Colby vs. Hamilton vs. Bowdoin [for ED2 application, 3.7 GPA, 1530 SAT]

College Search & Lists
41

I would agree that you should give your top choice , Bowdoin, your best shot with ED2. I think you need to know the outcome even if it turns out to be be negative You already have a few acceptances in the bag and your RD list is reasonably sound. So I would stop over-analyzing and go with your gut.

I would also agree that your disappointing outcome at Middlebury will not necessary preclude the same outcome at other selectives. In other words, as long as you have reasonable less selectives in your mix, there’s no reason not to include other reaches for both ED2 and RD.

Based on your profile and wishlist I would suggest you add Williams to your RD list. Williams like other New England LACs, admits heavily on fit and your academic interests (both STEM + writing intensive) and your outdoorsy ECs seem to be a good fit. Plus its strong “ski culture and easy access to ski slopes”.

Cornell? I don’t know. Despite its lively town within a rural setting, the culture seems to be on the opposite side of the scale from the LACs that you favor.

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42

Thanks for the advice, I’m definitely weighing the options. I already have William’s on my list for RD, and would definitely be seriously considering ED2 there if I could, but unfortunately that’s not an option.

Interesting to hear about Cornell. I really have no idea what the culture is like, I just know a lot of kids from my HS go there.

43

Dartmouth seems super competitive for my HS, with about a 1% RD acceptance rate — and I’m definitely not near the top 10% of my HS. I do like the idea of holding out for RD though, but again, I just worry that I won’t get in to any of my reaches and feel like I wasted my ED2.

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44

I really appreciate that advice. I think I wanna do a little more personal reflection/research and figure out what it really is I want in a school more specifically.

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45

Yeah, I definitely will apply to UVM. Every school on my list, from my research, seems to be a good fit for me, so at this point I feel like I’m just differentiating them by rank. I wanna do some more reflection though and figure out a better way to personally rank them.

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46

Who cares ? Their loss. Your confidence, your accomplishment and existence should be based on all you’ve done, not what an anonymous third party who doesn’t know you but sees your grades, rigor, test score and essay.

Truth is you are great. Fine SAT, maybe not the top rigor so could hurt, maybe not the top grades - but you are who you are.

Your success in life doesn’t matter if you go to Hamilton or Hofstra.

A bit confused though - you want to ski but skiing is for the wealthy and you are low income.

Bottom line - you’ve got great accomplishments. If you want ED 2 to better work than apply to Bates or Holy Cross - no assurance but better odds. Near 100% - Ithaca, Muhlenberg. Ursinus etc

Whether you go to new Paltz, Bowdoin or UVM, you’re going to take challenging classes with smart kids, professors you can get to know if you make an effort and make friends. The name stuff means little to society. And those aren’t even the LACs with the best career outcomes which typically are lower ranked like W&L, Richmond, Bucknell, Lafayette.

Are you low income ? CU would be tough from a cost POV as would UVM but Montana State is smaller, much cheaper and has great skiing that’s close.

If you bust tail and are persistent, you will do great in life. It’s no let down to get rejected. In fact, it’s a badge of Honor that you even tried.

And it’s a badge of Honor that even if your HS curriculum wasn’t the most rigorous that you took what interested you.

You be you and don’t worry about appearances. And if you tried your best always be proud.

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47

My son is a Williams grad and got his graduate degree from Cornell. For him, this was an ideal combination.

Had he not been admitted ED to Williams, Hamilton would have been a top alternative. He didn’t consider Bowdoin (or Middlebury) for other reasons but based on friends and colleagues I would say the cultures are similar to Williams’.

48

I’m middle income, definitely can’t afford full pay at a private but oos w/some merit aid can be OK. Skiing doesn’t have to be high income. I appreciate the assurance and will definitely be able to succeed wherever I end up.

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49

CU Boulder, best case, will be near $60K after merit (which typically is $6250 a year or as they say $25K - which is four years). If you can’t afford that, Montana State is STEM solid, better known, better for skiing, and is $49K before merit. You’d get at least $14k off - so $35K. You might get more.

Just in case CU at $60K isn’t going to work for you. And it’s one school (CU) that as you move off campus, your cost could go up (usually it’s the reverse). It’s about 17K kids vs. 35K kids at CU.

If you like Colorado, close to skiing, smaller, and totally STEM oriented is Colorado School of Mines, which has a fantastic reputation. Also not cheap. See their majors. My son and I were quite impressed on our visit - and it’s on the way to skiing (vs. Boulder). It has non-engineering majors as well and since you like smaller, it might fit you better than CU.

Undergraduate Programs - Academics

50

The NESCACs are famous for their overlaps with Ivies. Hence, their low yield rates during the RD rounds. There was an Atlantic Magazine article on the history of ED that gave that as a main reason for its invention: The Early-Decision Racket - The Atlantic

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51

Okay, I’ve read the entire thread. Here’s my take:

  1. Do not apply to Cornell, if you are looking for a LAC experience. Just don’t.
  2. Trust your h.s. Counselors over the advice you get here.
  3. That being said, you’re an outstanding candidate and have an excellent chance at getting into at least one NESCAC during the RD round.
  4. Go for Bowdoin ED2 and get it out of your system.
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52

100% do not apply to Cornell if you like the LACs.

Next, you haven’t said anything about what your counselor says about your chances at these highly rejective schools. Especially being outside of the top 10%, and it sounds like relatively low rigor compared to the top in your class(?), they are the best one to give you advice on what level of school is an attainable reach and worth the ED2 app. So, what do they say? Do you have any C’s?

You are going to be successful wherever you go to college. It sounds like you know that, but please work hard to get into the right state of mind where you aren’t ranking schools by popularity/low acceptance rate/prestige. That’s probably not helpful advice for deciding where you want to ED2…but you have to work thru your emotions to make this decision.

Lastly, talk with your counselor about how best to handle this. It is 100% appropriate for you to put this in addt’l info, especially if your counselor doesn’t write it. Just a sentence or two for the facts. Not ‘the school profile is wrong.’ Not any complaining. Just like you wrote here: “I couldn’t take AP Lit, AP lang, or AP Physics C due to scheduling issues.”

Good luck.

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53

My school counselors just tell me to apply to CUNYs and that Bing is a hard target with Bard being my reach. They’re known to tell everybody at my school this, because there’s 400 kids per counselor, and I met with them once last spring. I would say not being in top 10% is a little less of a concern since my school is a highly competitive magnet school which you have to test into. My GPA is probably about in the top 30%, but my HS claims a 5-6% acceptance rate from all NYC 8th graders to get in. My rigor is probably in the top 30% as well. My lowest grade is a B-.

Private counseling that is well aware of my schools reputation tells me that I have a decent shot at Hamilton and Colby with slim odds at Bowdoin.

I still of course understand all these schools are reaches/far reaches, and I’m definitely trying to expect the worst. However, it seems like I still have a shot at a lot of these schools and want to give it my best shot.

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54

In the end, you can only go to one - and you’ve already got great acceptances with more to come.

So it doesn’t hurt to apply to the schools you’ve mentioned, assuming you truly want to go to them.

Worst case is they say no. But guess what, if you get into all 3, you’re going to say no to two of them anyway and the other 6-8 you get into.

If you want a small school, a Bing seems an odd choice. New Paltz better. There’s, of course, many an LAC you will get into - whether Hobart which you mentioned and Pennsylvania has a lot. For a safety, I only read wonderful things on here about Susquehanna. And they provide big, big merit! You have, harder to get Lafayette, in Easton. They’ve got skiing in PA too :slight_smile:

The point being - take your shots. You don’t need counselor guidance for that. As long as you have the time and money for apps, then taking a shot is worth it. You can’t get in if you don’t try - and if you don’t get in, it’s their loss. Many already want you and you can want and love one of them back!!

You got this !!

55

For what it is worth, my son applied to all three of these schools regular in 2024 and was waitlisted at Bowdoin. Accepted at both Hamilton and Colby. Attending Colby. He wanted to check out the schools at accepted students days so did not apply ED2 considered doing so to Bowdoin. He never toured Hamilton decided he wanted Maine and all the outdoor adventures that brings. Attending Colby and loves it. Studying a lot and having fun. Also got into UVM honors with merit money which will likely be your case as well. I think all of our kids got that. If Bowdoin is your first choice I would lean towards ED2 but that is just one opinion.

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56

Here’s the story of a young girl by me, who went safety (Auburn) over reach (Yale) and is making more $, per payscale, vs either school’s grads at this stage.

Why ? I’m sure she’s exceptional. The school name is secondary. So don’t worry that you don’t get into a reach. It doesn’t change who you are.