St. Olaf?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am applying to several other schools, but I've had my eye on St. Olaf for a very long, long time. However, I did not perform well my first few years of school, doing especially bad in my math and science classes; however, I continued on an advanced/college prep course.</p>

<p>I'm about to admit something rather sickening.</p>

<p>My cumulative GPA is a 2.83. My current one is 3.6, and so I'm hoping that will do...something.</p>

<p>I was disheartened. St. Olaf has been a sort of a fantasy for me, so-- yeah. BUT! BUT!</p>

<p>I was told by several CURRENT Oles that GPA does not matter as much in the face of WHO I am-- and I believe that comes off strongly in my application. I am CRAZY about writing, art, and Latin and made sure to mention it; my AP English teacher gushed about my love of fiction (and, yes, of writing it) in her recommendation, and the second letter, from my Latin teacher, sparkles. I am president of the local Junior Classical League chapter.</p>

<p>Actually, the state chapter, too. We're the only class in Wyoming. I've consistently placed in the top ten at the JCL competition. I feel I should mention that before me, the presidents did nothing; Wyoming is...an infamously apathetic delegation. Promotion, promotion, promotion, and rabid at that.</p>

<p>I feel my essay was strong, an opinion shared by several school faculty members. I'm not so concerned about that.</p>

<p>I'm really, really into community service. And when I say "really, really," I mean that I didn't do it because it would look good on an application-- I did it because I like to meddle. If things aren't going right in the community, by God I'll change them. My group wrote and lobbied for House Bill 145 to help raise political awareness in students, which was passed and allowed sixteen and seventeen-year-olds to serve as election judges. I was the first one to do so (generals and primaries!), and served as the "voice" of this project. I helped a representative of the Matthew Shepard foundation to design an anti-bullying program, which we presented at my old middle school, work with my group's Suicide Awareness Prevention Team (SPAT), give safety talks in schools, coordinate events between the group and my workplace (the county library) that promote drug and alcohol use prevention and awareness, and...the list goes on.</p>

<p>I got a 28 on my ACT the first time around (I blame that on laziness), and a 31 the second-- and I would have been higher were it not for that math (25). Yuck! The verbal sections were pretty much made of win (31 and 34 the first go 'round, with a 27 English/Writing, and 35/33 the second go). My SAT score, I think, is decent-- writing at 680, math at 560 (YUCK), and verbal at the very first 800 in my school's history.</p>

<p>...</p>

<p>And those Oles keep reassuring me.</p>

<p>Still, I am goshdarn worried about this all to the point of being messily sick all over the bathroom floor.</p>

2

<p>I think the most important question is Are you lutheran?</p>

3

<p>Except St. Olaf looks at so much more than your religious affiliation. To be honest Deadvole, you're going to need to show the admissions people EXACTLY how much you want to come to Olaf. Go to campus for a visit with your admissions counselor, probably more than once would be a good idea. GPA is less important at St. Olaf than at some schools, but you still are quite a bit below the average, which is around 3.7. If you get the people in admissions to know you and what you can bring to the school, you probably have a shot at getting in.</p>

4

<p>Im from Minnesota, and St. Olaf is not that tough to get into. I think you're fine.</p>

5

<p>Thanks, folks.</p>

<p>And I think I'm doing my best to get in touch with them over there-- I've been e-mailing my regional counselor-fellow quite regularly. Daaaaang, those Oles are nice. I'm also especially pleased, because out of all the people I've contacted--</p>

<p>Okay, well.</p>

<p>After two days and no contact from other colleges I e-mailed, and seeing the St. Olaf folk contact me WITHIN A FEW HOURS of my message, I'm starting to see it in an even better light.</p>

6

<p>Hate to ressurect a Dead Thread, but there's word on the grade front:</p>

<p>Straight A's down the board, with a 3.8 last semester, and the most sparkling recommendations I can get (pretty chuffed with that).</p>

<p>Care to weigh in?</p>

7

<p>10% of St. Olaf admits have GPAs under 3.0. I sincerely believe that you have what it takes to be one of those in the bottom decile GPA-wise.</p>

<p>You seem like a very unique candidate, and St. Olaf would have to be crazy not to admit you.</p>

<p>btw..not trying to rub anything in, but you should have applied early! 96.5% of those that apply early decision at St. Olaf are accepted.</p>

8

<p>Thanks, HeavenWood. You've done quite a bit to help that terrible tummy-feeling, and I mean it.</p>

<p>(Unfortunately I didn't have the luxury of the Early Action application. Which means I was REALLY STUPID, AND FORGOT TO DO IT BEFORE I WENT ON HOLS-- and that I still haven't forgiven myself.)</p>

9

<p>Don't beat yourself up now. St. Olaf has a 73% acceptance rate. I'm very confident that you'll be accepted. Especially if THEY say so.</p>

10

<p>did you apply regular or early action?</p>

11

<p>Liberalarts4me-- as I've stated, I applied regular decision, which was unfortunate.</p>

12

<p>I think it might be a bit tougher this year.. My friend got waitlisted with a 3.8 GPA, top 10% of her class, AP's... and a 29 ACT. <em>shrug</em></p>

13

<p>Perhaps your friend seemed like a cookie-cutter candidate to them. I believe that the OP would add a good bit of spice and diversity to many colleges, including St. Olaf.</p>

14

<p><em>coughcough</em> A bump.</p>