Vassar ED?? LACs?? Or should I go IVY?? Chances~~HELP!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Okay, I made a similar post over a month ago, but I really need to figure out what I'm doing with my applications now. I'm really drawn to doing Vassar ED but I'm feeling a lot of pressue to at least try for some Ivy schools (mainly because of some of my numbers). I'm scared that if I do Vassar ED and get in I'll regret not trying some more prestigious schools. But I'm also scared that if I don't do Vassar ED, then I won't get in there RD (and I think Vassar is currently my first choice).</p>

<p>So with my further ado...STATS:</p>

<p>White Female
Long Island public school
GPA: 98ish unweighted, 104ish weighted
Rank: Currently 1/~500</p>

<p>SAT I:
Old: 800V 710M
New: 800V 720M 670W
Sat II:
World History: 740
US History: 790
Math IC: 670
AP:
World: 5
US: 5
Physics B:4</p>

<p>Senior Year Schedule: AP Calc AB, AP Italian, AP Bio, AP Government, AP Economics, AP English Lit, AP English Language, Symphonic Orchestra</p>

<p>ECs: (You don't have to tell me, I know they suck)
Newspaper: 11, 12 (News Editor 12)
Class Secretary: 11
Dance: 8-12
Mathletes: 11, 12
NHS: 11, 12</p>

<p>Awards, Community Service, and other Random Details:
-I had a fire in my house at the end of middle school which forced me to live about 30 minutes away from my school at my grandma's house (as opposed to about 5 minutes from my house). My guidance counselor is writing about this so it sorta explains my lack of ECs in the early years of HS, but I don't want to make it look like an excuse, so I hope he won't over-emphasize it, but it was a factor.
-I received awards in 9th and 10th grade for having the 2nd highest average in my grade, and one in 11th grade for having the 1st highest.
-I was a high scorer for my school in the AMC math exam and I took the AIME exam.
-I've been playing double bass since 3rd grade and will probably want to continue this in college.
-I received an award for "Most Outstanding Member" of Concert Orchestra in 11th grade.
-In the NYSSMA music festival I was awarded an "Excellent" medal for a duet.
-My Concert Orchestra last year received a Silver award in the NYSSMA majors festival.
-I did lots of community serive as Jr. Class Secretary. Not sure of exact # of hours.
-National Merit Commended </p>

<p>Summer/Work:
Summer before 10th: Pre-College program at Brown University
Summer before 11th: Day camp counselor
This summer: Pre-calculus at community college + part-time job at local shoe store. I'm also continuing my job during the school year, working about 15 hours a week.</p>

<p>As for rec's, I'll probably give one to my Italian teacher whom I've had for 4 years and could probably write a good one for me. I'll probably give the other one to my 11th grade math teacher who is also chariman of the math department and would also write a good one. I wrote one essay about dance and I think it's okay.</p>

<p>Okay, so please rate my chances for these, and tell me what I should do!
My first choice: Vassar ED
Possibly either Cornell ED or Dartmouth ED instead if you really think I have a legitimate chance.
RD if none of those work out:
Middlebury
Haverford
Wesleyan
Skidmore
(+ whichever 2 of Vassar, Cornell, Dartmouth, that I don't do ED for).</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>If you have any doubt about applying ED to Vassar, then I would not apply ED. It doesn't sound like you really know which school you should go to at the moment, so I recommend that you apply RD to every school.</p>

<p>As far as your chances to the schools on your list, you are definitely in the running. I don't know if you will gain admission exactly, but you have a good shot at all of those schools. You are a qualified applicant, but so are the other thousands of students who will be applying. Now, you should just work on your essay, making sure that it's unique and clearly expresses the person you are because the essay is important and may distinguish you from the other qualified applicants.</p>

3

<p>forget chances, which school do you want to go to the most....that's all that should matter when you apply ED</p>

4

<p>"Feeling pressure" to apply somewhere simply because you scored better than expected on your SATs is a weird description. If Dartmouth and Cornell are your dream schools, then, say so. If they're not--you've answered your own question. You have a shot at all of them with Vassar perhaps less of a crap shoot. But, I sense that you really have a lot of self-education to go through. Dartmouth and Cornell are nothing like Vassar.</p>

5

<p>you'll get into vassar. but i agree with the other responses- you need to figure out what you're looking for in a college- vassar and dartmouth are nothing alike!</p>

6

<p>It sounds like you are really in love with Vassar but are, perhaps, getting external pressure to apply to schools that you are more peripherally interested in. Is this right? If this is the case, feel confident that you will have a wonderful experience at Vassar and an excellent education. Vassar IS one of the top LACs in the nation! If it feels like it fits, apply ED and forget the outside pressure from others!</p>

7

<p>Yeah, I definitely have outside pressure to go to a school on the level of Cornell and Dartmouth but I really couldn't see myself at either of them. I think Cornell is way too big, and I don't like the prevalance of fraternities/sororities at Dartmouth. </p>

<p>At this point, my 1st choice is Vassar but I guess I don't have enough self-confidence to overcome the social pressure. I know that Vassar is a great quality school and I know that everyone in education knows that, but unfortunately not everyone at no-name Public HS knows that so I know if I end up going there I'll get a lot of "You're sooo smart, why are you going to a random school and not [insert HYP etc.]!" </p>

<p>But I shouldn't care about idiots like that, right??</p>

8

<p>greenmachine, in 5 years when you are either looking for a job or a grad/professional school, ALL of THEM will know that Vassar is NOT some random school and know that you have received an incredible education there. The folks from no-name Public HS will be looking at you in envy because you got in to that terrific grad school or got that great job. And you can just look back at them and smile because you knew all along! Go with your heart greenmachine!</p>

9

<p>"At this point, my 1st choice is Vassar but I guess I don't have enough self-confidence to overcome the social pressure."</p>

<p>If Vassar is truly your first choice, apply ED. It's not so much about where others think you should go to school, but more so about what you think. You will be the one living at that school for four years (unless you don't transfer). If you are really in love with Vassar, applying ED will be the best option because you will be going to the school that you love, and applying ED could increase your odds of acceptance.</p>

10

<p>guiltguru and Sdma89 -</p>

<p>Thanks so much for the encouragement! I'm going on a few more college visits this month, but I might end up going Vassar ED! I was just losing confidence and starting to think the people I talk to in school are right and that I should go some place "better," but I really don't think any of those schools are the best for me.</p>

11

<p>Vassar is a great school, and if you love it there, that's where you should apply. I had the same feeling about Wesleyan University (I felt like I should apply early to Yale or Brown) but I was worried I wouldn't get in regular decision. I applied ED, am going to Wesleyan, and having an amazing experience.</p>

<p>That said, you definitely have a decent chance at all the schools you listed, though not a definite chance. Also, Dartmouth and Cornell both have very different "feels" than Vassar.</p>

12

<p>madjoy - thanks, it's very encouraging to hear someone choose a great LAC over an Ivy, and I'm so happy you're enjoying your experience! </p>

<p>Bummmpp to anyone else, I think I'm pretty much decided on Vassar ED now, so what do you think my chances are for that?</p>

13

<p>If you really want to go to Vassar, then you should definitely apply early decision there. A friend of mine who applied early there had much more stellar stats than you and he did not regret one bit. He said that the atmosphere at Vassar is unmatched. Freeze-your-ass-off-Cornell is not worth it and so isn't Dartmouth.</p>

14

<p>Like drinkingmilkalldaylong said, if you really want to go to Vassar, you should apply ED. I think you'll definetly get in. There's no point to apply to Cornell ED if you want to go to Vassar. I commend you on your 800 V =)</p>