Vassar College Class of 2020

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vassar College
41

I was accepted! I also did not have stats as high as what the website listed, so I hope this relieves some anxiety for those worrying about their SAT’s not being high enough

[ *] SAT I (breakdown): 710 Math, 600 Reading, 610 Writing (1920 overall)
[ *] SAT II: 680 (U.S. History), 680 (Math 2), 640 (Biology M)
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 66/859 (top 7%)
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis): AP US history (2), AP English Lang&Comp (2)…Senior year: Calculus BC, Spanish Language

[ *] Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):…
University of Rochester Frederick Douglass & Susan B. Anthony Award
Local awards in music performance, academics

[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Debate
Math League
Student Government (class rep)
National Honor Society
Lots of orchestra events, I really love the violin :slight_smile:
Mu Alpha Theta
Spanish Honor Society
Tri-M Music Honor Society (Historian)
Taekwondo (3rd degree black belt, instructor, tournament judge)
S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions)

[ *] Job/Work Experience:
Help log in shows for my neighbor’s radio station
Taekwondo Instructor
Sales Associate at Awards/Trophy Shop

[ *] Volunteer/Community service:
Patient Care Assist Program at my local hospital
Relay for Life
I do a lot of violin performances outside of school and help teach younger kids to learn how to play violin
I also get many hours from Student Government, too many to list!

[ *] Summer Activities:
Patient Care Assist Program at my local hospital
Summer classes in sophomore-junior year

[ *] Essays:
Common App: wrote about my passion for advocating music education in public schools and how music has influenced my life for the better
Extra-curricular: wrote about volunteering at hospital and that leading to my decision to be a pediatric oncologist when I grow up
Vassar: wrote about how living near the school has always made me want to go there, my tour guide and how he solidified my belief that Vassar is where I need to be

[ *] Teacher Recommendation: I had a teacher from my junior year math class do mine. Didn’t do so well on the final but throughout the year I showed significant progress. Also had my English teacher from junior year do one as she can attest to my writing skills and community involvement. Had my orchestra teacher do a third because he has known me since I started the violin and he is a very influential person in my life and knows me the best.

[ *] Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
[ *] Intended Major: Biochemistry/Music with a Pre-Med Track
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): NY
[ *] School Type: Competitive, very huge, strong music program
[ *] Ethnicity: White
[ *] Gender: Female
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): First Generation

Reflection

[ *] Strengths: Essays, extracurriculars, rec letters, first generation student

[ *] Weaknesses: test scores, lack of AP classes, only people to attend Vassar from my school have parents that are professors, faculty, etc.

General Comments:
Don’t shy away from applying because you think your test scores are too low. The application is reviewed holistically so just because you have low test scores does not make it the end of the world. Also, if you have any questions about the area of Vassar itself, please ask me! I’ve lived near here my whole life and I absolutely love it. Good luck! :slight_smile:

42

I think the notion that every student at Vassar is an overachiever with insa e test scores is greatly flawed.
I’m a current student and I can assure you there are so many people like you here who are just very hardworking, and that’s what gets them by.
And I feel that’s the most amazing thing about Vassar. You’re always surrounded by passionate people wanting to better themselves.
You have an amazing four years ahead. :slight_smile:

43

[li] SAT I (breakdown): 620 Math, 800 Reading, 660 Writing (2080 overall)[/li][ *] ACT: 31 (composite), 35 (english), 28 (math), 35 (reading), 27 (science), 34 (writing)
[ *] SAT II: 790s in both Spanish and World History Subject Tests
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.86
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school does not rank or give percentile
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis): school does not offer

[ *] Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):…
National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar (high PSAT score)
Questbridge College Prep Scholar
Questbridge College Match Finalist
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Yearbook
Pianist
Orchestra
HS does not offer clubs/SG

[ *] Job/Work Experience:
I have gone door to door distributing Christian books for donations every summer since before freshman year, average 10 weeks, (The money was to pay for Christian boarding school), 40 hrs a week.

[ *] Volunteer/Community service: my boarding school is located in the middle of nowhere, so nothing here.

[ *] Summer Activities:
Aforementioned work during the summer

[ *] Essays: I applied through Questbridge, so I had no Vassar specific essays. However, I worked hard on my essays, showing how I’ve survived being gay in an extremely conservative Christian community (of course I’m still in the closet, just the emotional stress) and even managed to be an activist. (I managed to get a teacher apologize to the class after he denigrated the gay community). Definitely showed my love of learning, struggles with skepticism and my faith, and how I’ve acquired a habit of continual self-improvement.

[ *] Teacher Recommendation: don’t know, assuming they must be very good because I’ve worked so hard at school. They’ve mentioned to me that I’m “talented” although I simply believe in hard work.
[ *] Applied for Financial Aid?: yes, got a full ride
[ *] Intended Major: History, Biology, minor in possibly Jewish studies or music lol.
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): FL
[ *] School Type: private Christian boarding school located in midwest, extremely small student population
[ *] Ethnicity: Hispanic
[ *] Gender: male
[ *] Income Bracket: 20-30k
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM(?), unique story and high school, subject tests, scored a travel grant to visit Vassar in the summer.

Reflection

[ *] Strengths: musically talented? Took like, 2 years of cello and piano lessons and have rapidly advanced by myself. I come from a really weird high school, my story is pretty unique (my essay description was really abbreviated, there’s more lol) have gone above and beyond to take as many difficult classes as possible at my HS. Upward trend in my grades.
[ *] Weaknesses: test scores (STUDIED SO HARD FOR THE SAT FML), high school is non-Accredited and does not offer AP, IB, honors etc.
Also, I was so cramped for time my essays weren’t as polished as I would’ve liked.

General Comments:
THIS WAS A DREAM COME TRUE :’)
Now I have to survive one more semester (you get expelled if you identify as gay) before I finally arrive to a welcoming, tolerant, and friendly community where I can truly thrive. Life has taught me that perfection isn’t found in a place, but at least it’s a step up! (For those wondering, I was forced to attend my current HS)
Be your honest, genuine self. Simple.

Well, glad you got in noundaries! I can relate to some of your info. See you fall 2016!

44

630 CR, 650 Math, 720 Writing = 2000 SAT
SAT II: 620 Math 1, 630 Eco Bio

45

Anybody apply EDII?

46

@aecker Yeah, I did! Im assuming you did too. Im so nervous :frowning:

47

I heard we may hear back by late January. I’m also nervous but mostly excited because Vassar would be an awesome place to go.

48

Oh, yeah, I think ED II applicants last year heard back late Jan. I visited Vassar twice and I fell in love. Did you submit Your Space?

49

No … I think my application is quite strong though. I didn’t know what to include.

50

Ah okay. Well good luck to both of us!

51

I too just applied EDII. Pretty nervous as Vassar is really where I want to go. It’s gonna be a long month

52

When do ed2 decisions come out?

53

Before February 1st is the general rule… Last year they came out the 27th. I’m sure they’ll let us know.

54

Did anyone get an e-mail today saying when EDII decisions will be available? I know in the past that e-mail has come on the 20th

55

@adotburr I didnt get an email. If anyone gets one, please let us know here!

56

I guess maybe it will really be February 1st this year. I hope that doesn’t mean they received a lot more applications.

57

Nevermind - I got the email. Thursday at 5. Very scary.

58

I got it too! 2 more days guys… Im getting so nervous.

59

Yep I got it too. At the end of the business day on the 28th, we’ll all have our decisions.

60

Does anybody know about what time the decisions usually come out? And whether or not they’ll send us an email when they put their decision in our portal?