<p>Wesleyan is my number 1. I am planning on doing ED1. I knew they required two letters, my counselor told me that my jazz band director (someone who knows me better than anyone else at my school, and rehearsals can get up to 24 hours a week) would work as a letter writer. After only reading the common app which did not mention this I go to the admissions page to see that arts teachers don’t count as one of the writers. The application is due in 9 days and there is no way I can get someone to write one in that time. If I send it in with my director being one of the two am I just giving them an easy way to reject me? Is it worth sending it in at all?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>There is only a month between Wesleyan’s ED1 deadline and their decision, so it doesn’t really give you time to send in additional information to supplement your admissions file. If there was more time you could send in what you have, and then send in another recommendation more in keeping with their expectations. If you hustled maybe you could get another recommendation in short order and try that - or maybe it’s better to apply ED2?</p>
<p>Personally I wouldn’t put in an early application without everything Wesleyan wants. They get plenty of apps, and I would expect they would be likely to weed out applications lacking what they asked for.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that if you apply ED you will not be able to shop around for good merit/financial aid. Some schools give ED applicants less in grants because you are already committed. I don’t know what Wesleyan’s policies are. Hopefully you’ve had the financial talk with your parents and know what they can afford, as well as checking the NPC to see what the school is likely to cost you. If all that works, then ED could be a good option. </p>
<p>I think Wesleyan’s acceptance rate is around 20%, so for most students this school should be considered a reach. Only 40% of a class is composed of ED applicants.</p>
<p>There’s only one teacher I feel comfortable asking this late in the process and she just wrote back saying that she just got a concussion and does not have the ability to write one out. Wesleyan statistically is just beyond my scores. I was planning on using ed2 for my number 2 school if Wesleyan rejected me so I could try to ensure my enrollment there. I could go Wesleyan ed2, but there is no guarantee I could get another letter by then, and I run the risk of getting rejected at both schools.</p>
<p>If your scores are a bit low, then the rest of your application needs to be very strong. I see three choices: 1) work outside your comfort zone and ask another teacher, 2) ask your GC to help you brainstorm another teacher, 3) change your overall strategy. </p>
<p>If you feel really married to your existing strategy, then you owe it to yourself to try to find another teacher recommendation. Why are you applying ED?</p>
<p>ED seemed to be the best way to help accommodate for being slightly below average, as during an info session they made it pretty clear that ED helps out students applying. My standardized test scores are well within range, and I have very very strong extracurriculurs. If I were to ask another teacher I’d need to do ED2 because it’s unfair to ask a week before a due date to write a letter for me. I’ll meet with my guidance counselor tomorrow and see what he says, though he’s not exactly the most helpful guy.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses.</p>
<p>Ok, I see why you chose ED. Since their review is holistic you do stand a better chance. I understand your GC isn’t the most helpful, but do exhaust the resources you have. Sometimes the GC will know who might help out in a pinch.</p>
<p>Hope it all works out!</p>