I’m an international student who wants to know which of the following schools will be most likely to admit me ED 2. Currently, my choices are Haverford, Middlebury, and Vanderbilt. I’ll be applying for engineering if Vanderbilt, and Physics if Haverford or Middlebury. Haverford does have a 4/1 engineering with Penn. Feel free to suggest other schools.
My Stats:
8.75 GPA ,Rank 3/140, Valedictorian had 8.80 GPA
33 ACT
Hope to score 760+ in SAT subject tests(Math and Physics)
Founded 3 clubs , currently president of 2.
Speak 5 languages.
Play 2 sports, along with bunch of minor games like chess and stuff.
Bunch of minor honours.
Good recommendations.
i say middlebury. having one of the best language programs in the world, midd, i believe, would appreciate seeing your ability to speak multiple languages (not that any other college wouldn’t, but you know what i mean). plus, since you’re international, the competition would be fierce at haverford. i’m not saying you’re not a competitive applicant and that competition won’t be fierce at middlebury, but other international students will be applying with even better stats than you. the median act score for haverford’s class of 2021 was 34 (which, from your other threads, you said your act is a 34, but you’re saying it’s a 33 here, so i’m not sure which one to use.).
all of that being said, all three campuses are super, super different when taking into account size and vibe. have you looked into swarthmore? they offer an engineering major, plus it’s in the quaker consortium with haverford and penn, so you would be able to take classes at the different campuses if you wanted. keep in mind, engineering will be competitive anywhere, really.
Regarding test scores at Haverford, note that while they do report a 34 median ACT for their recently admitted class, their attending class would be likely to register about a point lower.
Overall I think you should consider the substantive differences between your three choices rather than their admissions aspects before committing to an ED II decision.
@kalons It is a 33. I must have mistyped in my other post. Sorry.
I did look into Swartmore today, and found it pretty nice. I didn’t know that they had an ED2 program. @merc81 Yes, but the Dartmouth program offers a BSE after 5 years. The Penn program offers a MS. Also, Dartmouth doesn’t seem to be as reputed as Penn in engineering. Correct me if I’m wrong. Also, the Dartmouth BS costs a lot more than Penn, and I feel I’d be less restrained about doing another degree after Penn as I’d be able to pay back a loan quicker (because of the lower cost and higher salary after MS as compared to BS).
Substantiative differences…As I’m from India, colleges here really don’t have unique “environments” as such. But I’d be happy in a very intellectual and competitive place, preferably with some people who don’t drink. I’m not big on drinking myself. I doubt that the political environment is likely to bother me much, and I’ll enjoy any kind of political environment as I’ve never been exposed to much of it. @Chembiodad Above point. @intparent Financial aid at every single school. That’s why I’m leaning slightly towards large universities (and Swarthmore) for pursuing engineering as they’d wouldn’t be so financially burdensome.
@kalons I really don’t understand why Middlebury will appreciate my languages as I’m applying for an physics/engineering major. A short explanation would be much appreciated.
@CrewDad Yes, but the Penn MS costs less than 50k. Assuming a minimal parental contribution of 15k, I’ll only be left with 35k to pay off, but with an MS from Penn in my hand. Dartmouth costs 70k, and I get a BSE from Dartmouth instead. I don’t see how the Dartmouth 2-1-1-1 stands better than the Penn 4/1.
Just to be sure: you understand that ‘meets need’ means ‘meets our school’s assessment of your financial need’, not what your family is ok to pay, right? and that you won’t be able to borrow in the US?
As for environment, Dartmouth and Middlebury are geographically isolated in lovely but very small towns deep in the coldest parts of New England. Dartmouth is not usually the first stop for quieter, more introspective types (aka, it has had a well-earned reputation for being a ‘play hard’ school since my parents were in college, and Midd kids have a preppy/sporty reputation. Haverford, on the other hand is on the edge of an actual city, in a less-cold region. It is true that you can find your people anywhere, but it is easier some places than others.
I do know a non-drinking, notably introverted intellectual who just graduated from Dartmouth this June. We were all amazed she went, and even more amazed that she stayed. She says she did it by living in ‘substance-free’ housing and maxing out the study abroad options, and she did find ‘her people’.
