Would you mind chancing me for Colgate? :)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Colgate University
1

<p>SAT Scores: 630 Reading, 550 Math, 590 Writing (8 Essay) 1770 total</p>

<p>SAT Subject Test: 640 Literature, 590 World History</p>

<p>G.P.A. - 99.89</p>

<p>My Extra-curriculars: </p>

<p>Varsity Swimming (Advanced to Regionals/ We won conference champions twice) (Won 3 ribbons in UIL)
Varsity Water Polo (Conference Champions once)
History Club (fundraisers and field trips)
UNICEF Club (President)
Drama Club (Secretary) (Won Medals in "All Star Cast" 9th and 10th grade)
School Morning Announcer
Model United Nations Delegate
Art Club (Treasurer)
Church Drama Group
Bible Study </p>

<p>Summer:
-UIL Theatre Camp (Learned how to fake fight, apply make-up effects, etc)
-Volunteered for 2 years at my dad's work place doing odd jobs such as shredding paper, scanning books, organizing files, etc. </p>

<p>AP Scores: World History - 3</p>

<p>Awards: </p>

<p>Advanced to Nationals in the History Fair
IB Candidate
High School Honor Roll
Recognized by School Staff as "Respectful" - Character Pillar Award
Perfect Attendance</p>

2

<p>I would say that it is extremely unlikely. If you need financial aid I would say you literally have a 0%. If you can pay the full cost of tuition and need no aid I would say it is possible but still extremely unlikely. Your SAT scores fall well below the 25th percentile. And while you do appear to have a good GPA (I say appears because you do not say if it is weighted, or if it includes filler classes like gym or band) your SAT subject tests and AP score indicate that your high GPA is more because of a lax curriculum than it is because of hard work. As for your ECs and awards, they are nothing that would make an adcom look past poor scores and easy classes. I sincerely hope you didn’t list ‘Perfect attendance’ on the CommonApp list of awards.</p>

<p>I don’t mean to sound harsh, but with your stats you’re probably going to need to look elsewhere. I would suggest looking at Siena - It is about 2 hours away from Colgate in the Albany, NY area. You’d have a good shot there, and you might even get some scholarship money.</p>

3

<p>Thank you! :slight_smile: I appreciate your blatant honesty. I meant to put “perfect attendance award”. And as far as the classes are concerned, we are only allowed to take one elective, whilst the remaining 7 classes are based on the IB curriculum. As far as my GPA is concerned, it is weighted. Once again, thank you for replying. Do you have any other questions for me that would aid in your analysis of my rejection or acceptance at Colgate?</p>

4

<p>I hate to say it, but I agree with Colgateapplicant, some of your EC’s kind of seem like padding (and the perfect attendance thing was better left out) and your test scores seem low for Colgate, but if you have an amazing essay, then you may have a chance, but I think it may be a long shot, but there’s no problem in trying.</p>

5

<p>I say apply…even if it is a bit of a reach you never know. your SAT is quite low for Colgate. A good school I’d suggest is Colby, in Maine…I don’t know too much, but I know they are a small liberal arts school like Colgate, but they are supposedly test optional.</p>

6

<p>I agree, I would recommend Cobly. They are similar in many ways!</p>

7

<p>I have a little different reaction to this applicant. An IB course of study is rigorous and these grades appear to be very good, and they are on the Honor Roll so this appears to be a fairly good student. I don’t know the high school or how easy the grading might be . . . but Colgate wants students with excellent grades, and that’s what they’ve got. </p>

<p>Yes, the SAT’s and other scores are average at best, but it’s possible that Colgate will want this applicant if other factors are impressive. Many smart successful students do not test well on standardized tests. It’s not that unusual. And SAT’s are only one factor in the whole applicant’s admission package and not the most important. </p>

<p>If they write a great application essay. If the recc letters are impressive. If other factors – race or background – are considered, perhaps they do have a chance. You really cannot “accept” or “reject” someone purely on GPA or test scores and sometimes you can’t even if you know both of them. </p>

<p>Colleges like Colgate do not have cut-off points for acceptance of students. They have ranges. In grades, SAT’s and other factors, someone has to be at the top, someone at the bottom of those accepted. I’ve known weak students who apparently squeaked into Harvard or Yale (I’m a high school teacher) completely inexplicably, students who would not have normally been admitted to any top college, small or large. But they got in anyway either because they knew someone, had lots of money and offered to donate it, had a long string of legacies who had gone to that school, or some other factor unknown to me. Admissions committees do whatever they want. </p>

<p>And then there’s athletes who get admitted even with weak scores sometimes. This student has swimming (and water polo which I don’t think Colgate has) and, who knows, maybe a coach would be interested in urging their admission? If they are a good swimmer, they should certainly talk to a Colgate swimming coach and see how much interest they might have in helping them get admitted. This is a normal thing for athletes to do. </p>

<p>It may not appear very likely that this student would be admitted, but every year students who aren’t very likely do get admitted – for whatever reasons. College admissions departments are just people, and people make whatever decisions they feel are best. </p>

<p>So, I would apply. I would also definitely apply to other schools – like Colby or Bates or Trinity (Hartford, CT), BU, Skidmore and others a little more likely to offer admission. Colgate may not admit this student, but applying cannot possibly hurt, and if you don’t apply you’ll never know. And if the Admissions people see other factors worthy of admitting them wouldn’t that be great?</p>