Note that social science research suggests low predictive value for the Reading and Science sections of the ACT (on the level of “statistical noise,” actually).
I would be weary about the ACT because of 2 reasons:
- 25 is low for your reaches
- you state that you’re taking precalc as a senior, and this combined with the low math ACT may be a red flag to some schools. If you had calculus and strong math grades, I might lean towards submit but it doesn’t seem like that is the case. I think you really should see about taking the ACT or again or the SAT.
OP, what are your grades in Math?
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I have earned As in every math course I have taken in high school. I faired much worse in middle school due to the combined pressure of mental & physical illness and personal frustration with the subject. I’m not an absolutely terrible math student, but it’s one of those subjects where I think I likely benefit from a slower learning process. I really do need to get my math ACT up, but sometimes I feel like endlessly doing practice tests isn’t helping.
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Have you tutored ?
You don’t need to get it up.
It’s a choice.
But it could (no way to say definitely) hinder you at certain schools.
Guess what - if you study art history at Willamette instead of Wellesley (just making up a name) - no matter where you go - you will determine your future success far more than the school.
If it’s too much stress apply TO or with test (you’ve heard both perspectives) and let the chips fall where they may.
The odds of Wellesley are slim before you start - but that’s why you have a balanced list.
No doubt many schools will provide a wonderful education for a future art historian.
So don’t overstress yourself.
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Just a reminder mentioned before - you’ll need LORs from two teachers. At least in post one, you mentioned one.
Here’s what Wellesley says:
Wellesley requires two letters of recommendation from teachers.
Carefully consider which teachers you want to ask to fill out your evaluation. Have they gotten to know you personally? Have they seen you improve? Can they comment on your learning style?
Be sure to give your chosen teachers enough time to write your letter of recommendation. They are, after all, busy people with full lives.
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I’ll say that some of the stronger matches for your interests, perhaps most notably Kenyon and Skidmore, appear to be languishing deep in your list of schools.
As a future looking comment, if you maintain a strong interest in philosophy as a college student, look into the Hamilton College Summer Program in Philosophy (HCSPIP), which is open to students from other institutions.
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Great job on all of your high school accomplishments! You are a very accomplished student and should be proud of all you have achieved.
My 2 cents:
Look at the ACT dates, focus on the math prep and consider retaking. A private tutor could help you be really efficient on the areas you are stuggling in and get that number up a bit. A few hours of math tutoring/practice could make a big difference.
Review your high school data for your top schools. Our school uses Scoir. That data from the last 2-3 years is very telling. What’s the average GPA and ACT for your high school at your top colleges? Make a spreadsheet.
Are you above or below those numbers? Keep in mind, some of those applicants had a hook–athlete etc which may pull the data lower for ED. If you don’t have a hook, and you are still above the avg data for your high school, it’s worth a shot!
For example…If I look at Scoir data for my high school (top high school in MA) and look up Tufts in Scoir, the avg GPA of accepted students is a 4.4 weighted GPA for Reg Dec and a 4.25 for ED. If my GPA is a 4.1 and I’m unhooked, I would not waste my ED shot on Tufts. Seems very very unlikely.
Go through this process for your top schools and see if it’s worth a shot to ED to Wellesley. Then, think through a potential ED 2 strategy if you get deferred from your ED 1 school.
Good luck!
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No advice, just adding that I graduated from Wellesley and majored in Art History. It was the best four years and I wish I could do it all over again!
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My school uses Naviance, not Scoir. However, when I look at Naviance, I can see other girls from my school have gotten in with similar/below stats: 31 ACT + 4.0, 31 ACT + 3.7. These were regular decisions as well. Of course, there are also people who got in with better stats than me: 33 ACT + 3.9, 35 + 4.0, 35 + 4.3. Again, these were all regular decisions. I think this could bode well for me. Though it’s difficult to know how recent these stats are. 2024 data hasn’t been inputted yet. My school does have a high student-athlete population, too. There really should be some kind of marker on Naviance/Scoir identifying someone as a student-athlete. I still want to get my math up a little. Just a 5-point increase in math could get me a 34.
That is really encouraging to hear! Can you mention some specifics of the art history program at Wellesley? Why did you like it so much?
Also, I hear a lot about “grade deflation” at Wellesley. Did you find it to be as severe as people claim? Sometimes I think “grade deflation” is just a regression to normal grading standards as opposed to the rampant grade inflation that so many schools have these days.
Ask your counselor if those students submitted test scores or not, or were hooked in any way (athlete, first gen, URM, etc). It’s important to have this context when categorizing schools and/or deciding to submit scores or not.
Maybe I missed it, but are you registered for another ACT? I think you said you can’t take the July test. Registration for tests later than July will open sometime in July (Sept 14 is the next one after July 13.) Sept may be the latest test you can take to be considered for EA/ED apps although some schools might allow scores from the Oct 26 sitting.
I know those scores were submitted; Naviance shows that. I’m unsure about hooks, though. I will ask my counselor.
As I said, I cannot take the July test. I’m going to have to take the September test as a last chance.
Even though the scores are in Naviance that doesn’t mean the student applied with a test score. AFAIK there is no way in Naviance to denote at the individual level by school (so on the scattergrams) whether or not a student applied TO…often HS counselors don’t even know that.
My apologies. I thought there was because there is a box you can check to see if someone applied for test-optional. I thought that was on the individual level.
I don’t think the Naviance matters personally.
If you want to ED to Wellesley because it’s your top choice, then you should ED to Wellesley regardless of what the data says. You’re certainly “in range” - but the question would be to go TO or not. You’ve heard both perspectives - and you should ask your counselor - and you should even ask Wellesley (once in a while, you find a school that will give this guidance).
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I graduated quite a bit ago, but I never had a bad professor. They were all smart, caring, and engaging. I was able to do a double honors thesis combining my two majors (Art History and Japanese Studies). I can’t speak to grade deflation now. I worked hard (but still had a social life) and graduated with straight As in my majors. The women I met in my residence hall the first year are like sisters, and we are still close 30+ years later.
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The Wellesley sisterhood is real (I am not an alumna, and nobody in my family went their either). I have friends in their 60’s who still consider their hallmates their best friends, even the ones who are halfway around the world and they only see each other on Zoom. I have professional colleagues who will take a phone call from a Wellesley senior asking “I don’t know what I want to do with my life, can you help me?” and indeed- they can help.
Very powerful network!
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If you love Wellesley go for it. Maybe pick an ED2 as well for a backup if you like smith or Mount Holyoke. Both have great programs. With the amount of selective liberal arts classes filling their first year classes with ED students it is really tough to gauge RD. I ED’d for Mount Holyoke this year- I loved Wellesley but think I’m better suited for Mount Holyoke. Mt Holyoke and Smith aren’t need blind like Wellesley which honestly probably helped me (I’m not rich but they meet needs and I’m an only child with parents who can pay so….)
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I would seriously think about retaking the ACT. Get the Black book and study the math. With a 25 I think it is a real debate if you submit the scores or not. You might wait and do ED2 to get a better score and more grades to present your best package. A lot of the LAC’s are taking at least 1/2 the class in the ED cycle.
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While you claim this is bad advice, there is a similar chat on this thread - starting on 54 (there’s a few below).
If you submit a 32 to a school that has a 33, you’re brining down the average - and no school wants their # to go down.
I don’t know the right answer…I’m not sure anyone does.
But to say it’s just bad advice runs counter to what many posters historically have said - and there’s discussion / debate about this exact scenario on this other thread related to similarly difficult to get into schools so OP might find it relevant.