Bennington Chances

Lana K. · 11-10-2007, 08:19 PM

I had originally thought that Bennington was not that hard to get into since its acceptance rate is around 65%, but now I'm not so sure. Here's my information:

SATS of 640 CR 610 M 710W
4 AP classes everything else honors
Top 10% of class
played 3 varsity sports
Played the Violin in a community orchestra
won a scholastic art award and took a painting course over the summer

IF someone could please tell me what bennington is looking for and if what I have is enough I would be extremely thankful

allthosethings · 11-11-2007, 07:46 PM

Your statistics look great, but it is true that admission to Bennington is getting tougher. What Bennington really wants is to know that you can handle the freedom and responsibility of creating your own course of education. They want to see that you can advocate for yourself, because you will need to do that with your plan committee, and they want to know that you will take advantage of the Field work term. if you show real interest in something, and
drive, you will have a great chance at getting in.

markr · 11-12-2007, 05:23 PM

What's your GPA (weighted and unweighted?)

Lana K. · 11-12-2007, 08:23 PM

Thanks. Do you have any ideas of how can I show on my application that I can handle the responsibility and would take advantage of field work?

Lana K. · 11-12-2007, 08:25 PM

my GPA is a 3.9 weighted and probably around a 3.4 unweighted

educated · 11-12-2007, 08:38 PM

From what they say on the website your numbers look like they fall right in Bennington's average zone.
I think your hook will be something having to do with your extracurriculars. Is there a situation, either with the violin, or any of your sports, where you did something outside of the box? Why were you in a community orchestra and not the school program (if there was one)? What are the situations in your life where you chose an individual path and not the usual one?
Why do you want to go to Bennington? What about the freedom, or the Field Work Term appeals to you?
Be honest, look at your experiences and try to see what you have done that points to you fitting in there and being successful.

BNKS12 · 12-07-2007, 09:38 PM

I am considering Bennington seriously this year. My GPA is not too high around 3.3. THe SAT is around 1300. Now,, I have this essay where I have explained why I would like to change the movie-making concept in my country by making new movies. Will that work in BEnnington. Should I change it? And, for the supplement essay, I would be really grateful if someone could explain me what the questions are expecting.. man they are soo confusing.

briansteffy · 12-09-2007, 09:03 PM

BNKS12 Bennington requires that, besides the essays that you use for the Common Application, you need respond to one of three supplemental essays. One deals with 'create a college course'. You might be able to work with your idea within that context. My S just got his paperwork in. My S's GPA is about the same as yours. From what we could tell, the comment of althosethings is most accurate. They are looking for a good fit. The interview seemed to be very important, perhaps even the one-on-one interaction with the tour guide - they do not do group tours. The person who has a 3.9 GPA likely exceeds that of the average HS GPA of the average new Bennington student. Also, Bennington is a test optional college. It is a very different school, and they need to identify students that can manage themselves in a less structured curriculum. As a prof at a conventional small LAC, I can say that high HS GPA/high SATstudents are a dime a dozen. Students who excel when left on their own in an non-prescribed, non-prefabricated curriculum are hard to find. Remember, the purpose of the High School Reunion (especially the 25th) is to personally confirm that HS stats predict little.

confuzedeyez · 12-14-2007, 08:10 AM

Hey guys, Bennington is my top choice (tho i didnt ED) and i spent a night up there about a month ago. The students there seemed to think that with a 3.5, 1370(out of 1600) sats, i was a shoe in. So don't worry. Bennington is more about the essay/interview/portfolio stuff, than anything else. The whole point of the school is that grades don't best display a students abilities

kristina.kruger · 12-16-2007, 10:16 AM

Hey guys-I am a junior this year. I am spending the year in Slovakia as an exchage student-and I have been looking up colleges in my free time. And OMG-I just stumbled upon Bennington and I think I'm in love. I love the Plan Process and the Field Work and the campus-oh I can't wait to apply. I am in the top 10% of my class-I am the editor in chief of the school newspaper-and head of the lighting department in school-plus other drama activities. I am just really hoping I get in-I hope to apply ED. Any tips?

briansteffy · 12-18-2007, 11:29 AM

Anyone know, given that men are still less than 40% of the student body, whether a male who has good essays, is interesting, and has a very good interview, has a good shot, even though the GPA is not stellar.

allthosethings · 12-18-2007, 11:34 AM

I think it depends on whether one's grades are across the boards not so good or if, for instance, one has several A's but also some C's, thus bringing down the gpa. I think that Bennington wants to see that you can be successful if you try, or really find something interesting. If you are weak in some particular area I don't think they care quite as much.

briansteffy · 12-19-2007, 08:27 AM

Thanks allthosethings. My son loved Bennington; one of those magical vibes. S had an ugly Freshaman year (GPA, 2.5), but since his junior year has been straight 'A', with perhaps one exception, this while acting in HS and regional productions and getting up at 5AM to lift for football - don't worry, he really hates football; he was just good at it and his HS is reminiscent of the 1950s. Its what you do if you are an athlete.
I stated this elsewhere: my wife and I are both LAC profs. We both said the same thing after the visit. If we could go to ANY (I mean any) college/university, it would be Bennington. We, of course, are older, but the fact that, as older educators, we felt this way, says a lot about the college and what kind of students should go (and who should not - require structure, are field-dependent, work best under the surveillance of tough love, needs to self-medicate) to Bennington.

BNKS12 · 12-21-2007, 09:25 PM

I went through the topics for the essays in the supplement. One of them says Conceive an organisation to deal with a political, global or social problem. I am not willing to do anything on HIV Aids or stuff as I know there will be many others doing the same. I wanted to form an organisation to deal with the local problems in my country, say rehabilitating the victims of the maoist insurgency, providing them education and stuff like that. Someone, familiar with BEnnington, please tell me...does that fit in? Or has it got be something global...meaning things like AIDS and all that. If you could help me on this, I would be happy to PM you my essay to gather responses.

jollymon · 12-22-2007, 06:18 AM

I loved that essay. My son actually had fun writing it as he took a rather fun approach to it. I don't want to say what he wrote, but it was a comical political essay. Son has 3.7 GPA (unweighted), ~1900 SAT, captain two sports, class president, national honor society, ect. What are his chances to get in? I think it is a really interesting school and puts out interesting graduates. Does everyone ra wait until April to hear?