What are my chances for Wesleyan University?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey everyone--</p>

<p>I'm applying Early Decision I to Wesleyan University. Wesleyan is my first choice by miles, so I'm definitely a little nervous. I've done a lot research and compared my stats to the stats of accepted/rejected Wes applicants, but am I'm still unsure about where I fit. Sometimes I can't tell if I fit the "good/average" mold for their standards, or if I'm just grossly under qualified. </p>

<p>This is me:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>GPA: 3.65 unweighted. (My school does not use a weighting system.)</p></li>
<li><p>AP Courses: (have taken/am currently taking) AP World, AP US, AP Lit & Composition, AP Econ, AP Comparative Government, AP Language & Composition, AP Enviro Science, AP Gov. In all those classes I've maintained an A/A+. (Can you tell I'm very right brained?)</p></li>
<li><p>AP Scores/Exams: </p></li>
</ul>

<p>AP World, 4
AP Gov, 4
AP Lang & Comp, 5</p>

<p>I'll be taking the exams for the remaining APs. I'm planning on 4's and 5's, but you never know.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Class Rank: My school doesn't rank anymore, but I'm approximately in the top 20% in a class of 360. </p></li>
<li><p>SAT scores: </p></li>
</ul>

<p>Critical Reading: 740
Writing: 750 (Essay: 12)
Math: 420</p>

<p>Composite: 1910</p>

<p>I do have a documented math disability, if this helps. (I'm really hoping it will.)</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Extracurriculars: </p></li>
<li><p>Cello -- I've been playing & taking lessons for 8 years, and been with the state youth orchestra for 3 years. We're going to tour Germany and Prague this summer. I'm really passionate about music and want to continue in college.</p></li>
<li><p>Founder & President of Model UN Club, 2 years. We've done conferences at Dartmouth and are hopefully heading to McGill.</p></li>
<li><p>President of GSTA, 2 years. A lot of organizing/raising awareness. I've spoken the to faculty twice and also given an extended presentation at a statewide conference. </p></li>
<li><p>Peer helper, and "Peer2Peer" mentor, 3 years-- I am part of a community building team at school, and I mentor incoming freshmen.</p></li>
<li><p>I've interned with the Young Writers Project (a state organization), and been published in several newspapers, and two anthologies. </p></li>
<li><p>Employment: </p></li>
<li><p>Lifeguard & Swim Instructor at the town pool, 3 summers so far. 44 hours every week.</p></li>
<li><p>Ski Instructor for 2 years, going to be professionally certified soon, every weekend in the winter.</p></li>
<li><p>Private cello lessons with a younger boy down the street. 1 hour every week during the school year.</p></li>
<li><p>Work with a local psychiatrist filing/organizing documents once a week for 3 hours during the school year.</p></li>
<li><p>Honors & Awards: I've got nothing in this department. And anything I do receive from my school will be in the spring of this year. </p></li>
<li><p>Recs & Essay: My recs will be very good, though I am having a hard time choosing exactly which teachers I want to do them yet. And as for my essay, it's still a work in progress. I'm confident about it, though. I know I'm capable of writing an excellent essay. (Don't mean to brag.) Writing is really my thing. </p></li>
<li><p>Additional random stuff: I went to the National Youth Leadership Forum on Law in November of 2008, and have applied and gone to the Champlain College Young Writers Conference for 3 years. </p></li>
</ul>

<p>I've also taken every advanced/honors English & History course available to me. (Non-AP wise.) </p>

<p>This year, I am doing an full year independent study in order to create the curriculum for a gender studies class to be introduced in the fall of 2011.</p>

<p>So...</p>

<p>My interview is coming up, and I am hoping it will go smoothly. I come off really well in person, and am genuinely looking forward to having a conversation with an admissions officer. I'm really in love with most everything about this school, and excited about the kinds of opportunities I can take advantage of if I go there. I'm hoping that will really come through in my interview, application, and essay. </p>

<p>That said, what do you think? Please be honest! I hope I haven't rambled too much or missed anything...</p>

<p>Really. Be honest.</p>

<p>Thank you!
P.</p>

2

<p>Please? :)</p>

3

<p>Your math SAT is going to kill you (plus the fact that you are not top 10% is not going to help make up for it).</p>

<p>By way of comparison, my son applied ED to Wes, was waitlisted and eventually accepted so I think we can assume that he “just barely made it in.”</p>

<p>He had about .20 better on his GPA (coming from one of the top private schools in the US). and nearly 300 points higher on the SAT. Your ECs are a bit better, but in all honesty I think it’s going to be rough riding for you.</p>

<p>Good luck in any case.</p>

4

<p>Thanks, Soze. I appreciate it. Pretty much all of what you said is what I’m worried about, too. </p>

<p>The 20% is a horrible typo, though. I am in the top 10% of my class. I tried to edit it, but for some reason I can’t… </p>

<p>My math SAT score worries me a lot. Do you think my math disability help to ease this blow?</p>

5

<p>AnHistorian, did you get extended time on the SAT because of your disability? If not, colleges will think you’re making it up. Most people with learning disabilities get special accomodations on standardized tests. If it is however, your SAT would be a 1490/1600disregarding math which is awesome :D</p>

<p>So I’d say Wesleyan is an easy match for you. Best of luck! :)</p>

6

<p>Elbeen, I didn’t take with extended time because I didn’t want to in my first sitting. I am thinking about doing it again with extended time. It might depend at this point on how much that would stress me out. :P</p>

<p>I have all the documentation regarding my disability, which I’ll send in with my app. So hopefully that will clear up all kinds of questions about it. </p>

<p>Thanks for your input! It’s really helpful.</p>

7

<p>If you are in the top 10%, that’s a “magic threshold” for many schools. I still think its going to be rough (elbeeen is nuts if s/he thinks it’s an “easy match” for anybody) but that certainly paints a better picture.</p>

<p>I think you need to make <em>ABSOLUTELY SURE</em> that your guidance counselor includes a letter explaining your math disability, hopefully that will get them to ignore your math SAT score. </p>

<p>The interview is a good idea, but be warned it might be with a senior student and not an admissions officer.</p>

8

<p>That’s a good idea, Soze. My guidance counselor is pretty good about those kinds of things. I’ll make sure she sends something in.</p>

9

<p>Any more thoughts from others?</p>

10

<p>I think Wesleyan has an LD-blind admission and you let the Wesleyan admissions people know about it after you’re admitted. I’m not 100% sure; you ought to look into it. If I’m right, you regretfully have a ridiculously low chance.</p>

11

<p>I should look into the LD-blind admission… that would really bum me out…</p>