And since there are 27 returning gap year students, the open slots for the class of 2019 will be only 57.
http://www.olin.edu/news-events/2015/olin-college-receives-record-number-applications/
They’ll end up with around a 6-7% acceptance rate. I wonder why they put so many on the wait list. Anyone know? Now my question is, is everyone really on equal footing once you go to candidate’s weekend or will the application stand outs (patent owners, pilots, etc.) have a significant advantage? If they have the advantage, then the ‘non standout’ kids are fighting over just a handful of spots. Talk about tough.
They were so aggressive in trying to get people to apply. Seeing this, I’m glad my D didn’t.
Yes, everyone really is on equal footing at Candidate’s weekend. The applications are not looked at, at that point. It is all about teamwork, fit, etc. For some, perhaps many, of the students, CW is their first visit to Olin so they may not realize how small it really is or truly know what it’s about until they get there. So the “stand out” application things would not be of any advantage at CW unless the student somehow brings it up in conversation or the interview.
We met with the dean of admissions over the summer during his regional interviews. He actually came up with the idea of giving waitlisted students a spot in the next year’s class. I don’t think they ever thought so many would take the spots, so it has kind of turned in to a big percentage of the next year’s class. He said many gap year students are their best. I was intrigued by the idea, but then I realized next year is our only hope for need based aid, with two in college. Paying almost full price at Vandy for our daughter.
Really have no idea what to expect, our school isn’t doing well with Ivy/elite schools. Our valedictorian is getting rejected/deferred everywhere. Son got deferred at MIT. It isn’t enough anymore to have great scores and a 4.0. And I am sorry, anything over a 700 plus on the SAT is a great score. I can’t believe the students on CC saying a 2100 isn’t good enough.
They did highlight some of the accomplishments on their website, but hopefully those aren’t the norm. My son recorded a full length album last year in independent study. Played all his own instruments and did all the audio engineering. Had many different vocalists. I think this is pretty cool and not something many kids his age have done, but for all I know, he doesn’t even make it in to consideration. I think there is an element of randomness to the admissions process when the candidates are fairly equal. You have to prepare your kid that way - they can come on CC and see someone with the same or lower stats that got in. No way to no how the admissions person views each app or even if your student almost made the cut.
Son did apply, so good luck to all of the students!
Remember that 57 represents how many will attend Olin. Olin will send out more acceptance letters than that because they expect some students to attend other schools. I thought they usually send out 120 for 80
Thanks @m0m0f3. I can’t imagine going into a Candidates’ Weekend knowing you are at a significant disadvantage.
@beth555 That’s true, but still, theoretically, they offer 120 for just over 80 spots or just under 50% extra spaces. With 57 spaces, they might add an extra 27 spots. I can’t even begin to imagine how they narrow it down for candidate’s weekend, and in less than a month no less.
@Texasmom12 your guy sounds amazing. He is probably one of the accomplished musicians they talked about.
Best of luck to everyone.
Well, I think they accept 240 at candidates weekend (around 80 per weekend?). My son is a sophomore there and it was a really good fit for him. Best of luck to all apply. First stop, candidates wee
High application rate is not surprising given the aggressive campaigning for applications. My daughter got so many emails from Olin, almost daily for a while. She did not apply, though the location was appealing. She wanted a larger engineering school.
That should be Candidates’ Weekend (CW)
@MuggleMom - you are sweet! I didn’t mean to post that in any bragging way, it is just that all of our kids have something unique if admissions looks closely enough. I don’t know how well my son described his effort in his application. I think that is a big part of all of this. My son isn’t letting himself have a top choice until he knows all of his options. At least that is what he tells me.
I think we should know more in the next week, let’s hope it all works out!
@Texasmom12 You weren’t bragging, and I didn’t take it that way. It just sounds like your kid is awesome. He has a passion and he caters to it. I think that is exactly what a lot of these schools are looking for. I’m impressed that he isn’t letting himself have a top choice. My son came home from his overnight visit at Olin and called me from the car to say ‘Mom, I found my people’. He does know that he needs other options and each one that he applied to has something of interest to him. Still, he knows what his chances are.
As an applicant to Olin this year, these numbers have me terrified. I visited last Spring, and absolutely fell in love - one of those things where I would take a gap year over attending any other school I know of in the country. As someone who has no patents, is not a registered pilot, or an accomplished museum, I just hope I have enough to make it to the weekend, and the chops once I get there.
@BeoMulf - remember, every college wants students with diverse interests, in a class this size, the pilots and musicians may be competing against each other. Try not to stress out, CW invites should be out soon. And if you don’t make that cut, try to find the college that fits you best out of the ones you do get accepted to. Good luck!
Good luck to all the applicants.
“It isn’t enough anymore to have great scores and a 4.0.” - TX - At most schools it is enough. But your son has very cool music interests too. He should have some nice options. Hopefully hey will include Olin and MIT. but in both cases there is a supply/demand challenge. If accepted, he should cheer. But if not, it’s important that he not take it personally. It’s great that you’ve done the research to help him sort through it all.
@colorado_mom - Thanks for the encouragement! I actually am really interested in the admissions process. My son applied to 10 schools - all very different - he has been accepted at Colorado School of Mines and Case Western with nice merit scholarships. Also Rose Hulman (pending merit) and Georgia Tech (didn’t make the merit cut). I thought the process would be kind of exciting, but now I am just ready for it to be settled!
I was trying to look back on older posts - pretty sure you have a student at Olin? How is that going? Also, does your student have music interests? I would love for my son to get the opportunity to go to CW, but there are over 1,000 other students who want that same opportunity, so we will see how things go over the next week - I believe they will hear something soon.
TX - I sent you a CC PM.
My daughter was one of the applicants highlighted, but is on stand-by and keeping her fingers crossed. So much stress for one so young…
Shorty - I hope your D gets an invite. While waiting to hear, look for opportunities for her to get excited about other options too. Olin is a special place, but there are many terrific other engineering programs out there too.