Intended majors: Earth Science, Environmental Studies, Medieval and Renaissance Studies
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: N/A
Weighted HS GPA (incl. weighting system): 3.56 (this was the one my HS has submitted to colleges and the only one we use)
Class Rank: N/A (my school does not disclose this, but I’d guess top 35%)
ACT/SAT Scores: N/A ( I didn’t submit)
Coursework
Advanced Classes (past 2 years):
AP Language
AP Literature
AP Computer Science
AP Government
College-Level Challenge U.S History
College-Level Challenge Modern European History
Current Coursework:
Semester 1:
Theology
Statistics
Biology
AP Literature
College-Level Challenge Modern European History
Creative Writing
AP Government
Semester 2:
Theology
Statistics
Biology
AP Literature
College-Level Challenge Modern European History
Showchoir and Acapella
Advanced Health
Awards
NHS
First Honors x4
Computer Science Excellency Award
2020 National Geographic GeoBee State Qualifier
Extracurriculars
Violin/Fiddle: 10 years. Local youth symphony, school rock band, personal
Varsity Choir: 3 years (General choir since 3rd grade). District champs x2
Theater: 4 years. Intl Thespian Society member, 10 shows, several main roles, costume director x2, writer/director for school One Act Festival
Literary Arts Magazine: 3 years. I am the media/marketing lead. Our magazine has won dozens of national awards (including Scholastic)
Irish Dance: 2 years (technically 7, but I took a break before HS and picked it up again in 11th grade). I am on a team that competed at the Western US regionals, and I rank 14th in the region.
Writing: I write poetry and stage plays. I am currently working on a novel that sits at around 300 pages
Illustration/Animation: I draw/animate extensively, and have a large portfolio. My work has been published several times
Climate Activism: I organized a city-wide climate strike, met with and made demands of politicians, and was interviewed by many news organizations, including appearing on the local news
Employment: 2 years. I work at a wilderness survival skills summer camp. I have been promoted several times and am well-respected there
Cost Constraints / Budget
My family can’t afford more than 25k per year in tuition after aid
Schools
I’m only wondering about my Vassar application. I just need to brace myself before it comes out in a few days.
I’ve already been accepted to Bard and Mount Holyoke.
I was waitlisted at Skidmore.
I was rejected from Smith, Scripps, Pomona, and Bryn Mawr
Bard gave me 58k and MHC gave me 29k, so they are both affordable by a lot! I am currently thinking if I don’t get in at Vassar I will go to MHC/try to get off of the waitlist at Skidmore
If you can’t afford more than $25K and MHC is $86K, then how does that work for you if they gave you just $29K - which would mean you’d need to pay $57K.
Unfortunately, you can’t try to get off a wait list. And most are need aware so they will go to full pay. Do your LOCI but move on from Skidmore to one of your acceptances (assuming affordable).
Last year, they offered WL spots to 2903 (more students than they admitted). 15 got off - so just to be realistic.
Pick the one you want (sounds like MHC) that’s affordable - and make it a great four years!!
Since costs outside of tuition vary from school to school, it’s best to compare your estimated out-of-pocket costs for each school (and also how much loan debt is built into each package). Comparing aid amounts isn’t really meaningful.
But, you have two great admits and it sounds like you can afford them, so congrats!
Based on your other results, I’d say that the odds are against a Vassar acceptance, as it’s more competitive than any of your other schools except for Pomona. For now, I’d assume that you’ll be deciding between MHC and Bard - two great options! - and if Vassar comes through (or a Skidmore WL offer), let it be a happy surprise.
You aimed high, and while rejections are tough, you got into great schools. I recommend focusing on your acceptances and getting excited about the options you already know you have. Again, congrats!
So if it was me (and I guess this means I would have to be NiceUnparticularWoman), I would be choosing Mount Holyoke (which I understand you to prefer to Bard) and not looking back. It seems like such a great fit for you academically, and if I understand correctly they gave you a very generous aid offer, and in general it is a beautiful school, part of Five Colleges–just a really attractive option. I guess if you had reasons to love Skidmore you could consider a waitlist offer, but again if it was me I would probably not even bother.
Of course Vassar is great too, so if that comes through with a good offer you then would have an interesting decision to make. But at this point I would see that as very low pressure because you have such a stellar option for you already lined up.
Yes, COVID did a number on me in Freshman year, but fortunately I have raised my GPA semester by semester from 3.0 to 4.1. Thanks all for the kind words, you make me feel much more sound about MHC.
