My daughter is interested only in small LACs, and at the moment plans to apply to Vassar, Kenyon, Macalester, Grinnell, Dickinson, and Muhlenberg. The last two are safe choices for her, Muhlenberg more so. We are currently looking for more safety schools.
The problem that concerns me is that, at most of her top choice schools, her SAT math score is somewhat below or well below the 25th percentile while her reading and writing scores are within the middle 50%, sometimes smack in the middle (Kenyon) or on the lower end of the middle 50% (Vassar, which she knows is a big reach). Her scores were CR 680, M 580, W 670.
In other areas she is a strong applicant, I think. She is an IB diploma student with a 95 unweighted average, 104 weighted, takes the most rigorous courses available, even in math, has decent ECs, should have good recommendations, has been demonstrating much interest in these schools - long distance visits, interviews, on-campus overnights, class visits. Interviews so far have been good, she’s working on a good essay, etc.
She is really worried that her math score will be a glaring red mark against her. In general her standardized test scores are not a good reflection of her ability. She’s going to try the ACT but will only be able to take it once and I expect similar results.
small LACs employ a holistic review, so they will look at all aspects of your daughter’s application. While that math score is very low, and might hurt her in admissions for her reach schools, it shouldn’t discourage you from applying.
I think she ruled it out because it has too strong of a Greek life. She prefers either no Greek life or Greek life that doesn’t dominate. Thanks, though, I appreciate the suggestion!
Good point. Here is another option that is a bit out of left field. Middlebury will accept 3 SAT subject tests in lieu of the normal SAT/ACT requirements. Can she pull together 3 strong Subject scores in non-quantitive subjects?
She likes both Dickinson and Muhlenberg. Both test optional but she will submit scores to be considered for merit scholarships. She’s well above average at Muhlenberg and above average at Duckinson. Had great interviews at both last week.
And no, unfortunately she has taken a couple of subject tests and has not done well. Again, standardized tests just don’t go so well for her.
I think you have a well considered group of schools. Maybe some of the CTCL schools world work if you want some additional safety schools (ex. Goucher, Clark)? http://ctcl.org/category/college-profiles/page/3/
I do think Muhlenberg and Dickinson are good choices, especially since she does like the schools.
The math score will not rule out acceptance, but it’s not helping any either. My D had a similar score in math that she couldn’t raise even though she does well in math, but her other scores were better. Rejected at Grinnell, WL at Kenyon, not that that means anything other than that those schools are hard to get into.
She was WL’d at some other LACs, chose not to do that. Had 3 solid LAC acceptances with merit and an EA acceptance at a flagship at very low in state rate.
You definitely need some safeties, they need to be safeties both financially and admittance-wise. I believe a safety should have an admission rate of 60% or better and the student should be at the 75th percentile or better, or it can be a school that guarantees admission based on open admissions, residency, stats, whatever. AND the student must be willing to attend!
There a number of unsung LACs in the Midwest that could be good matches bordering on safeties, for your D. Some examples are Kalamazoo, Denison, Wooster, and Earlham.
Yes, we are definitely building our safety list! Allegheny is on the list, she likes what she has seen from the website and from speaking with a rep at a CTCL event. Muhlenberg is already a safety. We visited Wooster and ruled it out, the fit felt wrong. Also heard Denison is very Greek, if that’s not true please tell me! Lawrence sounds great but she doesn’t like the trimester system. We are trying to find safeties closer to home - by close I mean within a four hour driving radius. It would be nice for it to be easier to travel back and forth.
@IBviolamom Denison has no residential Greek houses. I’m not sure what the exact % is, but I’m guessing less than 1/3 of the students are Greek. My D is a junior there, is the antithesis of Greek, and she loves Denison. Hope this helps, and good luck!
@IBviolamom I know nothing about the schools you have posted, but my kids have to apply to schools where they are likely to qualify for merit $$. What are your goals for seeking merit? Are you thinking in terms of low awards like $5000 or significant awards that make a huge dent in overall costs?
If you need merit $$ to bring down costs significantly, I personally suspect you need to greatly modify your list based on your description of where her test scores fall percentage-wise. Students with stats below the top 25% (or even the top 10%) are not going to be the students who are awarded large merit scholarships. Being accepted and being “recruited” for academic achievements should be thought of as 2 different categories for kids who have to have merit $$ in order to attend. Kids seeking merit need to apply where they are at the top of the pack and bring something vital to that collegiate community. (See if you can find profiles of students who have been awarded scholarships. Look at the common data set to see what percentage of students receive awards, the total amt awarded and compare that to the admissions stats.)
Just my thoughts as a mom who has been through the merit chase a few times now.
My D applied to Denison in spite of it having Greek Life. It’s hard to get any good numbers because Denison does not publish their Common Data Set, but I think it’s actually fairly high and may be over a third, might be as high as 40% for girls. We did not visit but researched extensively.
We found many things to like about Denison and many reports that Greek like is not all-dominating. I believe it is the only school D applied to, aside from state flagship safety, that had any Greek life, as she and I have philosophical objections and she has no interest in joining, and I personally consider Greek life a negative influence.
Please, anyone reading this, if you want to get into the pros and cons of Greek life, their community service projects, whatever, start another thread & I’ll be happy to join you there.
I’m just trying to convey to OP the strength of D’s wanting no or minimal Greek life and yet she applied to Denison with my wholehearted approval. She was accepted with a very good merit award, with similar math score as OP’s D.
I would strongly recommend she apply test optional to both Muhlenberg and Dickinson. For girls from the NE applying in the NE, barring any hook, she needs to be near the top 25% to consider a college a match. She can afford to be a bit lower if she applies to the Midwest and South.
Thank you for all the input! @alooknac and @sschickens I’ll have to look at Denison again, because it sounds like it is not as Greek as I had heard. I appreciate the info! Although as it is Kenyon’s main rival, and she looooves Kenyon, not sure how that will fly! @Lindagaf, I think Juniata might be a school I encourage her to apply to as a safety without visiting, and then we will visit if necessary later. @bopper she spoke to an Ursinus rep at a college fair and just didn’t feel too excited about it, but thank you.
D1 didn’t like Kenyon at all - out in the middle of the corn fields and old Gothic architecture (it didn’t help it was raining that day) but loved D (big brunch for visiting students and a bright sunny day) atop a hill in a quaint town. D2 liked Kenyon (trees and challenging curriculum) but never resonated with Denison (perhaps because her sister was attending).