Chance me for Middlebury!

randy0167 · 02-04-2010, 10:12 AM

Hi.

I'm a senior at a very good public high school in New Jersey and am curious of my chances at Middlebury.

Here are my stats:

- 4.0 GPA (my school doesn't rank but I am probably in the top 5-10 people out of a class of 350)
- 2380 SAT (800V, 800W, 780M)
- 800 and 760 on 2 SAT IIs

I have taken the hardest course load at my school (4 APs up until this year - all 5s) and am taking another 3 this year.

I am an all-state trumpet player, editor of the school paper, president of the community service club, captain of the nationally-recognized quiz bowl team, and have helped found a service non-profit that has raised over $20,000 (and has been recognized by CNN).

Main Awards: National Merit Semifinalist, Cum Laude, Harvard Book Award, Cornell Book Award, AP Scholar with Honor, President's Volunteer Service Award, Scholastic Writing Award (National Gold Medal)

What do you guys think?

Modadunn · 02-04-2010, 10:27 AM

I honestly don't know how your resume could be stronger. I know you're anxious come this time of year. Just remember to breathe and let us know how it all turns out in the spring! Good luck to you and keep up the great work!

evilspartan92 · 02-04-2010, 10:30 AM

I really don't think you need to be asking this. You're in the running for most Ivy League schools, and I'd say basically a shoe-in for Middlebury.

Don't take any offense to this, but is this a joke? Because if you're really this smart, you really wouldn't need to ask if you have a chance at Middlebury...

randy0167 · 02-04-2010, 10:36 AM

Nope - not a joke. I loved the school and did want to assess my chances since usually no more than 2-3 kids from my school are accepted (and 3 already got in ED cause of athletics).

evilspartan92 · 02-04-2010, 10:47 AM

Alright fair enough...still, you should not be worrying about Middlebury. It's basically a safety for you, or at least a very low match.

Modadunn · 02-04-2010, 10:52 AM

Evil.. have you forgotten the stress of college applications? There are tons of perfectly perfect GPA's and scores who are rejected from Ivies all the time. And while it ostensibly doesn't apply to Middlebury as a need-blind school, a lot of those perfectly perfect students get rejected from need aware schools if they are in need of a great deal of aid (or they're accepted with the expectation that they will take out a ton of loans to pay for it).

Believe me, I get why any kid likes a little reassurance, especially this time of year, and I know of plenty of schools where kids (athletes, legacies) get in ED whereas the RD kid without those things but with much higher stats is rejected. In fact, we have a kid who applied ED to Brown and was waitlisted with a near perfect GPA, class president and just about everything going for her that you can have going for you. It's just never a sure thing at these highly selective schools. Every year there is the kid who applied to all top ranked schools and didn't get into any of them. Rare for sure, but crap happens.

All of this said, I do think there is an excellent chance there will be a big fat envelope in Randy's mailbox come spring (about a week after you get to click on "decision" online), but I don't doubt there will be some nerves until then.

xXSalomon1080Xx · 02-19-2010, 10:20 PM

I would say excellent chances, but my only reservations would be that you have no sports. Many colleges, especially those liberal arts ones in the Northeast, are looking for the perfectly rounded student. I do believe that you should get in, just saying to all of you above saying no question, and that middlebury is a safety, that this is your one weakness, but good luck and i hope that you get in, you are clearly deserving.

randy0167 · 02-22-2010, 05:23 PM

I've played varsity tennis for the last two years... I just didn't include that cause I'm not a recruit/I don't stand out, but I am on my hs team.

ehoss · 02-23-2010, 11:55 PM

salomon--that's not quite right. as far as I know, athletics only really count if you plan to play in college, or a little if you have leadership as captain. and it doesn't hurt to not have participated in athletics in hs. most schools like middlebury would much rather accept students who excel in academics and one or two extracurricular interests than have students who do everything, but excel at nothing, and if you don't play sports, but show a strong interest and achievement in another area, that is wonderful.
also, I think you are a very strong applicant, and have great chances, but I also think you should take the comments of posters here with a grain of salt (as it seems you have)--middlebury is highly selective and lots of applicants with excellent grades, scores, and extracurricular accomplishments are turned down each year. you have good chances here and a shot at top ivies, but let's not get carried away

mommybird · 02-24-2010, 08:26 AM

randy, I think you have an excellent chance.
Isn't there a place on the common app that solicits extra curricular activities like sports team info? Seems like varsity tennis was worth a mention.

Modadunn · 02-24-2010, 08:45 AM

Son wasn't a recruited athlete. However was a four year three sport athlete, captain of two. Other than sports he didn't have a wealth of other EC's. In fact, not many at all. Seems to have shown he was very involved in the life of the school which was looked at positively since he was accepted.

xXSalomon1080Xx · 02-24-2010, 02:28 PM

randy, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that it was some major downfall. I was simply pointing out that that appeared to be the only thing on what was a fairly flawless resume of yours that was missing, but apparently I was incorrect.
And ehoss from what I have been told from every admissions counselor and interviewer who I have encountered, athletics are fairly important, even if you are not a captain of a team or recruited for them by the college, because unlike other ECs which may only be for half an hour every other week, sports are for several hours every day. Also, you have to work your entire life in order to play them in high school. They show commitment, and determination, and teach very important lessons to adolescents, unlike your high school glee club. I agree with you that Middlebury values strong academics and several activities, in which one is focused. However, Middlebury also values the physically active student. If you visit the college you will not observe many obese students that clearly do absolutely nothing. Finally, I am not simply talking about football and baseball, I am talking about kids who hike mountains or kayak in their free time.