<p>So my top choice school right now is Middlebury and I plan on applying ED
But I was hoping y'all could suggest some other schools similar to Midd that I have a higher chance of getting into?</p>
<p>So far I plan on applying to Vassar and University of Richmond, as well as UVA, Villanova, University of Texas at Austin, American, Fordham, Boston College, and Elon.
(also hoping to cut back on the amount of schools I'm applying to, so the list is tentative)
Most of those are kind of on the reach side, so I really want to make sure I have a safety school I actually like.
I was looking at University of Puget Sound, Lewis and Clark College, and Gettysburg College. If there's anymore I should know about that'd be great.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.5/4.0 Ranked 98/464 SAT: 1990, CR: 710 M: 580 W:700 and I'm taking the ACT in December
I'm in all the rigorous classes, National English honor society, Captain of Varsity girl's golf team</p>
<p>OP, have you run the Net Price Calculators on the school web sites and asked what your parents are prepared to pay? That’s a good way to pare down your list.</p>
<p>I would consider L&C and Gettysburg a match. Puget Sound may be a safety if you can afford it.</p>
<p>The problem with a school like Middlebury is that it’s kind of unique and tough to get into. Anything equivalent is also tough to get into, so there really are no “safeties” - just a lot of matches, so you wind up playing the safety in numbers games. That means applying to a lot of matches and hoping you get in one.</p>
<p>Taking a look at your numbers, Middlebury is going to be a tough admit even ED, not saying it won’t happen, but prepare for a non-admit. Do not hang around waiting if you get a deferral, I’d definitely pick a school that offers ED2 and have that ready to go. Among the slightly less selective NESCACs, but still tough, Hamilton, Bates, or Colby are probably closest to Middlebury that you have a decent shot at ED2. (Bowdoin is the obvious equal, but too tough an admit.) Conn College or some of the women’s colleges would be a higher probability, though less close to what Middlebury is.</p>
<p>I’m also going to say some of your schools don’t really match what Middlebury is. UT-Austin seems about as far a campus experience as possible from Middlebury, but if you like it, keep it. Based on your list, I think William & Mary might be a good addition that you’ll have a better shot at than say UVa. I’ll second Whitman as a good match, though it’s not exactly easy to get to.</p>
<p>Here’s an idea - U of Vermont. Definite safety, sort of like a giant Middlebury (not exactly, so don’t shoot me), EA school, Nov. 1 deadline, have an answer by Dec. 15, so you have that in your back pocket come Jan.1. When applying for reaches like Middlebury, an EA school is always a good idea, as the acceptance after a deferral or reject helps take the sting out of it and sets a floor for where you need to apply to. Case Western also serves this purpose, or it did until they changed this year to EA/ED, but it might still be of interest. Given the other schools on your list, you might consider applying EA there as well, probable acceptance and often comes with merit. Definitely consider setting the floor with those two schools.</p>
<p>UVA is NOT a school “that [you] have a higher chance of getting into” than Middlebury, I would say. 2/3 of UVA students are in-state (I think that is mandated by law), and the OOS students competing for the remaining 1/3 spots as admitted freshmen are, by and large, going to have much higher statistics that you do.</p>
<p>If you are looking to pare down your list, take UVA off of it.</p>
<p>If you are looking for a true “safety” school, then apply to a public university in your home state.</p>
<p>What is it you like about Middlebury? If you can identify specific qualities, you can look for schools that have similar qualities but are less selective.</p>
<p>For example, if you like the Quaker ethos of Haverford, Guilford offers the same Quaker values but is less selective.</p>
<p>Yeah, with a 3.5 and a 1990 Middlebury is going to be a longshot. Same with UVa if you’re out of state. I wouldn’t even bother applying to UVA (my Hispanic daughter got waitlisted by UVa last year with a 3.9 unweighted, 2180 SAT, and lots of ECs), Some great alternatives being mentioned, however, like Richmond, Mt. Holyoke, Vassar, Gettysburg, Connecticut College, Lafayette, Kenyon. If you really like UVa, check out Miami U of Ohio…lots of similarities to UVa, and MUCH easier to get into. Holy Cross is another one you might check out. If you want a beautiful setting in the mountains, how about the U of the South (Sewanee)?, </p>
<p>There was another poster whose D loved Middlebury and was using Mount Saint Allison (New Brunswick, Canada) and University of Minnesota-Morris as her safeties. </p>
<p>Consider Skidmore, Dickinson, Denison, Goucher, Trinity College in Hartford, St Olaf. If you are willing to go south, Sewanee and Rhodes are possibles. </p>
<p>Agree that Kenyon is a reach, not match/safety with a 3.5. </p>
<p>Holy Cross-great combination of academics and athletics.HC has beautiful campus 1 hour from Boston. HC is also one of a few schools that meets 100% DEMONSTRATED financial need.</p>
<p>^the above raises an important question: financial aid.
what is your parents’ budget? Can they pay their EFC or do you need to get merit?
Demonstrated ability in foreign language is important to Middlebury: do you have at least one language to AP level? Have you lived abroad, studied abroad, been to other countries whose language you can speak? How aware of the rest of the world are you (news, etc) - do you watch TV5Monde, Telemundo…?</p>
<p>If you are interested in Richmond, Kenyon and Elon, I encourage you to take a look at Sewanee. Incidentally, the Vice-Chancellor of Sewanee is the former President of Middlebury. </p>