So Vassar’s been like a dream school, and I plan on applying ED I next year. I’m a bit worried, though, because my GPA dropped first semester of junior year after my dad was diagnosed with cancer (not making excuses). Also, if it makes a difference, and it probably does, I’m an Asian female.
GPA: 3.65 (UW), 4.35 (W); top 20%
SAT score: 1970 (plan on taking it one more time, after I’ve studied – aiming for around a 2250 based on practice tests)
National Merit Commended
6 APs/4 IBs
Extra-curriculars, etc.:
Secretary of Home Economics (co-founder)
Bharatnatyam (South Indian) Dance for 10 years (Senior Leader; gotten awards every year; choreographed a two hour show)
Senior President of a Literary (Tutoring) Club at an Elementary School
South Indian Music for 11 years
Violin for 8 years
Three internships (one unpaid) - one as university microbiology lab aid, another paid internship at the library, and the last as a violin camp aid
Hospital volunteer
Put together a “Feed the Homeless in the City” event in Junior Year
Indian Cultural Youth Group for 6 years (Treasurer)
Secretary of Gay-Straight Alliance
I have yet to take my SAT II’s and will be taking the ACT with writing next month.
Sorry to hear about your dad. Right now everything is on the low side. If you do indeed get that SAT up to 2250, then you have a much better, and even a good chance. Do all you can to raise that GPA. In your essays, you need to make Vassar know what you will bring to the college. Do you plan to continue some of your ECs at Vassar if you are accepted? If so, you have to work that in somehow. Vassar is just going to get even harder and harder to get into. The college was just awarded a $1 million prize due to its help in getting low-income students to campus. That will attract more applicants, and I see its ranking (whether you put stock in that or not, many do) continuing to rise. While I always say that the Ivies and Stanford are a reach for everyone, Vassar is just a tiny bit below that. There are some excellent students with excellent SAT scores and GPAs who get denied every year.
Since you can not do anything to GUARANTEE entry, all you can do is put your best foot forward…bring up that GPA as much as possible, and go improve that SAT, and then you need to do very well on the subject matter tests too. If that doesn’t work out, there are still some amazing schools out there. But, for now, give it all you’ve got to get into Vassar. Good luck!
thank you! my gpa may be a bit hopeless, but i have faith in that i’ll do well on my next sat. do my extracurriculars help? i have a ton more but these are the main ones. also, does having an ib diploma help my chances? i have a main focus in dance, and i was hoping to write my essay about it, as well as get a rec from my dance teacher. i absolutely plan to continue my extracurriculars in college, and will be handing down my writing club to rising juniors in my high school. i also aspired to begin a south indian dance group at vassar, because they have several dance groups, but lack classical indian dance, though i know current students there who have learned it. hopefully applying ED will help my chances to some extent. again, thank you for the input!
Ok…that 2070 is better. Still, you are JUST above the 25% line for Vassar with that score, and with the lower GPA, it would behoove you to raise that score up (and your GPA too if possible). I think your dance angle can only help you. Good luck!
I would improve your SATs if I were you. You’re ECs make you seem like a good fit for the school though, which they really like to see - your dance/music background is helpful. It’s definitely not hopeless, but as long as you bring up your UW GPA and test scores I’d say you have a good chance.
To give you some perspective - I got in with a 30 ACT (just barely 25% line), but a good GPA and solid visual art ECs, and I only applied regular decision. Admittance rate for ED is 40% (according to an admissions counselor). You definitely have a chance, and in every interaction that I’ve had with Vassar faculty they’ve been extremely understanding to extenuating circumstances causing performance drop. So, trust me, you’re not hopeless - just really get involved and do your best, and you have a good chance.
(I don’t know if this might help you, but in my “Why vassar?” essay I mentioned specific professors, departments and alumnus that I’ve heard about/spoken to, which I think really helped my app).
ED will give you a slight statistical advantage for admissions if you are well qualified. To be honest, your GPA is on the low side and your SAT is merely competitive. Not all hope is lost. You have multiple ACT/SAT tests still ahead of you. And your father’s condition, while not an excuse, can make for the basis of an excellent essay about a daughter’s concern for her dad. The essay can provide context to your situation. But it won’t overcome low ACT or SAT scores so double down on preparing for them. Good luck to you and your dad!
Yeah my SAT’s are my top priority at this point, I’ve been studying hard. I plan on visiting the school next month, and may sit in for a class or do an overnight stay. I’m also taking the ACT, and on most practice tests, my score ranges from a 30-33. Still working hard though. My GPA really is my low point, and the cancer thing was probably one of the several issues happening in one semester. I don’t really plan on explaining too much in the essay for it, considering it is a bit personal. Either way, thank you both for the input! I’ll definitely push myself for my test scores.
Good luck! When you’re applying, on the common app there’s a separate section where you can describe extenuating circumstances that affected school performance so you don’t have to a devote a whole essay to it.