<p>I very recently discovered Wesleyan and I like it enough to give it a shot, but I have a couple of "issues."</p>
<p>First of all, I have an 1880 SAT overall/superscore. I'm taking the ACT for the first time December 12th and am hoping to do at least a little better than I did on the SAT. Is a score that low unheard of? I've seen the stats and numbers, but it's still hard to tell even with that information. My GPA, class rank, and course rigor are on-target, I believe. </p>
<p>Secondly, the Wesleyan website recommends one recommendation letter from a math/science teacher and one from a humanities/social studies teacher. I already had two teachers write RLs for me and one is my AP English teacher and the other was my AP Psych teacher. Does anyone else have this problem? I know it says "recommended," but are they really implying that you better follow their requests if you want a chance? I would sort of feel badly asking a third teacher to write one for me at the last minute, and I also feel that none of my math/science teachers know me nearly as well as the two teachers I had write letters for me.</p>
<p>And finally! (This isn't an "issue", just a question.)
It is true that Wesleyan doesn't have any essays besides the Common App ones, correct? I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything...I already submitted the pre-app.</p>
<p>I have the same exact problem with recs! I got AP lit and AP Gov recs. I really wanted the best ones possible, and all of my math/science ones would have been entirely mediocre. I called the school to ask, and they said to go with the better recs, and before the redesign of the website, it did hint there was some flexibility. I think we’re fine (I hope so, haha!).</p>
<p>As for testing, I think you’ll be fine. I got a 2080 (and that’s with a high writing, so it was a lower m/v too) on my SAT but a 32 on my ACT, and the disparity is not that uncommon so you’ll hopefully see a rise. No one’s perfect (ok, this is probably the one forum where I could be disproved on that note) but I applied to Wes knowing they really do have a holistic process. My gpa/rank are kind of subpar, but I’m proud of my test scores, essay, and extracurriculars so I gave it a shot. </p>
<p>Yes, it’s true that there’s no supplement. I had other non-required supplementals, but most students don’t send that. If you do want to send something else though, they do accept it.</p>
<p>Maybe I’m just trying to rationalize my own status because I’m freaking out, but I think you’ll be fine with everything you’re worried about. Best of luck, I hope we’ll both be there in a year <em>crossing fingers till they’re numb</em>.</p>
<p>Aw, those were surprisingly nice and realistic comments compared to the usual here on CC. I hope we’ll all be okay with the recommendation letter stuff. Have you guys visited Wes? I haven’t had the chance, but I’m trying to get a better idea of what it’s like, the people there, the environment, etc. It seems interesting and unique from the little that I’ve read!</p>
<p>My daughter is applying to Wesleyan too. We’ve been there twice. Once in the summer of 2008 to tour and then last June to interview and tour again. Last June, we toured in the rain and my daughter still loved it. It’s a nice campus, although the arts building is rather unusual. We also liked Middletown which has a great selection of restaurants and shops. My daughter really likes the students there. Good luck!</p>
<p>Haha it’s only realistic because we want it to be. But totally, a lot of CC is overly anxious students and parents who think a <2000 SAT is the death of you when it really, really isn’t. It’s been a great resource for me, but it also seems to do more harm than good sometimes.
I have visited twice, and I did an interview/overnight as well. On the first visit, I toured and spoke to a few students and they were incredibly articulate and friendly. I got a feel for the campus and the general atmosphere, one that was intellectual but not contrived, serious but still relaxed. My overnight is definitely what solidified my interest; I sat in on two classes, and I really enjoyed both of them. They had <20 students, the professors were passionate and accommodating, and it was really nice to learn without the typical high school BS. I go to a large public school so it was definitely a breath of fresh air. My host was also very interesting; a poet, dancer and singer. I met many students on both trips, and I can definitely vouch for the student body’s diversity, in every sense of the word: different races, religions, interests, etc. I got to stay in a woodframe house, which is offered to juniors/seniors, so that was definitely unique. The dorm/food experience was just like any other college, but the conversations were what really set the students apart. I was standing in line for food, and a professor and four students in line chatted about their class; not out of obligation or even respect, but genuine interest. My host, her housemates and I discussed evidence of racial profiling in our respective towns for hours as a followup of the class we sat in on. Learning was not restricted by class dismissal, and it was the only place I found the perfect balance of education and, for lack of a better word, fun. Perhaps everything was aligned a little too well when I visited, but I could definitely see myself growing there for four years.
The only thing I considered negative is true of most LACs; it’s a tad pretentious at times (though significantly less than other schools I’ve visited). The difference at Wes is that everyone there is opening to learning, and everything is really centered on discussion. It’s an open environment, and it seemed like everyone could “fit in” socially, politically, etc. I highly recommend visiting it if you can though, mine was a little too good to be true haha.
That was pretty much my experience. Now I just have to uh, get in. I’d be happy to answer any other specific questions from my own visit, and there are also a few students who roam the CC forums as well.
Whoa baby that was long, sorry about that haha.</p>
<p>I honestly wouldn’t worry about your SAT score! I didn’t do as well on the SAT as I did on the ACT. Just make sure that you know what the ACT is like. I think that is the key. Make sure you are used to the time restraints and here’s a good tip: do not read the whole super-long experiment information on the science section unless one of the questions ask for something that is in it. It could make you fall behind, and you don’t want that. I think those two things are very important. Good luck on the ACT! I’m sure you’ll do just fine.</p>
<p>I definitely don’t think they would write you off because of that. I did what they recommended, but I don’t see why they wouldn’t mind two really good recommendations even if one isn’t from a math/science teacher.</p>
<p>And no, you are not missing anything.</p>
<p>As far as Wes goes, I’ve visited three times (info session/tour, open house, overnight) and have had good experiences each time. Like paint<em>me</em>purple, everything kind of seemed “too good to be true.” The people I met were laid back, but a lot of fun. Almost everyone I met had a great sense of humor and everyone is so into something. The classes I sat in on weren’t bad at all. To keep this from being extremely long, I pretty much agree with everything paint<em>me</em>purple said lol.</p>
<p>And Wes sounds really neat. I have been very frustrated with the number of kids in high school who have no desire to learn anything and just complain throughout the entire class period, so that’s definitely a big concern that I have when looking at colleges. I have luckily discovered though that there are a few schools out there that have students who are actually intellectual and hungry for knowledge and discussion! Wesleyan seems like one of them, which is really exciting. As I said, I haven’t visited, but I think I’ll definitely apply. According to all of your comments/experiences/interpretations, it sounds like a great place with great people. Hopefully I can visit sometime in the near future!</p>
<p>I feel the same way lol. That’s just another reason why I like Wes so much. And yes, definitely apply! You seem like someone who would like it there. And I hope you have the opportunity to visit, you would probably love it.</p>
But totally, a lot of CC is overly anxious students and parents who think a <2000 SAT is the death of you when it really, really isn’t. It’s been a great resource for me, but it also seems to do more harm than good sometimes.