Early Decision Questions

Colleges & Universities Brandeis University
1

<p>Alright, I have a few questions that I am curious about before I send off my app to Brandeis in this next week. Just some general info first:</p>

<p>As of today, I have an unweighted GPA of 4.0 (my school doesn’t weight), and my counselor tells me that she is checking the “most demanding” courseload box of my school report. I have two really excellent letters of reccomendation and a 2090 SAT (710 W, 700 M, 680 CR) with two good SAT IIs (670 Bio M and 710 US Hist). I have some really amazing state/national level EC’s.</p>

<p>While I know that all of that looks very good, I have two small problems:

  1. My essay isn’t going to be spectacular. Its going to be good, eventually (I’m working hard on it), but really I’m not the greatest writer and its not going to be a great piece of writing.
  2. I am likely to get at least one (no more than two) C’s this year. Either in AP Calc BC or AP Physics… two classes which I am finding very very difficult. I have low B’s in both classes right now and hope to keep it that way, but really I am starting to see my grades in those two classes slip a little. I will get A’s in all my other classes.</p>

<p>How do you think this will this alter my chances?</p>

<p>Thanks for the help whoever can offer it.</p>

2

<p>Obviously, C’s dont look great on a college app, but I still think you have reasonable chances for Brandeis as an ED applicant-- my D was accepted ED last year and her situation in SATs and grades was not so different to yours. </p>

<p>What will make a difference is also how your ECs and interests compare to the rest of the applicant pool and perhaps your ethnicity and geographic origin in terms of adding to “diversity” . On the other hand, they also admit plenty of Jewish kids from New Jersey or Long Island who are not “diverse” in this sense but have something else to offer–like they seem to be a really good “fit” for Brandeis and have a demonstrated commitment to a sport, activity, or potential major that the college wants to enhance.</p>

<p>Even if you are not a great writer, try to make your essay reflect what makes you unique and what you could contribute to the Brandeis community–also why you really want to be there as opposed to some other college.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the advice.</p>