OFFICIAL Class of 2019 ED Results

Colleges and Universities A-Z Wellesley College
1

<p>Hi everyone!</p>

<p>Congrats to those who are accepted, and don't lose hope if you are deferred because it's not a death sentence!</p>

<p>Choose One:
[ size=4][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted *[/color][/size]
[ size=4][ color=orange][ b]Decision: Deferred *[/color][/size]
[ size=4][ color=red][ b]Decision: Rejected **[/color][/size]</p>

<p>Objective
[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown):
[</em>]ACT (breakdown):
[<em>]SAT II (place score in parentheses):
[</em>]Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):
[<em>]Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
[</em>]AP (place score in parentheses):
[<em>]IB (place score in parentheses):
[</em>]Senior Year Course Load:
[li]Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>Subjective
[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses):
[</em>]Job/Work Experience:
[<em>]Volunteer/Community Service:
[</em>]Summer Activities:
[<em>]Essays:
[</em>]Teacher Recommendations:
[<em>]Counselor Rec:
[</em>]Additional Rec:
[li]Interview:[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>Other
[ul]
[<em>]State (if domestic applicant):
[</em>]Country (if international applicant):
[<em>]School Type:
[</em>]Ethnicity:
[<em>]Income Bracket:
[</em>]Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):
[/ul]</p>

<p>Reflection
[ul]
[<em>]Strengths:
[</em>]Weaknesses:
[<em>]Why you think you received a likely/possible/unlikely prediction:
[</em>]Where else you have applied and/or have been accepted/rejected:
[/ul]</p>

<p>General comments/advice/hindsight:</p>

2

<p>Choose One:
[ size=4][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted **[/color][/size]</p>

<p>Objective
SAT I (breakdown): CR 640/ M 800/ W 690
ACT (breakdown): N/A
SAT II (place score in parentheses): MathII 800/ Physics 800/ Chem 770
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.75
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 40% (my hs is very competitive, top 70 hs in the U.S.)
AP (place score in parentheses):
Physics B (5);
Calc BC (5);
Comp Sci (5);
Chinese (5);
Chem (4);<br>
IB (place score in parentheses): N/A
Senior Year Course Load:
AP Japanese
AP US Government
AP Macroecon.
AP Physics C
AP Stats
Mythology
Multivariable Calculus at Community College in spring </p>

<p>Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar with Distinction</p>

<p>Subjective
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Co-founded New Student Support Club (coordinate translators in my school for many events)(Tech manager); Taichi; Color Guard member (compete in CA); anime translator
Job/Work Experience: Webmaster for an after-school program; math/physics tutor;
Volunteer/Community Service: Volunteer at American Cancer Society Discovery Shop
Summer Activities: Wellesley Pre-college Program!! Awesome experience!!
Essays: My CommonApp was about cooking/baking; I wrote about Curriculum and Pamela Daniels Fellowship
Teacher Recommendations: didn’t read, assume good
Counselor Rec: Principal(didn’t read, assume awesome);
Additional Rec: Wellesley math professor(didn’t read, assume awesome)<br>
Interview: alumni interview in Oct; it went very well!</p>

<p>Other
State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant): U.S.
School Type: large, competitive, public high school
Ethnicity: Asian (Chinese)
Income Bracket: >$220,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): N/A</p>

<p>Reflection
Strengths: AP, SAT II; essays
Weaknesses: low GPA, SAT, major awards
Why you think you are accepted/deferred/rejected: I got in because I am lucky, and I wrote about how I love Wellesley!!
Where else you have applied and/or have been accepted/rejected: Now I’m happy to withdraw all of my apps submitted to other colleges</p>

<p>General comments/advice/hindsight: I am really, really lucky</p>

3

<p>**Decision: Deferred **</p>

<p>Objective
SAT I (breakdown): 2280 (800M, 760R, 720W)
ACT (breakdown): 34 (36M, 34E, 34R, 33S, Writing 12)
SAT II (place score in parentheses): Math 2 (800), Literature (800)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.67
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): School doesn’t rank
AP (place score in parentheses): Calc AB (5), Literature (4), Computer Science (5), Macroeconomics (5), Psychology(5)
IB (place score in parentheses): n/a
Senior Year Course Load: AP Lang, AP Stats, AP Biology, AP Euro, AP Microecon, Spanish 3, and PE
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): none</p>

<p>Subjective</p>

<pre><code>Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Diversity Club (President), WYSE, Piano, Amnesty International, Econ research at state university (Assistant/Intern)
Job/Work Experience: McDonald’s (Crew Trainer lol), Pizza place (where I work now)
Volunteer/Community Service: YWCA (Intern), Local hospital (volunteer), Anonymous Eating Disorder Support Group (Founder)
Summer Activities: Economics research at a state university / Hospital / YWCA
Essays: Common App Essay was good I think, but I feel like I might have approached the Wellesley supplemental ones in the wrong way
Teacher Recommendations: Good but not amazing
Counselor Rec: Really good
Additional Rec: Sent in 3 teacher recs, but mainly because I was worried one of them might have been mediocre, so I think 2/3 of them were good
Interview: Went well but I did it a year ago!
</code></pre>

<p>Other</p>

<pre><code>State (if domestic applicant): Illinois but not near Chicago
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Lab school
Ethnicity: Asian-American
Income Bracket: ~150,000+
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none
</code></pre>

<p>Reflection</p>

<pre><code>Strengths: Test scores
Weaknesses: GPA by far, extracurriculars
Why you think you received a likely/possible/unlikely prediction: My GPA went completely downhill junior year after a close friend passed away in a car accident. I am hoping I was deferred mainly because they wanted to see improvement in my grades this year. But other than that, I don’t think my ECs were anything too special either.
Where else you have applied and/or have been accepted/rejected: Haven’t heard back from anywhere yet, but I am planning on applying to Barnard, Smith, Cornell, USC, Wesleyan, Bowdoin, NYU, Bucknell, Colgate, Claremont McKenna, Scripps, Notre Dame, UIUC, UW-Madison, Boston College, Lehigh, and Colby College I think!
</code></pre>

<p>General comments/advice/hindsight:
I didn’t really think I had a good chance of getting in because of my GPA but I’m glad I wasn’t flat out rejected because of it. I really do think Wellesley approaches applications holistically, which is really nice. I’m not really expecting to get in regular decision, but I really hope that my grades this semester will help them change their mind haha. But congrats to all who got in!! :)</p>

4

<p>If you got deferred, look here & stop feeling bad. You probably did better than me
**Decision: Deferred **</p>

<p>Objective
SAT I (breakdown): Didn’t send those
ACT (breakdown): 29 (30E, 27M, 28R, 31S, 29W)
SAT II (place score in parentheses): n/a
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): I come from the ONE SCHOOL IN AMERICA that isn’t on the 4.0 scale. ~93… I’ve done the calculators online, it’s like 3.85?
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 20%
AP (place score in parentheses): Physics I, Physics II, Biology, Statistics (they’re all this year, so no scores yet)
IB (place score in parentheses): school doesn’t have IBs
Senior Year Course Load: AP Bio, AP Physics II (taking the Physics I test as well), AP Statistics, Health/gym, English 12 Honors, Anatomy Honors
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): ?</p>

<p>Subjective
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Playing the oboe and flute, Senior class council, Computer programming club, Latin American culture club (co-captain)
Job/Work Experience: Various summer babysittng/ housesitting, currently waiting for call from retail establishment (I did not put job experience in my application.)
Volunteer/Community Service: Over 100 hours from senior class council and Soroptomist of Greater Waterbury (charity tag sale)
Summer Activities: NYLF Careers in Medicine
Essays: I am a TERRIBLE writer.
Teacher Recommendations: Physics teacher (I work really hard in that class even though I suck), Spanish Teacher (loves me w/ all her heart) - I hope they wrote nice things
Counselor Rec: I’m assuming it was good because she really likes me too
Additional Rec: None… Should I get one?
Interview: Interview with alum went very well!</p>

<p>Other
State (if domestic applicant): Connecticut
Country (if international applicant): USA
School Type: Small public school in rural area
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Income Bracket: ~$60,000/year
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): I don’t know if Wellesley considers me “first generation.” My mom only has an associate’s degree. That’s it in my family.</p>

<p>Reflection
Strengths: Probably my GPA and letters of rec.
Weaknesses: My own essays and test scores
Why you think you received a likely/possible/unlikely prediction: IT’S A MIRACLE HONESTLY
Where else you have applied and/or have been accepted/rejected: Nowhere yet (ED, obviously)</p>

<p>General comments/advice/hindsight: ???HOW DID I GET DEFERRED???HOW AM I QUALIFIED AT ALL TO GO TO WELLESLEY???</p>

5

<p>Choose One:
**Decision: Accepted **</p>

<p>Objective
SAT I (breakdown): Didn’t submit
ACT (breakdown): Superscored: 35 M: 34 R: 35 E: 36 S: 34 W: 10/12
SAT II (place score in parentheses): didn’t take
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.986
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 8/274
AP (place score in parentheses): Literature (5) Biology (4) APUSH (5)
Senior Year Course Load: College Calculus, College Physics, College World Geography, College Anthropology, German IV, Creative Writing, AP English, College Economics (all College classes are dual enrollment; my school only offers 3 APs)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Borlaug-Ruan International Intern</p>

<p>Subjective
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Speech (captain). Knowledge Bowl (captain) Tennis, Link Crew, Student Council, NHS (exec board),
Job/Work Experience: Lab Assistant at local college, research intern at BRAC
Volunteer/Community Service: 100 + hours a year for various community organizations
Summer Activities: Counselor at STEPS camp, Arabic Immersion, internship in Bangladesh
Essays: I would say they were stellar
Teacher Recommendations: I waived my right, but some of them showed me anyway. The ones I saw were A+
Counselor Rec: Really complicated bc my counselor left in the middle of the process, but he did write me a fabulous letter
Interview: It went so well. She called me an inspiration lol</p>

<p>Other
State (if domestic applicant): Minnesota
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Income Bracket: <80,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): ED, great interview, my internship (it’s really prestigious)</p>

<p>Reflection
Strengths: my ECs, my interview, my recommendation, my courseload, GPA, scores
Weaknesses: lack of APs.
Where else you have applied and/or have been accepted/rejected: Haven’t applied anywhere else…was waiting for this result haha</p>

<p>General comments/advice/hindsight: I’m so excited to be Wellesley 2019. I want anyone reading this to know that while I put my scores and stuff up as a reference, don’t compare yourself to me or anyone else in this thread. Wellesley cares about you as an all-around person, not just as a number. So focus on that part of your application!!</p>

6

<p>This is my first comment in CC!</p>

<p>[ size=4][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted **[/color][/size]</p>

<p>Objective
SAT I (breakdown): CR 610 WR 620 M 740
ACT (breakdown):
SAT II (place score in parentheses): Math 2 770 Phy 780 Chem 780
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): our school doesn’t do GPA
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):3/83
AP (place score in parentheses):
IB (place score in parentheses):
Senior Year Course Load: A levels : Physics(A) Chemistry(A<em>) Maths(A</em>) Economics(A*) and English (b)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Nothing major. Principal’s Honor List, and Best Academic Achiever( First among girls). Both at school level.</p>

<p>Subjective
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Deputy School Captain, house captain, joint secretary of Forum of Young Economists, member of other clubs since Grade 9, conducted Nationwide Signature Campaign Against Climate Change
Job/Work Experience: I worked at the National Academy of Science and Technology ( Chemistry)
Volunteer/Community Service: Nepal Mother Foundation (with street children), Book Donation Programs in rural areas
Summer Activities: Volunteer and Jobs mentioned above
Essays: about not being a dictating leader and personal essay, and how I am inspired by the alumni and faculty as supplement
Teacher Recommendations: Chemistry teacher who knew me quite well and same with Maths(mechanics) teacher. I lived in a boarding school so my teachers knew me well.
Counselor Rec: I think it was good
Additional Rec:
Interview: My interviewer was very sweet. I cannot say how it went though! Mixed feelings.</p>

<p>Other
State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): Nepal
School Type: Public? I am not sure
Ethnicity: South Asian
Income Bracket: <$20000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): </p>

<p>Reflection
Strengths: Grades. And Recommendations.
Weaknesses: SAT 1. I don’t have awards.
Why you think you received a likely/possible/unlikely prediction:
Where else you have applied and/or have been accepted/rejected: I think my grades/academics were great. And I really focused on Chemistry.</p>

<p>General comments/advice/hindsight:</p>

7

<p>[ size=4][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted **[/color][/size]</p>

<p>Objective
ACT (breakdown): 33 (32 English, 33 Math, 34 Reading, 33 Science, 9/12 Essay)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 10%
AP: Euro (4), APUSH (5), Biology
Senior Year Course Load: AP World, AP MacroEcon, AP Physics C, AP Government, Latin IV, English Literature, Calculus
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Wellesley Book Award, National Honor Society, National History Honor Society</p>

<p>Subjective
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Latin Club (President), Physics Olympics (Captain), Givology Chapter (Founder, President), Key Club (Secretary), Debate Team, Hi-Q Team, Class Congress, Freshmen Mentoring
Volunteer/Community Service: Animal Coalition of Delaware County (230+ hours)</p>

<p>Essays: ah-maz-ing. My wellesley supplement may have slacked
Teacher Recommendations: amazing! One from my latin teacher, who ADORES ME, and another from my AP Econ teacher who is a Wellesley Alum
Counselor Rec: Fine
Interview: Yes, went very well</p>

<p>Other
State (if domestic applicant): Pennsylvania
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Income Bracket: ~90,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): First Generation, ALUMNAE CONNECTION</p>

<p>Reflection
Strengths: Alumnae connection, ACT Scores, Leadership Positions
Weaknesses: GPA and lack of AP classes
Why you think you received a likely/possible/unlikely prediction: My alumnae connection really pushed me over the edge - the dean of admissions actually emailed her telling her I would receive special consideration.</p>

8

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Objective

[ul][<em>]SAT I (breakdown): Didn’t send
[</em>]ACT (breakdown): 32 (35 E, 33 M, 32 R, 27 S)
[<em>]SAT II (place score in parentheses): U.S. History (760), Math I (740)
[</em>]Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): ~3.7 (unsure of exact number tbh)
[<em>]Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): School doesn’t rank, but <top 10%
[</em>]AP (place score in parentheses): U.S. History (5), U.S. Government (5), English Language (5), European History, Biology, Psychology, Calculus AB, English Literature
[<em>]Senior Year Course Load: AP Biology, AP Psychology, AP Calculus AB, AP English Literature, Economics, Journalism, Speech
[</em>]Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Semifinalist, Bronze Medal Congressional Award[/ul]</p>

<p>Subjective

[ul][<em>]Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): High School Democrats of America (National Director), Junior State of America (Northeast Director and Chapter President/Founder), Young Democrats (Treasurer), Student Government (Treasurer), Varsity Tennis, Peer Advocates, School’s Newspaper
[</em>]Job/Work Experience: Intern for Governor (only high school student), Intern for Congresswoman, Tutor at ENOPI
[<em>]Volunteer/Community Service: Senior center, church, and Relay for Life
[</em>]Summer Activities: Programs at Princeton University and Georgetown University, brief internship in Washington D.C.
[<em>]Essays: My CA essay was about my transition from childhood to adulthood. I talked about my experience with public transportation while interning for the Governor compared to the comforts of suburbia that I’ve been accustomed to all of my life. My supplement was a poem instead of the two-paragraph format that they listed. I mainly mentioned Wellesley’s campus and “I Got You”.
[</em>]Teacher Recommendations: Should be good
[<em>]Counselor Rec: Not sure, my counselor for the past three years just moved away at the beginning of the school year, so my new counselor doesn’t know me very well
[</em>]Additional Rec: From the Governor since I did an internship with him
[li]Interview: I think it went well! My interviewer wasn’t a student or an alum, but she worked in the Admissions Office and said that I could be a spokesperson for Wellesley when I told her why I wanted to attend.[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>Other

[ul][<em>]State (if domestic applicant): Connecticut
[</em>]School Type: Public
[<em>]Ethnicity: Asian
[</em>]Income Bracket: $200,000+
[li]Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>Reflection

[ul][<em>]Strengths: Extracurriculars/leadership, additional recommendation, and essays (the poem was taking a risk)
[</em>]Weaknesses: GPA and ACT score (took it without studying, so my unfamiliarity with the science section hurt me a lot)
[<em>]Why you think you received a likely/possible/unlikely prediction: I think I’m somewhat well-rounded, and I’ve also displayed a lot of interest (e.g. tour, interview, Discover Wellesley)
[</em>]Where else you have applied and/or have been accepted/rejected: I’m done now! My other top choices would’ve been Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, and Tufts.[/ul]</p>

<p>General comments/advice/hindsight: In hindsight, I’d definitely make sure that my grades were better. I received a few Bs in math and science classes simply due to laziness, and those definitely aren’t worth worrying about during the application process. Aside from that, I’d say that it’s important to just pursue your passions – do what you love while making sure that you’re not substantially lacking in one area that will affect your chances of getting into your dream school. :)</p>

9

<p>**Decision: Accepted **</p>

<p>Objective</p>

<pre><code>SAT I: 2130 (720 R, 680 M, 730 W)
ACT: 33 (33 E, 35 R, 31 M, 32 S)
SAT II: Lit (710)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.83 weighted, maybe 3.7 unweighted? no idea tbh
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 14/160
AP (place score in parentheses): Gov (5), Calc AB (5)
IB (place score in parentheses):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Lit, APUSH, AP Enviro, Current Issues, Spanish Honors, Calc @ an ivy(don’t want to give away which one for privacy)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar with Honor, National Merit Commended
</code></pre>

<p>Subjective</p>

<pre><code>Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Youth Mental Health First Aid (VP), MUN (head-delegate), Track, Newspaper, Band (section-leader), Math Team, Events Council (moderator), youth in action (board members), volunteer with various political campaigns
Job/Work Experience: Panera Bread
Volunteer/Community Service: Youth in Action (501c group), political campaigns
Summer Activities: summer studies program, political campaigns
Essays: Good. I had a former princeton and dartmouth admissions officer read mine
Teacher Recommendations: I read one of them and it was excellent. Other one was written by teacher who worked admissions at Princeton and dartmouth
Counselor Rec: I’m assuming Good
Additional Rec:
Interview:
</code></pre>

<p>Other</p>

<pre><code>State (if domestic applicant): NH
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Asian
Income Bracket: <70,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): first-gen
</code></pre>

<p>Reflection</p>

<pre><code>Strengths: Essay
Weaknesses: GPA
Why you think you received a likely/possible/unlikely prediction: I think I honestly just got lucky
Where else you have applied and/or have been accepted/rejected:
</code></pre>

<p>General comments/advice/hindsight:</p>

10

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Objective
SAT I (breakdown): 2190 (730 CR, 670 M, 790 W)
ACT (breakdown): N/A
SAT II (place score in parentheses): Bio M (720), US His (700)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.63
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 2/170
AP (place score in parentheses): Eng Lang (5), US His (5), Euro (4), Bio (4), Calc AB (3)
IB (place score in parentheses): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Eng Lit, AP Calc BC, AP US Gov/Pol, AP Macroeconomics, AP Chem, Leadership, Physics
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): QuestBridge NCM Finalist, AP Scholar w/ Distinction, Mock Trial Best Attorney, First Place in Design Comp, and your average academic honors (Honor Roll and such…honestly, I just listed everything)</p>

<p>Subjective
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Student Government (Class President, Director of Academics, Secretary), Mock Trial (Team Captain), Art Club (Founder and President), among others
Job/Work Experience: paid photographer’s assistant
Volunteer/Community Service: Museum tour guide, Non-Profit Magazine illustrator, Student Council
Summer Activities: Intensive Law & Trial program
Essays: I used my QuestBridge application and wrote my essays a week before they were due (haha oops)
Teacher Recommendations: I assume a 10/10 from both teachers. I’ve known and worked with them for many years.
Counselor Rec: Most likely generic, but he knew what he was doing 7/10
Additional Rec: none
Interview: none</p>

<p>Other
State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: a small, miserably underfunded public school (so glad I can finally leave!)
Ethnicity: Asian
Income Bracket: < 20,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): first generation, single parent (no child support), QuestBridge Finalist</p>

<p>Reflection
Strengths: GPA, extracurriculars, recommendations, course rigor, personal story
Weaknesses: SAT scores, subpar essays & short answers, didn’t cure cancer or change the world (yet… :wink: )
Why you think you received a likely/possible/unlikely prediction: Applying as a QuestBridge Finalist most likely helped me to some extent. Although I didn’t particularly like the way my essays were written, they still reflected my personality, adversities, and (dare I say it) perseverance clearly. All in all, I’m just so happy and humbled to be a future Wellesley student!!
Where else you have applied and/or have been accepted/rejected: I applied to several CSU’s and UC’s (UCB, UCLA, UCSD, and UCI in particular). I was also planning on applying to at least 20 more colleges in the upper tiers because I was afraid I would get rejected everywhere lol. Thank goodness for early decision!</p>

<p>General comments/advice/hindsight: To future prospective students, my advice would be to pursue extra-curriculars and hobbies not because they look “impressive” on college apps but because you truly love them. I learned this the hard way and wish somebody would’ve told me sooner! Keep working hard, don’t doubt yourself, and be kind to others! It’ll all pay off in the end! Good luck to everyone!! Can’t wait to meet you all in the fall. :slight_smile: </p>

11

<p>**Decision: Accepted **</p>

<p>Objective</p>

<p>SAT I (breakdown): Super score 2210 (three tries) - CR 800, M 710, W 700
SAT II (place score in parentheses): Lit (740), Math 1 (720), Math 2 (640 =.=)
IB (place score in parentheses): Total 41/2 out of 45 HL: Eng lit (7), Economics (7), Philosophy (6), Mandarin Chinese B (6), SL: Environmental science (6/7), Maths (6), TOK A, EE A.
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Won 4th overall debater at international public speaking + debating championship (was in the finals), lots of random national debate awards / best speaker awards.</p>

<p>Subjective</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses):

  • LGBTQ+, gender, racial inclusivity advocacy group (Founder, organizer junior year)
  • School debating society (Debater - 4 years, Captain+President - 3 years)
  • Student council (Chair - 1 year, Assistant chair - 1 year, Liaison - 1 year), founded green council in school
  • Inter-school debating organization organizing biannual charity tournaments for students (Co-chair - 1 year, organizer - 2 years)
  • HK national debating and public speaking squads - selected to represent HK in national team, training once a week for 4-5 months each year (Member of public speaking squad - 2 years, went to international tournaments, member debating squad - 1 year, still occuring)
  • Other assorted activities over the years, some literary magazine things, playing the flute etc.</p>

<p>Job/Work Experience:

  • Worked as an intern for two summers - one a random technology R&D centre (as a PR intern) just for the work experience, one for a non profit organization helping companies become more LGBT friendly.</p>

<p>Volunteer/Community Service:

  • Volunteer debating teacher for various organizations over the years, service-y things incorporated into many of my ECAs (raising money for NGOs and getting to know some of the people within nonprofit sectors of HK.)</p>

<p>Summer Activities:
Essays: I really liked my Common App essay. I chose the “stood up for your beliefs” essay talked about what advocacy meant to me, and why I think it’s personally important for me to be conscious of problems I have the power to impact. Also, kind of the importance of honest and critical self-reflection + not being a hypocrite when trying to solve macroscopic problems. I’ve always thought advocacy can sound kind of preachy to outsiders, and so I tried really hard to make this essay less preachy. Hope it worked!</p>

<p>Wellesley supplement talked about the Tanner Conference and turning theories into practice + importance of hands on learning, and about Michele Moody Adams (philosopher :slight_smile: ), my love of philosophy and academic excellence. It felt fine, maybe not the most original essay ever but enthusiastic and authentic to what I think of Wellesley so I was quite satisfied with it.</p>

<p>Teacher Recommendations: One from Philosophy teacher (who I adore, super kick ass woman), knows me through Model UN and other things, most probably good. One from my Econ teacher (again, amazing intellectual, super caring woman). Econ isn’t my strongest subject but she has a lot of experience with writing recs, and I’m sure she likes me so I hope it was fine.
Counselor Rec: Written by my form tutor (who is also my English teacher), I think it was probably a little more generic but still good. My college counselor might have added things too - he definitely likes me (we have similar tastes in humor :slight_smile: )
Interview: Was a little generic at times but fine overall. It was nice to talk to someone about Wellesley and my interviewer was lovely. We ended up talking a lot about her experiences at Wellesley and it was really useful to have another perspective at what life there might be like!</p>

<p>Other
Country (if international applicant): Hong Kong SAR
School Type: Private (international, english first language school, IB system)
Ethnicity: Chinese
Income Bracket: Upper middle? (At least in HK!)
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none. But maybe international = money, who knows.</p>

<p>Reflection
Strengths: I thought quite a lot about how to present myself as a holistic message given the limited space for expression I had. I think my strategy concerning essays worked well. My ECAs also give people a pretty good depiction of who I am (probably something like “debater philosophy nerd activist girl”), and I liked my essays.</p>

<p>Weaknesses: Scores! :frowning: My Math 2 SAT score is abysmal, and within the context of Hong Kong my IB scores / other standardized scores aren’t overwhelmingly amazing. It’s also possible given Wellesley’s small application pool that there could have been more than one person in the ED pool that fit my general archetype, which could have worked against me.</p>

<p>Why you think you were accepted/rejected: Lots of luck. I really liked Wellesley and I spent a lot of time on my application. I was super lucky with thinking of a good common app topic early in the process so I wouldn’t have to scramble for time, and because this was ED I prioritized this application above all my others. Overall: good time management and thoughtful construction!</p>

<p>Where else you have applied and/or have been accepted/rejected: ED :slight_smile: Originally, if Wellesley didn’t fall through I would have applied ED2 to Swarthmore, then RD to Rice, Brown, Claremont McKenna and U of Sydney for backup.</p>

<p>General comments/advice/hindsight:</p>

<p>Congratulations to everyone who got in, and for those of you who were deferred or rejected - I’m 100% rooting that you get to go to a kickass school anyway. If you’re looking at this thread for advice on applications in general, I would say the no. 1 thing is making sure your entire profile gives admissions officers a coherent and appealing picture of who you are. For the common app especially, be realistic: You have a measly 650 words to tell someone who you are, so I would use that space to describe one or two core themes central to your identity, life, values, etc. Especially if you’re the kind of person who does a lot of different activities, or has quite generic stats and details on paper, use the space to really introduce yourself as an individual and help officers understand exactly what kind of person you are. Make sure you remember the purpose of the common app!! It’s not to just be funny, or to rely on cheap gimmicks, but to honestly and effectively summarize something about what makes you special in a short word limit.</p>

<p>Feel free to reach out if you want any more information, and I hope this post will be / has been informative and/or useful!</p>

12

[ size=4][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted **[/color][/size]

•SAT I: 700-700-650 = 2050
•ACT: 29-34-32-30-29-10 = 31
•SAT II: 660-650
•GPA: 3.9/4.4
•Rank: 17 of 255 = 7%
•AP: 3.0-3.0
•Senior Year Course Load: 3 AP’s and 4 Honors
•Major Awards: Academically; none, Sports; yes

•Extracurriculars: Yes
•Job/Work Experience: Yes
•Volunteer/Community Service: Yes
•Summer Activities: sports & college courses
•Essays: perfectly written
•Teacher Recommendations: All very positive
•Counselor Rec: very positive
•Additional Rec: no
•Interview: no

•State: New England
•School Type: public
•Ethnicity: Caucasian
•Income Bracket: middle class
•Hooks: Sport Accomplishments and Cultural (worldly) Experiences

•Strengths: Sports Awards, Cultural Experiences, Tough College Summer Courses, Second Language, Harvard Legacy
•Weaknesses: Average Test Scores (for top schools)
•Why you think you received a likely: I’m a well rounded person… intellectual, physically fit and I maintain a high moral and ethical standard.
•Where else you have applied: Bowdoin, Bates, Wesleyan, Vassar, Amherst, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Harvard, MIT, Yale and Wellesley. I was accepted ED at Wellesley, thus I withdrew from all the others. Wellesley is my first choice by far… and I was accepted!!!

13

[ size=4][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted **[/color][/size]
600 Math 660 reading 660 writing 1920 overall SAT. 3.35 GPA uw. 5 english 4 art history AP. 2 APs this year. Art and Athletic EC’s all 4 years. A little volunteering and summer babysitting. Good essay. Great recs. Pennsylvania, white, female applicant. Not applying for financial aid. No hooks. I am unlikely to attend because I didn’t get my major, nursing, and you can’t easily switch into it. However, I do find it silly that I got a scholarship even though I didn’t get my major. As if that would make a difference. Congrats to all accepted!

14

@TangerineSpeedo well, Wellesley doesn’t have a nursing major, so it would make it a bit hard to get into :wink:

15

@TangerineSpeedo Also, Wellesley doesn’t do merit scholarships, and since you didn’t apply for FA…

16

opps! Super embarrassed! Accidently posted this on the wrong thread. Thats what I get for having so many tabs open. Ignore my previous post please :open_mouth: