Chance for Wellesley (ED2) [4.0 UW, 1590 SAT]

Chance Me / Match Me
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My daughter and I just finished visiting colleges and (although still grappling with the idea of winter weather) LOVED Wellesley. I just am trying to get a handle on whether she has a good shot at Wellesley ED2. Right now she’d like to apply to Brown for ED1 as her shot in the dark high reach (despite the weather) AND (since most likely outcome is denial) she would like to have a strong option in ED2. Just a recap of her stats so it helps:

  • Straight A’s (large public HS doesn’t rank, but likely top 1% of class, UW GPA 4.0, full IB diploma)/ SAT 1590 / PSAT 1520 NMF likely
  • Varsity tennis / track & field / journalism / photography - average ECs, no awards
  • Will likely have strong LOR and essays
  • Asian from CA / Introverted may or may not be interested in Greek system
  • Interested in wide liberal arts possibly English or History major but also loves Math and Physics (hard to narrow down for her at this point)

Thanks in advance!

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A college with a 13% acceptance rate is not a target. And given the ED acceptance rate is considerably higher than 13%, the RD acceptance rate is considerably lower.

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I do not think that Wellesley is a “target” for anyone. The exception might be if the student or their parent is a Nobel Prize winner or leader of a moderate sized nation. Even with your daughter’s superb stats I would still classify it as a reach, although perhaps a reasonable reach.

And yes, I did meet one student at MIT whose parent actually was the leader of a moderate sized nation. The student was also very smart, a very good student, and a nice person.

As long as you are sure that you can afford it, I think that ED to Brown and ED2 to Wellesley is a perfectly reasonable strategy for your daughter. Do not count on getting accepted to either, and make sure that applications are also in at universities where acceptance is far more likely.

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@skieurope and @DadTwoGirls Sorry - I should clarify my question! If my daughter were to apply ED2 to Wellesley (according to their common data set the acceptance rate for ED is 30%) should she consider it a target or reach school? Thanks!

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Wellesley is a reach for basically everyone

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Given that out-of-state domestic applicants are accepted to Wellesley at a rate ~21% greater than general applicants, I believe your daughter, as an excellent student, could develop Wellesley into a match (of some type, perhaps a high match) with a well-crafted ED2 application.

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I’d say it like this - target, reach - it doesn’t matter.

That’s not how you build a list.

You build a list from the ground up - the most important school is the one that she will get into, will love, and you can afford. Maybe for you it’s Mount Holyoke or maybe it’s Rochester (a likely) or an uber safety with an open curriculum like Kalamazoo. Or if you want to be out West, maybe it’s an Occidental, etc. Whatever it is, that’s what you need. That is THE MOST important school on your list in my mind.

After that - the list doesn’t matter- if you want to take your shots - take your shots. You can apply to only sub 10% schools - because you have that - the I’d love it here assured acceptance at a price you’re willing to pay - if those reaches don’t work.

Brown is a reach and doesn’t give an ED lift (their own words). It does give you an earlier decision. “Please do not assume that your admission chances are improved by applying under the Early Decision plan. The Board of Admission makes the same decisions under Early Decision that it would under the Regular Decision plan.”

Wellesley (two years ago) let in 259 of 887 ED so it appears a lift.

If those are truly her top two and you are comfortable with the cost and not being able to compare offers, then you ED.

It doesn’t matter if both are reaches or safeties or reaches, etc. And stat wise, your daughter is in a wonderful place.

ED should not be taken lightly - why would you ED to a school, hoping you didn’t get accepted because you want to see what would happen at Wellesley because it’s truly your #2?

btw - no one needs to ED and many don’t - so if you get shot down ED, it doesn’t mean you’ll be homeless - you just have to plan your list accordingly.

But a list needn’t be safety, match, reach.

It needs to be safety (2-3 at least) that are affordable and the student would love to be there…and then after that the list can be as you want.

The decision making selectivity doesn’t necessarily make a school better - and it seems like that’s what you’re getting at with your buckets. Plenty of easy to access schools have leading programs, in other words - so find some more Browns and Wellessleys of the world - that she can love - but that will be a more likely acceptance - just in case those two don’t work out - and they very well might - but they also might not. And don’t worry about buckets other than those safety schools.

Wonderful student - good luck.

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Thanks for the thoughtful answer. I am just terrible at phrasing my question it seems, so I went back to edit. Yes, we have a fully developed college list of about 10 schools from likely to reach. Brown and Wellesley are reaches. Realizing that Brown is high high reach, would love opinions on what her chances at Wellesley might be. Wesleyan and WashU are the other two schools on her list that offer ED2 (with the commensurate bump in acceptance rates) but she really really loved Wellesley, just second after Brown. So - basically just trying to figure out, with her stats if she has a shot at Wellesley ED2 thanks.

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I would agree with others that Wellesley is a reach, but one that she’d have a good shot at - if she applied ED2 especially. It’s a crapshoot- the ED2 might just put her over.

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That’s really the answer.

I’m not a big believer in attempting to maximize ED applications based in acceptance rate. What’s key is whether AO’s will think she’s right for their school based on the application. If Wellesley is her top ED2 school and you’ve run the numbers, then that’s where she should apply.

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If she doesn’t get into Brown ED,wants to ED2 to a second reach school, loves Wellesley, and the college appears affordable then go for it.

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I see @skieurope posted but to reiterate, this is all that matters. Why go ED to WUSTL if she wants to be at Wellesley.

I don’t know if your student would get in or not - but I do know if you don’t apply, you won’t. And I do know if you apply ED to another school not in your top two and get in - you won’t get consideration for the one you want. Besides, the same concern you have for Wellesley you could have for WUSTL - about getting in.

I think kids should believe in themselves!! And parents in their kids.

Now, if you were a 3.5 1200, maybe we have a different chat.

But you’re a top 1% of class, 1590 athlete. If not you, then who? Let them say no - your student has done everything they can do!!

Let me pivot as I often do - cost are clearly not an issue - and I’ll assume you are full pay - but since you mention NMF, you do know you could go for free or near free or heavily discounted at some great schools, thus saving you - potentially $380-400K. A school like Tulsa, as an example, keeping on the smaller side - full ride. 25%+ of their students are national merit scholars so lots of brain power. Then you have large flagships, schools like Fordham, USC, etc. but those seem bigger than you want.

You didn’t ask - but since you noted NMF, just throwing that out in case you didn’t realize.

Good luck

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Reach.

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Kindly keep responses on-topic to the OP’s question. I presume the OP will let us know if they need additional help with their list. Thanks for your understanding.

(Bold font added by moderator)

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She has a shot. I wouldn’t say target, but I would not be surprised by a yes. I also agree with the ED strategy thing- but if it is her second choice and the NPC is affordable, go for it. I was so jealous of the kids that knew where they were going to college before March :joy:

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Yes, she has a shot at Wellesley. ED or ED2 appears to statistically help there.

She can be preparing all of her essays for Brown, Wellesley, and the other ED2 possibilities you mention so if her interests change she can shift the RD and ED2 applications around as they are all due at about the same time.

With several the high, high reach colleges leaving the test optional world behind for the next application round, there may be shifts in the number of applications, adding to these unpredictable outcomes.

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Yes! She has a very good shot at Wellesley ED 2. Can you afford it?

Take a look at results for this student who appplied to LACs this year. I suspect she would have gotten into Tufts too, had she applied ED or somehow convinced them she would attend, if accepted. Chance Me - DD 35 ACT; 4.0 uw GPA; Swarthmore ED

EDs are reaches by definition. Of course you will make sure that she applies to safeties. And BTW, early sept can be very hot and humid, fall can be gorgeous, winters have been getting milder, and spring can be glorious, so do not fear the weather as much as you might.

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However, I wonder what people imagine regarding “considerably.” Based on its most recent CDS, Wellesley’s overall acceptance rate was 13.9% and its RD acceptance rate was 11.7%.

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