<p>Hi, I would really love to attend Colgate, as of now it is my #1. I'm considering applying early decision II, but I have yet to have a chance to visit the campus. Although I have read great things about the school, and a neighbor of mine went and says great things about it, I am still doubting if I should just apply regular decision in case. Likewise, I'm worried it might be a huge stretch.</p>
<p>GPA- 3.33 Weighted
ACT- 29 (35 reading, 34 english, 25 math, 24 science).
I attend a private, religious school.
I'm currently taking AP European History and AP French. I have been in accelerated math sophomore, junior, and senior year. I scored a 3 on the AP US exam.
I have a lot of volunteer work, including founding two organizations, and various other community projects. I've been on varsity swim team for all four years, and i've worked as a swim instructor for over a year, about 4 days a week after school, 5 days a week during the summer.</p>
<p>I think my essays are the best thing I have in my application. I wrote about the first time I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art and how my love for art history grew from that for my common app essay. For the additional information, I wrote a 1 page essay about my work an art-based organization I co-founded. </p>
<p>Like I said, I think Colgate is going to be a stretch for me, but I was wondering what you all thought? Also, my grades for this semester (1st semester senior year) are going to be around the 3.6 range.</p>
<p>I also think it is a stretch given your overall GPA and, to a lesser extent, your test scores. Your essays can only do so much to make up for lower than competitive stats. Good luck. I hope we’re both wrong!</p>
<p>As you say, yes it is a bit of a stretch – but that’s what makes it exciting, doesn’t it? You will be in the middle or somewhat below the middle of Colgate’s applicant pool, so I would emphasize what makes you you – unique, I mean, and that would include your swimming (have you spoken to the athletics people at Colgate?) and other activities. </p>
<p>Everyone does volunteer work, etc., but let Colgate know who you are, what makes you tick, what you love to do, why you are different. Your museum essay sounds fine, but since it’s about a more vague concept, about what you “like,” it may seem like so many other students’ essays (“I hope to be a wonderful person some day . . .”). Write also about what you’ve actually done like your art organization which sounds very intriguing. Tell them what’s special about it and why you love it, etc. Make yourself interesting and then you’ll have a chance. </p>
<p>The organizations you’ve founded sound interesting, but so does your swimming. Are you good enough to swim at Colgate? If you think that’s a possibility, you must definitely contact the athletic department there and inquire. Talk to a swim coach, tell him who you are and what you can do. If they are interested in you, you will have an additional good chance of getting admitted. </p>
<p>Don’t let yourself be judged only by your GPA, etc. Colgate is a college that looks for interesting people and does not have the rigidity of only wanting top GPA students with high scores.</p>