<p>Not sure how strong your stats are but for regular decision admission is Very difficult without a major “hook”. My perception is that Wesleyan is the hardest admission sell – it is a highly rated New England small LAC. Colgate (my alma mater) is probably tied with Hamilton at this point, mainly because Hamilton has risen on the US ranking and has fewer spots, but Colgate appeals more to a sporty and traditional/preppy crowd. Bates used to be a bit more flexible for applicants and standardized scores are “optional” If you are considering Wesleyan and Bates, I strongly suggest that you look at Oberlin (before Jan 15 deadline). Although Oberlin is far from a safety school it satisfies similar criteria and your chances at RD may be 10% greater. If you are a recruited athlete, have GPA= or greater than 4.0, plus SATs of close to 2400, or are a development candidate you should get in to at least one of your original four schools. Good luck and best wishes!</p>