Skullduggery

I am a borderline student -- I have a lot of C's in nonacademic classes, but I've worked really hard and my essay was pretty good. I really want to go here; does anybody have suggestions for what I can do to improve my chances (send an updated resume, take SAT II's and send by regular decision, etc)?

lilygraces

Honestly, TELL them that you want to go there. Bard is a school that takes interest to heart. It's a self-selected applicant pool. You need to fit the bill for the school. I'd email them and tell them that it's your top choice.

I wouldn't take SATIIs seeing as how it's test optional. I WOULD send an updated resume and transcript (which you'll have to do anyway).

Good luck!

Skullduggery

I think that I do fit the bill; I'm quirky, I have purple hair, and have lots of strange personality traits about myself (ambidextrous, and that sort of thing). It's just that my GPA is slightly below their average, as is my SAT. How would you suggest that I go about writing a letter of explanation without sounding overtly desperate? More than that, I'm sending every school an updated page of the writing section, the "Extra Info" explaining that my grade trend was due to my mother having cancer and trying to kill herself repeatedly. Suggestions?

Thank you for your post.

lilygraces

I'm ambidextrous, too! Sweet!

Bard goes waaaaay beyond numerical stats. I would email the admissions office (or even Dr. Botstein. He's a friendly guy) and tell them that Bard is the school for you and then tell them why. Definitely tell them about your mother (I'm sorry about that). The whole application process is about selling yourself to a school. Tell Bard why you want to go there, what you can give to its community, what you want to get out of going to Bard, etc, etc.

Skullduggery

Sweet, indeed! *High-five* It's so useful, especially for writer's cramp!

So it wouldn't look too obnoxious to write a letter? Okay -- I think that I will get on that soon, rather than sending Bard my updated Extra Info page. I'm going to call them on Monday and change my intended major from music and biology to foreign languages and biology, too. Though it is my passion, I don't have the greatest grades in science (although to make up for that, I sent in this in-depth assignment from my SUPA Biology class last year for my supplement, admittedly not an essay but the same length as one). On the other hand, I have a 96+ average for my languages, have taken two during high school, and in tenth grade was learning both French and Spanish simultaneously. My Spanish II/French I and II teacher wrote a glowing recommendation. Do you think that will help, too?

lilygraces

I have no idea how majors are taken into play with Bard. It's definitely not too obnoxious to write a letter or email, especially if it's the school you want to go to!

I do know that Bard likes musicians... hmm... I honestly don't think changing your intended major will help much, but it could. I would focus more on your mom and why you want to go there rather than the intended major switch, but you can still put that in there.

Skullduggery

Well, my resume has a ton of music-related EC's, being a soloist and a section leader, etc. Maybe I'll just send along my separate music resume as a supplement. Thanks for all of your help, lilygraces! I appreciate it.

lilygraces

Anytime. I hope we'll be classmates there next year!

nastynate0315

I agree with the previous posters, make your interest apparent, because regular decision is MUCH rougher than EA the acceptance rate drops from 60% to 25%. It also wouldn’t help to possibly retest and send them new scores ASAP.

Ackpoor

Deffinitely send your music resume in!! They like to see things that will bulk up your portfolio (not too much) but theatre/dance/music resumes = good move.

lilygraces

I'd say retest if your tests are a strong point. But if they're not, I'd email Bard and tell them that you don't want your scores to be considered in the application.

zefranzter

I wouldn't worry about your SAT when I went there and did the whole tour bit they said they would rather if I didn't send my scores in. I would reccommend calling or even making an appointment with admissions. I know a girl that did that last year, not at Bard, but at almost all the schools that deferred her, and then got into most of them after. If you really want it, and you sound like you do, let them know. I think you'll get it.

nastynate0315

that is true. I know that they no longer have campus tours or interviews after December, but hey it's still worth a shot to call them and see if they could possibly meet with you.

Skullduggery

Standardized tests aren't usually a strong point. The only standardized tests I've ever done well on are NY Regents exams, and my SATs are far lower than they should be; on the other hand, I've done a ton of prep so far for SAT II's in Bio and US History, and I was planning on taking those in January. I was hoping it would put me over the top as a borderline sort of applicant.

I haven't done any interviews or visits much of anywhere, mostly because my parents are picky and we don't have much extra money laying around to drive there and back again. What do you mean by calling admissions for an appointment but not an interview? I'm not sure how I'd phrase that: "hey, I was deferred in EA, but I was wondering if maybe I could come in and chat with you anyway?" Then again, if nothing else, having bright purple hair that smells faintly of grapes might make me memorable.

zefranzter

Yea, I would say "I was deferred EA, I'd really like to be strongly reconsidered for RD. I'm really keen on your institution and think it is the place for me. Honestly, I'd be unhappy anywhere else."
Or something along the lines of that.