[] SAT I (breakdown):2250, CR 700, M 780, W 770
[] ACT (breakdown):none
[] SAT II: Literature & US History 730
[] Unweighted GPA: 3.99
[] Weighted GPA: n/a
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): n/a
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): Chem (4) Macroecon (4) Lang Comp (5) APUSH (5)
[] IB (place score in parenthesis):
[] Senior Year Course Load: APES, AP Psych, AP Calc BC, AP Lit, International Relations, Ethics
[] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):n/a
Subjective:
[ list]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Theatre (4 years), School publication (editor in chief), GSA, Book Club (founder), Student Council (environmental coordinator)/Green Team leader, Women’s Empowerment Club
[] Job/Work Experience: major newspaper intern
[] Volunteer/Community service: service project on Colony Collapse Disorder
[] Summer Activities: Edinbrugh Fringe Festival
[] Essays: 9.5/10, about asserting my identity throughout high school
[] Teacher Recommendation: 9.5/10 (probably…idk)
[] Counselor Rec: 9.5/10
[] Additional Rec: 10/10 (theatre director)
[] Interview: 9.5/10 We had a great conversation and she was really nice.
[] Supplementary Material (portfolio, etc.): Art supplement, 2 theatre monologues.
[/list]
[ b]Other**
[ list]
[] Applied for Financial Aid?: no
[] State (if domestic applicant):
[] Country (if international applicant): China
[] School Type: Private, Catholic
[] Ethnicity: Asian
[] Gender: F
[] Income Bracket:
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none
[/list]
Reflection
[] Strengths: GPA, Essay, Recs, Interview
[] Weaknesses: No major awards
[] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected:
[] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2330, I don’t remember but they were really close
[] SAT II: Literature 790, Math II 800
[] Unweighted GPA: 3.4 or so (lol)
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): uncertain but definitely low
[] AP: US History (4), Chinese (5), Biology (4), Calculus AB (4), Studio Art (5),
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP Lit, AP Stats, Econ, Art, PE, Philosophy, World History
[li] Major Awards: National Merit Semifinalist, AP Scholar with distinction[/li][/ul]
Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Art, graphic design for a student mag, MUN, varsity soccer
[] Job/Work Experience: none
[] Volunteer/Community service: Mural painting for an orphanage, fundraising for hunger awareness, serving children of incarcerated parents
[] Summer Activities: Precollege program at Rhode Island School of Design, service trip to Johannesburg SA
[] Essays: Common App 9/10, Why Wellesley 7/10 talked a bit about my campus visit and an alumna i know
[] Teacher Recommendation: not sure, but both teachers like me a lot
[] Counselor Rec: uncertain
[] Additional Rec: none
[] Interview: none
[] Supplementary Material: Portfolio 8/10
Other
[ul]
[] Applied for Financial Aid?: no
[] State (if domestic applicant):
[] Country (if international applicant): I’m a US citizen but I live in China
[] School Type: really, really tiny private Christian international school, our graduating class is 13 people
[] Ethnicity: Chinese
[] Gender: cis female
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): no[/li][/ul]
Reflection
[] Strengths: SAT scores, essays, portfolio (maybe?)
[] Weaknesses: GPA (so bad). First 3 years of high school averaged 3.38. I was diagnosed with ADHD right before senior year, which helped me get the support I needed to up my grades last semester (A- average 3.86). Slight upward trend, did disclose my condition.
And extracurriculars were pretty weak.
[] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: GPA, ECs
[] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
ACCEPTED: Fordham, Wheaton, Lawrence, Whitman
DEFERRED: Northeastern, Kalamazoo, Amherst (ED)
REJECTED: Swarthmore (ED2)
**General Comments: **
I’m actually pretty relieved to get a possible! I thought my GPA would put me in unlikely for sure
Out of our senior class of 13, 2 girls applied for Wellesley and we both got possible. For reference she’s international (Canadian), did apply for aid, SAT around 2100, GPA 3.7~3.9 and will likely be salutatorian.
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2320 (800 CR, 800 M, 720 W– tanked on the essay)
[] ACT (breakdown): did not take
[] SAT II: 800 Chinese, 800 Math II, 790 US History
[] Unweighted GPA: 4.00
[] Weighted GPA: 4.41
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school doesn’t rank
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): World History (5), Chinese Language and Culture (5), European History (5), Art History (5), Physics I (5), AP Lang (5), Studio Art: Drawing (3– did not report)
[] IB (place score in parenthesis):
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP US History, AP Calc AB, AP English Lit, AP 3D-Design, AP Bio, Senior Project, 2 online courses (urban planning and neuroscience)
[] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Top ranked player at Asian History Bowl Championships two years running? Otherwise nothing.
Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Quiz Bowl (4 years– team captain and club president during last 2 years)
Mad Scientists (3 years– school coordinator 2 years)
Co-created and maintain a study resource website (2 years)
Co-created and manage a nonprofit organization offering science-oriented events to elementary schoolers in my city (3 years)
National Art Honor Society (3 years– secretary last 2 years)
Student representative in English department faculty meetings
[] Job/Work Experience:
Freelance art magazine editor
Translate local architecture firm’s newsletters into English for international readers
[] Volunteer/Community service: not a whole lot…
[] Summer Activities:
Molecular biology lab research internship at local uni (last summer, 8 weeks)
[] Essays:
Common App– 7/10; told a cute story, but wrapped it up with a rather cliche moral about cultural sensitivity
Why Wellesley– 9/10; not very creatively delivered, but I think it did demonstrate my love for the school (I wrote about women in science and interdisciplinary learning opportunities)
[] Teacher Recommendation:
Rec from AP Bio teacher and quiz bowl coach– 10/10 (he let me read it, very specific examples of my contributions in the classroom and leadership abilities)
Rec from AP Art History teacher– 7-8/10
[] Counselor Rec: probably 6/10, he doesn’t know me very well but explained my financial and family situation
[] Additional Rec: did not submit
[] Interview: missed the interview request deadline, so none…
[] Supplementary Material (portfolio, etc.):
art portfolio– 8/10
I also sent in a list and explanation of events provided by my organization in late January
Other
[] Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
[] State (if domestic applicant):
[] Country (if international applicant): China
[] School Type: private
[] Ethnicity: multi-racial (Chinese and American)
[] Gender: hehe
[] Income Bracket: complicated– my parents are divorced and my non-custodial parent makes significantly more
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): first gen on one side of my family?
Reflection
[ul]
[] Strengths: grades/courseload/test scores, dedicated to a few extracurriculars, being a prospective STEM major with lots of humanities interests (aka well-rounded)?
[ *] Weaknesses: forgot to request interview, unorthodox extracurriculars (wasn’t able to win many awards like MUN and debate kids at my school for instance)
[] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: honestly, I have no idea
[li] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: deferred Cornell ED and UChicago EA; also applied to Bryn Mawr, Smith, Barnard, Pomona, and St. John’s College[/li][/ul]
General Comments: I’m so excited right now!! Wellesley has shifted up to become my top choice over the last few months, and I can’t wait to meet some of you on campus next year. To the possibles– I know how much it sucks to be essentially deferred (I’ve been through it twice myself). Just be persistent about your interest if you’re set on coming– send in additional materials, write a letter of continued interest, and it may work out in the end. If not, you’ll be happy somewhere else– I applied to a school ED that was definitely not right for me, and it took a deferral for me to see it. Things have a way of working out in the end
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2210 R690 M800 W720 (but I didn’t send it cuz it was a December score)
[] ACT (breakdown): 31 W31 M34 R31 S32
[] SAT II: USH 700 Physics 730 Math 790
[] Unweighted GPA: 3.99
[] Weighted GPA: N/A
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 1%
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): Macro&Micro Economics 5 Human Geography 4
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[] Senior Year Course Load: N/A (Traditional Chinese curriculum in China)
[] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): N/A
Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Debate team, Captain, 11-12; Student Government, member of publicity dep. 10, president of publicity dep. 11-12; School Paper, Editor, 10, Editor in Chief, 11-12; Speech writing for school.
[] Job/Work Experience: Interpreter for Formula One Chinese Grand Prix, 2014 and 2015.
[] Volunteer/Community service: Volunteer at local orphanage for five years; Interpreter for local city’s international events; Subtitle translator.
[] Summer Activities: Deabte Camps, Harvard Summer School in grade 11.
[] Essays: Common app Essay is quite strong. The Why Wellesley one, well, when I re-read it I figured out it expressed all the inspiration I received from the great females from Wellesley, but exposed all the flaws that a non-native speaker can make. But still, really glad the admission officers get my point in the essay instead of exacting on the phrasings.
[] Teacher Recommendation: Never got to see them. But they can’t be bad.
[] Counselor Rec: My counselor is like my life mentor. Though I never saw the rec, I can imagine what it’s like.
[] Additional Rec: One from my summer school professor who happened to be teaching at Wellesley! Another from my debate coach.
[] Interview: Didn’t have one.
[] Supplementary Material (portfolio, etc.): None
Other
[] Applied for Financial Aid?: No.
[] State (if domestic applicant): N/A
[] Country (if international applicant): China
[] School Type: Traditional Chinese Public High School, three years graduation.
[] Ethnicity: Chinese
[] Gender: obviously female
[] Income Bracket: 150K
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): first generation college student
Reflection
[] Strengths: GPA, my passion about all my ECs and Volunteer works, my focus on my intended major (Political Science)
[] Weaknesses: Relatively low ACT and SAT score, strong competitors from the same city (as international we people from the same city hate each other during applications for school can only accept one or two), somehow mediocre debate records as a deeply involved debater.
[] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I visited Wellesley last summer, and had a great conversation with an Admission Officer. Her words (“Wellesley does not prepare students for the society. We prepare them to change the society.”) later became something held through my application. Also, the rec from a Wellesley professor might have worked.
[] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted to Georgetown University SFS, North Carolina Chapel Hill.
**General Comments: ** Can’t describe how much this mean to me. Wellesley is the first American college I got to know, and I said to people I wanted to go to Wellesley when the kids at my age dreamed about Peking University. And, congrats to all the likelies, good luck to the rest. A result can’t judge any one of us.
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2220; Math: 690, Writing: 780 with 9 on essay, Reading: 750
[] ACT (breakdown): N/A
[] SAT II: US History: 760, Spanish: 730
[] Unweighted GPA: 3.91/4.0
[] Weighted GPA: 6.68/7.0
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 20/406
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): US Gov: 5, APUSH: 4, Chem: 4. Senior year: Calc AB, Spanish, Human Geo, and Physics 1.
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[] Senior Year Course Load: Honors Anatomy and Physiology, AP Human Geography, AP Spanish, AP Calc AB, Honors Expository Writing, Honors Art History, Honors Mystery, and AP Physics 1.
[] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): N/A
Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): GSA (President), Animal Rights Club (Treasurer), National Honor Society (Tutoring chair), Writer’s Club, Spanish Honor Society, Science Team.
[] Job/Work Experience: N/A
[] Volunteer/Community service: Hospital volunteer (10th grade), Tutor at a public library (11th-12th).
[] Summer Activities: N/A
[] Essays: I thought my Why Wellesley was alright, and my common app essay was pretty good. I wrote the former about the neuroscience program (my intended major) and the lib arts curriculum, and the latter about cutting off all of my hair.
[] Teacher Recommendation: I sent two. I think they were both good, and the one from my APUSH teacher was probably excellent.
[] Counselor Rec: Average. I go to a big school, and my counselor deals with a lot of students.
[] Additional Rec: N/A
[] Interview: I was pretty awkward and nervous because it was my first interview. It definitely didn’t net me any points.
[] Supplementary Material (portfolio, etc.): N/A
Other
[] Applied for Financial Aid?: Yep.
[] State (if domestic applicant): Connecticut.
[] Country (if international applicant): N/A
[] School Type: Public.
[] Ethnicity: African-American.
[] Gender: Cisgender female.
[] Income Bracket: $70k/yr (we’re a family of five).
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM, first-gen.
Reflection
[] Strengths: My writing, my recommendations, my grades and scores.
[] Weaknesses: My interview.
[] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: ?
[] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: I’ve been accepted into Northeastern and UConn, with no other letters yet.
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2290 in one sitting with 800 math 780 reading 710 writing; superscore 2300 with a 720 writing in an earlier sitting
[] ACT (breakdown): did not take
[] SAT II: Biology-E (730), Literature (720), Math I (740), Biology-M (750)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): about 3.9, 4.47 weighted
[] Unweighted GPA: about 3.9
[] Weighted GPA: 4.47
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): no official rank, but definitely in top 10%
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Calculus AB (4), AP Latin (4), AP Biology (5)
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): none
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP Calculus BC, AP English Literature, AP Physics E&M, AP Physics Mechanics, Modern World History, Integrative Seminar (my school’s senior capstone class), Chorus/Instrumental Music Practicum
[] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Dean’s List Finalist, AP Scholar, National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar, National Honor Society
Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics (founder and captain of all-girls team), flute in instrumental ensemble at school, school chorus, cross country, spring track
[] Job/Work Experience: none
[] Volunteer/Community service: varied small-scale volunteer work through school, outreach for my robotics team (spreading STEM in the community by demoing robot to other people or getting kids to think about engineering by giving them small engineering challenges), organized talent show for nursing home to showcase talent of my peers at school, Thailand service trip (reforested trees, planted fruit trees at an orphanage, taught various schoolchildren, coastal cleanup at beach, did more robotics outreach)
[] Summer Activities: mostly travelling (Thailand, Italy, Colombia, China, Japan, etc, mostly family vacations except for Thailand); also CTY intensive studies camps (Ethics, Philosophy of Mind, Neuroscience); competed in NICERC Cyber Discovery Challenge (a week long competition with the main goal of students learning to become better cyber citizens) and won grand prize for our school.
[] Essays: I liked them a lot, and my “Why Wellesley” essay was pretty unique I think 10/10
[] Teacher Recommendation: Pretty sure they were fine, I have a really good relationship with the teachers however they could have been just good and not outstanding because I am paranoid so 8/10
[] Counselor Rec: Most likely really good, 9/10
[] Additional Rec: my high school advisor–we have a really strong relationship, 9/10
[] Interview: didn’t have one
[] Supplementary Material (portfolio, etc.): nope
Other
[] Applied for Financial Aid?: nope!
[] State (if domestic applicant): MD
[] Country (if international applicant): USA
[] School Type: independent private
[] Ethnicity: white hispanic
[] Gender: female
[] Income Bracket: too much for financial aid, but not huge, upper/middle class
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM because hispanic, also my step-grandma went to Wellesley
Reflection
[] Strengths: essays probably and Dean’s List Finalist award, also I think I might have stood out because I wrote about how I want to pursue engineering with the Olin certificate program but also gain the liberal arts education that Wellesley provides.
[] Weaknesses: no interview, lack of many AP scores, only one source of leadership
[] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I think I stood out since Wellesley probably does not get a lot of prospective engineers. I know they are looking to expand their engineering opportunities for students so they probably want to get some people to actually pursue that path. Also my grandma used to donate a lot to the school so that probably didn’t hurt.
[] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: accepted SCEA Harvard, still waiting on Yale, Princeton, and WashU
**General Comments: ** Happy to see that I got a likely! My grandma will be very happy I assume. However I probably won’t matriculate considering I got into Harvard, and Harvard is Harvard. Also besides that, since I really am considering becoming an engineer, it makes more practical sense to go to a school where I can actually get an engineering major instead of just a certificate. Congrats to all the other likelies though! And good luck to everyone else–remember you are more than just a college decision, so keep your head up and smile.
[] SAT I (breakdown): did not report
[] ACT (breakdown):
36 English
36 Math
35 Reading
36 Science
writing 11
composite 36
[] SAT II: 770 physics, 800 math II
[] Unweighted GPA: 4.0
[] Weighted GPA: weighting is weird at my school but I’d say like around 4.3; most rigorous courseload
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school does not rank, but I know I’m top 9% because of UC application
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): these were the ones I reported.
Chinese, Music Theory (self-studied), AP Physics C Mech, Environmental Science (self-studied), French, Physics 1 (5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4)
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
[] Senior Year Course Load:
AP Calc BC
AP Econ
AP English Lit
AP Psych
AP Physics C
TA for AP Physics 1
[] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): qualified for AIME, qualified for Math Prize at MIT, National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, Scholastic Gold and Silver keys
also nominated to apply for US Presidential Scholars whatever whatever but it doesn’t matter
Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): student at local conservatory’s pre-college music program (9-12), performed on NPR with chamber music group (11), member of local youth orchestra affiliated with an internationally renowned symphony orchestra (11-12), member of other local chamber orchestra (also soloed with them. 9), former principal [insert instrument] and section leader of school string orchestra and chamber orchestra (9-11), founder/president of Campus Cursive (moreloveletters.com) at my high school (10-12), freshman orientation leader (10-11), founder of a local music and community service club (12), participant of local chamber music program (12), published in some online magazines (11), many music awards for solo and chamber music (9-12)
[] Job/Work Experience: Chinese translator for local nonprofit (10-11)
[] Volunteer/Community service: intern at local nonprofit organization (10-11), volunteer music teacher for underprivileged schoolchildren at elementary school (10)
[] Summer Activities: prestigious music festival (11-12), tour to Europe with youth orchestra (covered by local and foreign press; 11-12), teacher assistant for music camp for elementary schoolers in my school district (10), summer chamber music workshop for youth orchestra (9), tour to Pacific Northwest with youth orchestra (10) and was invited to tour in Italy with the same orchestra but could not go due to horrible and untimely stomach illness (10)
[] Essays: common app essay talked about my experiences with Campus Cursive and letter writing…pretty good. I had a lot of people look over it.
Wellesley 100 talked about Honor Code and Wellesley-Brandeis Orchestra…could have been better
[] Teacher Recommendation: physics teacher…knows me really well. I’m her TA right now
english teacher…we’re best friends!!! woohoo
[] Counselor Rec: counselor knows me very well since we talk a lot. probably good; my rec probably stands out compared to recs for everyone else at my school, since my school is big and not a lot of people talk to their counselors
[] Additional Rec: private music teacher. I saw this one, and she did a good job
[] Interview: went well. really casual
[] Supplementary Material (portfolio, etc.): submitted music portfolio and music resume
Other
[] Applied for Financial Aid?: no
[] State (if domestic applicant): CA
[] Country (if international applicant):
[] School Type: Public
[] Ethnicity: Asian Chinese
[] Gender: Female
[] Income Bracket: >200,000
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): girl in STEM if that counts. otherwise none. music hook is possible but unlikely
Reflection
[] Strengths: GPA and test scores
[] Weaknesses: HAHA ESSAYS. maybe recs. AP scores!!
[] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I’m not that interesting so that’s chill. there are better people suited to Wellesley than me.
also my AP scores are flat out terrible but I didn’t know they mattered THAT much
[] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Deferred Columbia ED, UChicago EA
Accepted Berkeley early admission (top 2% of applicants. waiting on Regents), UMich LSA and SMTD (probably double degree here)
waiting on others
General Comments: so cool! I love Wellesley
I’m going to send a letter of interest in and go cry now
someone decipher my possible letter thanks
also pls chance for Ivies and my homeboy MIT thanks friends
@peoplelikegrapes You have an awesome profile and are truly bound for greatness. How ‘quirky’ was your Chicago essay? I’d be happy to look over any letters for you. If Columbia doesn’t take you that is proof that admissions is a total lottery.
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2170 (M760, CR700, W710)
[] ACT (breakdown): N/A
[] SAT II: Chinese 770, US History 620 lol
[] Unweighted GPA: 3.741
[] Weighted GPA: N/A
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): #2 in class of 13 lol
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): Biology 3, Statistics 4, US history 4
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP Literature, AP Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Philosophy, Drawing and Painting, Print Publishing
[] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): none
Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Varsity Soccer, Varsity Volleyball, Drama Club, Student Council (G9 representative, G10 secretary, G12 president)
[] Job/Work Experience: English tutoring
[] Volunteer/Community service: Relief work in Johannesburg slums, teaching elementary science club and drama club, muraling
[] Summer Activities: N/A
[] Essays: both 7.5/10? Decent
[] Teacher Recommendation: 10/10 both probably A+
[] Counselor Rec: 9/10
[] Additional Rec: N/A
[] Interview: went really well (over Skype)
[] Supplementary Material (portfolio, etc.): N/A
Other
[] Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
[] State (if domestic applicant):
[] Country (if international applicant): Canada (but living in China)
[] School Type: Private International, really small
[] Ethnicity: Asian
[] Gender: female
[] Income Bracket: <$20,000
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none
Reflection
[] Strengths: Extracurriculars
[] Weaknesses: Financial Aid as an international student
[] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: received a possible because of international experience? Honest don’t know but I’m really honored to get a “possible”
[] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted to UBC, SFU (both in Vancouver), waiting on Reed and University of Toronto
Got a handwritten letter from my admissions rep. Today, I got an email from an art history professor (my intended major). He quotes parts of my common app essay, stating why he thinks I’d be a great part of Wellesley. I’m really digging this wooing process (and a little creeped out )
I got a handwritten note from the head of admissions and also an email from a professor in the philosophy department who talked a bit about my essays— I have to say, if this is how enthusiastic they are with potential students they must be incredibly dedicated to their actual students. Really makes me second-guess just jumping on the Ivy wagon.
With regards to the email, should I reply? Would it be bad if I do/don’t? What should I say? Even though I’m not sure if I want to go I don’t want to be rude to someone who took the time out of their day to email me.
