Please chance me!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Wellesley College
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I go to one of the best high schools in America with a very selective admissions process (~10%). It is very rigorous as classes are graded on a curve. I am a legacy and my parents have been pretty good about donating (not like millions of dollars or building a new library but like a few thousand a year or something). I intend on applying ED. I do not know how much either of these two things will help me.

Stats:
GPA (without senior year): 3.84W and 3.44UW
Projected GPA (with senior year): 4.00W and 3.53UW (I am taking fairly predictable classes so I was able to make a solid ball park)
I know these numbers are really low but I have a very strong upward trend. I did very poorly freshman year, average sophomore year, pretty well junior year (one poor mark in PreCalc but the rest were fine), and my classes next year are going to be pretty tame so I will have almost all As.
APs: Bio(3), Psych(5), Stat(4), Lit, Gov, Macro, Micro, Calc AB
SAT IIs: Bio(670- not planning to submit), Lit, Math II
Senior course load: Oceanography Research Lab, AP Calc AB, AP Macro/Micro, AP Lit, AP Gov, Photojournalism, Geosystems

ECs
Girl Scouts (13 years- Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards)
Big Sib program at my school (all four years)
Varsity Public Forum Debate Team (all four years)
Key Club (all four years, Editor, VP, President)
Fencing (Freshman and Sophomore year)
Yearbook (10, 11, and 12- leadership position)
NHS
Latin Club (won several awards in competitions and tests)

Summer Activities
Took an Italian course offered by Wellesley
Internship at Hilton Headquarters
Internship at Medical Society of VA (all summers)
Harvard Debate Camp

My teacher recs are going to be from my English and History teachers from 11th grade and I feel like they will both be about 8/10 or 9/10. My counselor rec will be nice but probably a little generic. She will mention my upward trend though, which may make me stand out. Also, not many students from my school apply (if this matters at all). I have been told I interview well so that will hopefully be a plus. I feel like my essays will be solid too.

I am not applying for financial aid
I am middle-eastern (so white —> middle eastern on common app)
Income bracket: $300,000+
State: VA
School type: Public
Intended major: Economics and Political Science (double major)

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Bump

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what’s bump? I’m not used to blog lingo.

Hi Curious,
I believe, GPA’s are relative to your school only. If it’s a tough school then you have good numbers. W has your school’s rankings. Your ACT and SAT scores are compared (and relative) to everyone applying so they weigh in more than your GPA. Because of the US News statistical wars, your class rank helps. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help if you go to a tough school. Also, your 670 on bio is a good score. Anything over a 625 should be submitted. A 3 or higher is a good AP score. Being a legacy is a definite advantage. The only thing I see missing are sports (aerobic). W has a fitness requirement and likes well-rounded students. You don’t have to be a jock though. Your summer courses are very helpful, assuming you received good grades. Harvard and W consider a B and above a good grade (taken at their school, of course). Take both the SAT and ACT and do well, a prep course helps, and you’re all set. Work on a great essay too this Sumer. Good luck next year! Oh yeah, having money doesn’t hurt but W is a need blind school. Although I’m sure your resume exposes that so it doesn’t hurt :slight_smile: Summer school at Harvard and W is expensive. I took courses at Harvard over the past two summers.

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Thank you Wendy Wellesley!