Rejected. Now what?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I applied ED to Vassar and was rejected and now I'm on the hunt for a "plan B."</p>

<p>I would love to find school's with a similar atmosphere as Vassar, and I am currently interested in Connecticut College, Oberlin, and Bard.</p>

<p>These are my stats:</p>

<p>Female, Public School, Suburb outside of Philadelphia
Dual Citizenship (Half Greek, Half American) --> Bilingual</p>

<p>GPA: 3.96 (Weighted)
Rank: 26/200
SAT: 730 CR, 730 W, 570 M (gah, i know.) -> 1300/2030 total
SAT II: 730 Lit, 720 US History</p>

<p>I really like my essay and hopefully adcoms will too! Recs are very good as well.</p>

<p>Classes:
Mostly honors and APs.
4 on AP Psych, 5 on AP US History
This year's courses:
AP English
AP Environmental Science
Senior Sem/ Hon. Global (required)
AP French
Statistics
Independent Study- Yearbook</p>

<p>EC's:
Yearbook (11,12) - Photography Editor (12)
Environmental Club (10, 11, 12)- Co President (11, 12)
Thespian Troupe/Theater (9-12)- Secretary (12)
Chorus (9-12)
Newspaper (10, 11)
National Honor Society</p>

<p>Volunteer/Tutor at Elementary School (about 50 hours)
Volunteer at Library (20 hours)
Volunteer for environmental organization (20 hours)</p>

<p>Can anyone suggest good schools, a similar atmosphere as the schools mentioned above, that I could possibly target?</p>

2

<p>Hmmm, I have some ideas:</p>

<p>My school, Wesleyan U is a lot like Vassar. It’s about as competitive, but you should give it a shot if you think you’d like it, because you have pretty good stats except for the math SAT, and you never know what could happen. </p>

<p>Some other options that come to mind (these range in selectivity a lot, from schools that would be high matches to schools where you’d almost definitely get in, so you’ll want to do some research to figure out what falls where. Also, I’ve included some west coast schools, though I don’t know if you’re interested in them):</p>

<p>Evergreen State, Goucher, Grinnell, Hampshire, Kalamazoo, Kenyon, Lewis and Clark, Macalester, Pitzer (also look at Pomona if you want another reach), Reed, Sarah Lawrence, Skidmore. Maybe Bryn Myer, Barnard or Scrippts if you’re ok with all girls schools.</p>

3

<p>Wesleyan woul be a reach, but I've heard it's similar. Also look at Trinity College in CT, Franklin and Marshall, and Dickinson College (somewhat safer?). </p>

<p>edit: haha Weskid posted before me :)</p>

4

<p>Consider Goucher College and Muhlenberg College.</p>

5

<p>Do you have any ideas as to a possible major?</p>

6

<p>My d also loved Vassar (ended up waitlisted), and here where else she applied: University of Rochester (where she is now), University of Richmond, Amherst, Wesleyan, University of Vermont, Muhlenberg.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

7

<p>Bard might be worth a look</p>

8

<p>Thanks for the input, everyone. Orchestramom, Bard is on my list as of now and I'm planning on visiting soon!</p>

<p>Weskid, Wesleyan sounds wonderful, but I feel like it would be even more of a reach than Vassar. It really hurt being rejected since I loved the school so much, even though I sort of expected it, and I feel like Wesleyan might be that all over again. I guess it never hurts to try, but my transcript is certainly not perfect and littered with Bs (I've heard Wesleyan really looks for almost all As). </p>

<p>As for my major, I'm really passionate about Psychology and possibly would double major in English as well. </p>

<p>Thanks again.</p>

9

<p>i think conn would be great a match and their psych department is sensational. dickinson, muhlenberg, goucher and skidmore would fit the bill as some excellent safeties</p>

10

<p>Perhaps Clark?</p>

11

<p>Your stats are wonderful. You didnt get rejected for stats. Its a screwy, capricioius and arbitrary process......so dont despair. Sorry it happened. But move on.</p>

<p>You can get in anywhere with those stats. Focus on some great match schools that you LIKE.....and embrace them. Come April you will have lots of choices.</p>

12

<p>Take a look at Sarah Lawrence. It has the elegance and open-mindedness of Vassar. Since it has an MA program in psychology it must have a strong department, and the English department is superb. It's a very beautiful campus just 45 minutes from NYC. It also does not look at SAT scores.</p>

<p>Yes, Bard is a good plan, and I second the suggestion of Skidmore.</p>

13

<p>If you like Bard, maybe Bennington in VT might work out.</p>

14

<p>Swansong that is one of the nicest things I've been told these past two days. Thank you so much, it really meant a lot to me.</p>

<p>Mythmom, my sister went to Sarah Lawrence (10 years ago) and loved it. However, I'm a little put-off by two things a) the price tag and their bad reputation for finaid and b) about 25-75 male to female ratio. Yikes! I think I'm going to look at skidmore though. Thanks.</p>

15

<p>Well, since D chose Barnard over Vassar, I guess that wasn't a consideration for her. Haha. (She is into guys, just for the record.)</p>

<p>Look luck. It will work out. You'll see.</p>

16

<p>Thanks for the kind words.</p>

<p>Not that this really is that important of a factor, but does anyone know of schools with really great libraries? The library was one of my favorite parts about Vassar-- my first thought after I read the letter was "Wow, I'll never be able to study in that library."</p>

17

<p>Dickinson has an absolutely gorgeous library. However, I do think Vassar's beautiful library is unique.</p>

<p>You will find other things to love.</p>

<p>But check out Dickinson's library.</p>

18

<p>The problem is probably your class rank. Go for schools who aren't above 70% in the top 10% and you'll be fine.</p>

19

<p>Vassar's M/F ratio isn't much better. Maybe 40/60? The difference is Vassar recruits heavily for males to keep it that high and SLC doesn't. In fact, if you'd been a male, you'd probably have been accepted with those stats. There's a lot to recommend SLC if you like what they're offering; conference-style classes, no prerequisites, no grades but detailed critiques from professors. My daughter loves it and chose it over much higher-ranked schools because of what it offered.</p>

20

<p>Rochester has a beautiful library, and an extensive Rare Books collection.
Rush</a> Rhees Library
It also has two really comfortable reading areas; they remind me of the old English men's clubs you see in old movies. Large leather chairs, oak paneling, etc.</p>