective:

  • [] SAT I (breakdown): 770 math, 730 critical reading, 780 English
    [    ] ACT: 35
    [] SAT II: 750 math 2, 770 literature, 790 biology M
    [    ] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
    [] Weighted 4.74 (I get bored in non-honors/AP classes and my school has very few mandatory non-honors courses, just religion and less than a year of PE required)
    [    ] Rank: technically unranked, 1/156
    [] AP: US History 5, Bio 5, Spanish Culture 3 (I had a medical thing, which I mentioned), English Language 5, World History 5
    [    ] IB (place score in parenthesis): LOL
    [] Senior Year Course Load: 5 APs, more than anyone else in my class. I dropped a sixth because it was too stressful and I wasn’t enjoying it
    [    ] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): uhhhh I have bloody tons of Speech and Debate awards, I semifinaled at States last year and only missed finals because of medical stuff. Harvard book thing, the regular testing and honors society stuff (I did it for my friends, if you’re reading this and you have a bunch of ECs you don’t enjoy, please don’t go sign up for everything that exists, it’s not worth it)

Subjective:

  • [] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Speech and Debate (captain 11-12, chair 10), Science Club (VP 11-12, Publicist 10), Math Team (VP 11-12, Publicist 10, I know I’m so original), National Charity League, babysitting, refereeing, Youth Commission (like town council)
    [    ] Job/Work Experience: oh oops. Babysitting, refereeing, I was a karate instructor but had to quit
    [] Volunteer/Community service: average, it’s not really my thing but I do it so I can spend time with my mom and sisters
    [    ] Intended Major: undeclared
    [] Summer Activities: lots of debate camps, family vacations, a poetry camp (it was godawful), some other stuff I don’t remember
    [    ] Essays: I feel really bad, I literally wrote mine in like 45 minutes because I thought Brandeis was a safety and I know a lot of other people wanted to go :/. Mine was the generic supplement. My common app wasn’t great, like a 7/10, I liked my additional info essay about my illness, 8/10
    [] Teacher Recommendation: English and History, they both love me (lol I think) and I have a really good relationship with my history teacher. One was probably logical and the other was probably emotional, so I got the best of both worlds. Just ask who knows you best, that stuff about needing one from each department is silly
    [    ] Counselor Rec: she said I’m really easy to write for and I think I did a really good job on the form she asked me to fill out
    [] Additional Rec: uhhh n/a
    [    ] Interview: California bb
    [li] Supplementary Material: n/a [/li][ /list]
  • Other*
    [list]
    [] State (if domestic applicant): CA
    Country (if international applicant):
    [    ] School Type: private, all-girls
    [] Ethnicity: white
    [    ] Gender: California gurls (I actually hate that song)
    [] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): n/a
    [    ] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none of the above, I’m really weird and I genuinely liked the clever booklet they sent out, so I think my personality was just a good fit

Reflection

  • [] Strengths: weirdness, debate/speech/abilities to bullshit, grades/scores don’t really matter but I guess those too
    [    ] Weaknesses: I wrote my essay really fast, I didn’t realize it was really selective so I didn’t stress about it. Which was probably a strength, actually. I had a 660 in Chemistry from sophomore year. No display of interest
    [] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I actually can be pretty funny, regardless of how this post makes me sound. I did things that made me happy for four years and had fun with the essays
    [    ] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: accepted: W&M (Monroe Scholar), Gonzaga (um their top scholarship, don’t remember the name), Clark (Traina Scholar)
    deferred: Yale SCEA (did you know their janitor killed a girl and shoved her in the wall of the science lab a few years ago? I was disappointed at first, but now I’m like “missed a bullet” because I wouldn’t have applied to Brandeis or a lot of other great schools if I’d gotten in)

**General Comments: Spending a lot of time on CC will do nothing but stress you out. Just go out and do what you love and the colleges that recognize that will be a. the colleges you’ll want to go to, because you’re not just a score to them, and b. colleges that fit your personality and genuinely like you as a person. Don’t take the SAT/ACT more than twice in total, I promise, it doesn’t matter. Don’t apply to more than two safeties. I applied to four and it’s a waste of time/money- they’re safeties for a reason (I didn’t believe my friend when she told me that, and I’m regretting it now)

Also, arrogance. Use that, because you’re awesome. If you want to succeed, it doesn’t matter which college is your trampoline to success (lol my metaphors are deep). To the future "us"s: DO NOT STRESS. Life sucks if you’re not enjoying it, so just have fun O:)
**

19

[ b]Objective:**
[ list]
[ *] SAT I (breakdown): Didn’t send but 2090
[ *] ACT: 31
[ *] SAT II: N/A
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.96
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 5/183
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis): Micro (4) Macro (5) Lang (5) Euro (4) US History (5)
[ *] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[ *] Senior Year Course Load: AP Psych, AP Gov, AP Music Theory, AP Lit, Sociology, Orchestra, Japanese
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
[ /list]

[ b]Subjective:**
[ list]
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): a bajillion cultural clubs, speaking partner for international students, music (won awards for piano and viola), founded a club to raise money for students affected by cancer at my school, CSF, NHS, JNHS
[ *] Job/Work Experience: worked as a counselor for a summer esl program for international students for 4 years
[ *] Volunteer/Community service: 989 hours
[ *] Summer Activities: volunteered at an orphanage in mexico twice
[ *] Essays: my supplement was kind of lame but the main essay was good
[ *] Teacher Recommendation: 10/10
[ *] Counselor Rec: N/A
[ *] Additional Rec: 10/10
[ *] Interview: N/A
[ *] Supplementary Material: N/A
[ /list]

[ b]Other**
[ list]
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant):
[ *] School Type: Private
[ *] Ethnicity: Chinese
[ *] Gender: Female
[ *] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): 80,000-90,000
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): N/A
[ /list]

[ b]Reflection**
[ list]
[ *] Strengths: EC’s were all pretty focused on what I wanted to major in
[ *] Weaknesses: test scores
[ *] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: dunno
[ *] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted (UCSD, UCSB, Clark, Bard College Berlin) Waitlisted (Uchicago), Rejected (Wustl)
[ /list]

[ b]General Comments: **

20

Decision: Accepted

Objective:

[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2300 (800 M, 730 CR, 770 W)
[] ACT:
[] SAT II: 800 Molecular Biology, 750 Literature
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.7 UW
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
[] AP (place score in parenthesis):
[] IB (place score in parenthesis):
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics 2, AP Computer Science, AP Calculus AB, AP Literature, AP Economics/Government
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar with Honor[/li][/ul]

Subjective:

  • [] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): typical club stuff, NHS, research
    [    ] Job/Work Experience:
    [] Volunteer/Community service: summers at hospital and library
    [    ] Summer Activities: research internship
    [] Essays: 7 or 8/10; my supplement was on uninventing push faucets which was kind of drab in retrospect.
    [    ] Teacher Recommendation: pretty good i think
    [] Counselor Rec:
    [    ] Additional Rec:
    [] Interview:
    [    ] Supplementary Material:

Other

  • [] State (if domestic applicant):
    Country (if international applicant):
    [    ] School Type: small competitive magnet public
    [] Ethnicity: white/other
    [    ] Gender: F
    [] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): 150k-200k
    [    ] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

Reflection

  • [] Strengths: SATs, common app essay
    [    ] Weaknesses: GPA, lack of interest, supplement essay, lack of leadership in extracurriculars
    [] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
    [    ] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: rejected WUSTL

**General Comments: ** also received an invitation to LSC in February but did not apply