Swarthmore EDII

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a white female from Pennsylvania.</p>

<p>Accelerated classes (weighted as 4.5): Engilsh 9 Acc. (A), Geography Acc. (A), Molecular Biology (A), English 10 Acc. (A), Quantitative Chemistry (A), Physics I, Physics II, English 11 Acc.</p>

<p>AP Classes: AP Modern European History (B/4 on test), AP Music Theory (A/5), AP French (A/3), AP US History (B/didn't take test), AP English Literature (got a B first nine weeks, currently have an A), AP Government (currently an A), AP Statistics (currently an A)</p>

<p>I've also completed up to Level 5 of French, and am scheduled for French 6 and Spanish 1 next semester. I'm doing a 5 week study abroad to France in March/April.</p>

<p>SAT: 690M/740CR/750W
SAT II: French 700 (took it after French IV, in retrospect, I should have waited); Math IC 680; Literature 720
ACT: 30
GPA: 4.21W/3.88UW (second decile)</p>

<p>National Merit Commended (score of 209, sent to Amherst and Middlebury), AP Scholar, National Honors Society</p>

<p>Hopefully good essays and recommendations</p>

<p>Community service through church (9-12)
Softball (9-10)
French Club (11-12)
Music: Jazz Band (11-12), Ambassador Orchestra (11-12), Marching Band (9-12), PMEA Honors Band (9-12), AV Honors Band (7-12), AE Honors Band (10-12; 10th grade was the first year of the band), Junior District (9), District & Regional band (11), piano lessons (9-12, started at age 5), plays bass clarinet, saxophone and clarinet</p>

<p>Also, I attended a French immersion camp two summers ago (Concordia Language Villages), and am doing a 5 week study abroad in France in April.</p>

<p>What are my chances? And does anyone know how many people get accepted via EDII versus regular or EDI?</p>

2

<p>Bump...</p>

<p>Another question: Will the fact that I'm in the second decile really hurt me? (The cut-off for the first decile was 4.23W/3.89UW so I barely missed it.)</p>

3

<p>Anyone?</p>

<p>Bump.</p>

4

<p>Sorry no useful advice, but where did you find a five-week study abroad in the middle of the school year? I've been looking for short-term stays, but couldn't find anything less than a semester.</p>

5

<p>DU&D, Does your advise a specific rank or are you estimating? Either way, your guidance counselor is the person who can best put your status into relative terms. If you have a numerical rank s/he should include a note explaining the few decimal points by which you missed. If s/he just gives a general first or second decile rating, then perhaps s/he could characterize you as borderline.</p>

<p>Also, be sure to focus on your music ECs -- possibly including a separate music package -- resume, achievements, performance tape, recommedation. Emphasize that you intend to continue to play in college. Schools need musicians and the fact that you play several instruments in various venues is a plus.</p>

6

<p>Going - <a href="http://www.archomestay.com/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.archomestay.com/&lt;/a> They've been wonderful and very helpful for everything so far. I recommend them highly.</p>

<p>momrath - We're just given decile rankings, not specific numerical ones. I think our school profile information includes the different cut-offs for decile rankings.</p>

<p>Also, I focused on music in my "Why Swat?" application as well. I talked about general stuff (liberal arts education, location, diversity, atmosphere), but I dedicated a lot of it to how I wanted a school where I could be an active participant in music without being a major. I added a resume to my application that went more in depth with the various honors bands I've participated in. I didn't include a tape though because I don't really have anything I could play for a tape because I don't take private lessons on every instrument and I don't have anything practiced so well as to send in a performance recording of it.</p>

<p>I am also writing a letter to them focusing on my interest in French (about my study abroad which I didn't include on my application because it was not - and still is not - finalized, my French immersion camp experience, how I am planning on taking Le Grand Concours/AP test again) and planning on doing an overnight visit and meeting with a French professor (and possibly a music professor/teacher as well).</p>

<p>Do you think those will help me out?</p>

<p>Thanks so much. :)</p>

7

<p>DU&D, You sound very focused. I'm sure you've put together a strong application. </p>

<p>According to other parents rank is important at Swarthmore. Assuming this is the case, I would make sure that your GC explains the competition at your school and what being at the tiptop of the second decile really means. </p>

<p>My son's profile was very similar to yours (except that he is involved in art instead of music) and he was accepted to Williams ED, I think because they really want and need kids who are actively involved in the arts. I'm not sure that strength in music OR French would be tipping points at Swarthmore as they would be at Williams or Middlebury respectively, but it can't hurt to contact the individual departments. Sometimes contrary to common knowledge colleges need and seek kids who are strong where their departments are weak.</p>

8

<p>Thanks again, your responses were really helpful.</p>

<p>I've contacted the music department and French department and plan to meet with them in January when I do an overnight. I'm not sure if my interests will make or break me, but I do want them to know what I'm passionate about, and that I'm interested in their school.</p>

<p>Also, I was planning on applying regular decision and so I sent in my application online with the rest of my applications marked as regular decision?</p>

<p>I've since decided that I don't think I would change my mind (which is why I didn't apply EDI) and that Swarthmore is most definitely my first choice, and I want to apply EDII. Do you think that if I called the admissions office they'd be able to change that for me?</p>

9

<p>DU&D, Yes, I think all colleges are happy to change RD applications to ED. Just be very sure as you don't want to have to change back again!</p>

10

<p>Thanks. I've emailed my regional counselor and I'm going to try to call tomorrow. I'm very sure now. Getting deferred from my #2 school (University of Chicago early action) sort of put things in perspective for me. I really want to go to Swarthmore and I know now that I would be happy there and wouldn't need to change my mind.</p>

<p>Thanks again for all of your help!</p>

11

<p>Yay. I managed to sort things out with the admissions office about switching from RD to EDII. I called and they said that I needed to print out the part of the supplement dealing with early action and have my counselor sign it, and write a note saying that I wanted to switch from RD to EDII and sign it, then fax both of them in.</p>

12

<p>Anyone else?</p>

13

<p>How much does EDII help versus EDI or RD? I figure it would help more than RD but is it easier/harder to get in EDII than EDI?</p>