Chance Me: ED1 to Wesleyan - MN

Chance Me / Match Me
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I applied ED1 to Wesleyan University but I am SO scared bc a lot of my academic stats fall below their standard. I have a 3.75 UW GPA and superscored a 33 ACT. My school doesn’t do rank. I’ve taken mostly higher level classes including honors, AP, IB, dual enrollment, and PSEO with Normandale CC. I’ve gotten 3s and 4s on all my AP classes. I’ll have taken AP Calc AB and AP Stats, AP Chem, IB Bio HL, and IB Physics SL (school doesn’t offer higher) by the end of this year.

I’m really depending on my ECs to boost my application. I’ve worked an internship at the nature center for the past 4 years where I’ve worked in outdoor education, I’m president of my student council (treasurer for two years before), vice president of NHS, and served on the superintendent’s advisory council since 5th grade. Other than academics, I’m vice president of the rock climbing club, captain of the ultimate frisbee team, social media coordinator for Girls United, and lots of other things without leadership positions like theatre, anti-racism, orchestra, and been on Students for a Free Tibet outside of school. I briefly had a job with a toy store in junior year, but I left it out of my application as it felt less important than other things.

My essay was kind of bad I think; it’s about how I’ve wished on stars every night since I was 4 and the importance of hope and dreams throughout life. I had a lot of drafts about my family’s immigrantion and other things, but my counselors and friend’s all assured me that the one I submitted was the most me. I have letters from my counselor, AP Chem teacher, and two PSEO professors, both who I took a psychology course with.

I’m applying as a psych major and I want to go into pediatric OT when I grow up. I was really hoping to show my passion for kids with my internship, but I’m not sure that its enough. I didn’t finish HS French and dropped after French 2, but I’ve taken Tibetan language courses outside of school since I was a kid and even lived in a monastery in India over the summer in middle school. I applied for need based aid as well and I’ve been closely in contact with the financial aid office because of noncustodial parent waivers (I haven’t had contact or child support from my dad since my parents divorce in 2010).

I know this is a lot to look at but help is so appreciated!!! I’ve never been so scared of rejection before but I really love Wes and can’t imagine anywhere else right now. Thank you!

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Could you please do the chance me/match me thread using the template…and please answer ALL of the prompts on the template completely.

You wrote in a paragraph which isn’t exactly easy to read.

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Why be scared ? There’s a zillion colleges out there for everyone. If you get into Wes - great. If not, there will be others. Guess what - all colleges have bad profs, roomies, dorms, food - whatever. There is no dream. You like Wes - there are others similar in characteristic and hopefully they are on your list too, just in case.

If you don’t get in, you won’t know why. Could be two years of French and you stopped? Could be money - you need too much - they are need aware for some? Could be anything and you’ll never know.

So hope for a good outcome but you seem a great student. If Wes decides differently - it’s their loss. Many will love you. Make sure you have that list ready to apply RD if you haven’t EA.

Your existence is much bigger than a college decision. You’ll be fine.

Good luck.

1 Like
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This is exactly what I was thinking also.

Based on what I am seeing on PrepScholar, Wesleyan has approximately a 16% acceptance rate. This makes it a reach for pretty much everyone. A GPA of 3.75 is very good, and will get you into many very good schools, but is just slightly low for Wesleyan. It looks like your ACT should be okay.

It is very difficult to predict whether you will be admitted, other than to say that you have a chance but it is a reach.

However, there are a very large number of very good universities and colleges, and a very large number of universities are very good for psychology.

This is a very worthy goal. However, you can do this with a bachelor’s degree from any one of a huge number of schools.

If Wesleyan is clearly your top choice, and if you are sure that you can afford it, and you have already applied, then wait and see what happens.

However, while you are waiting make sure that you also apply to a range of schools, including safeties.

To me this makes it difficult to know for sure whether or not Wesleyan will be affordable if you get accepted. However, a school being not affordable is the main legitimate reason to turn down an ED offer. Hopefully it will be affordable, and if not then your communication with them has hopefully already clarified what you need.

I am pretty sure that Wesleyan is need aware for admissions, which might impact your chances depending upon how much aid you need and how their budget happens to be this year.

Years ago when applying to graduate programs I was turned down by my dream school. A few weeks later I got accepted into my second choice. The week that I actually arrived on campus I completely forgot about my so called “dream school”. I sort of felt it right away, but rather quickly it became clear that the school that actually accepted me was in fact a way better fit for me, and was exactly the right school for me.

It is at least entirely possible that you might find yourself with a similar experience. You should try to keep an open mind, and make sure that you are applying to a range of schools, including some for which acceptance is way more likely.