This is the official discussion thread for Macalester Class of 2028 RD applicants. Ask your questions and connect with fellow applicants.
Did everyone here receive the Regular Decision, decision making survey?
1 Like
We received it. I wouldn’t think anything of it. My daughter applied EA and received the same survey right before decisions came out…and she was deferred despite very strong stats and application. Alas. Hoping for RD. Good luck, everyone!
3 Likes
Decisions are out guys!
Are all decisions out - or just waitlist
waitlist here
Deferred from EA and WL now. Second guessing submitting my SAT as application, recs, & activities were very strong.
2 Likes
same for DS (defer and then WL). He submitted a 1490, which was well over the median for enrolled students last year (and he also had great grades, rigor, ECs, etc), so I wouldn’t spend time second guessing. This kid’s 1550/4.0 older brother had a TON of waitlists (and some great acceptances, including Mac and more selective schools). It just happens.
1 Like
Good to know - thank you for sharing. Fingers crossed for us both.
1 Like
Macalester RD admissions decisions are in. Check your emails and portals. Good luck and god bless.
2 Likes
Denied.
3 Likes
Deferred then waitlisted. Did their admissions interview with the international admissions staff after the deferral, updated the optional essays but did not write a letter of continued interest. Guess that’s why they pooled me into the waitlist. My stats are not perfect (IB student with a 115 Toefl and 1540 SAT single), but I got into Colorado College and Reed College with those. Probably it’s the problem of not fit enough. Also in the city I live in, two students have already been accepted through ED1 and ED2, so in terms of demographic diversity, they didn’t have to admit me for that. Pretty frustrated and furious though. All those effort I put into Macalester’s application had turned out to be just a letter of waitlist.
1 Like
when did you get REED? I have not got yet, did you notice any portal changes?
1 Like
I got into Reed by EA. It was released on December 22nd.
I’m sorry that you are furious and frustrated. With highly selective colleges, including Macalester, they need to make tough decisions and simply cannot accept every qualified applicant that applies. That is how college admissions works. Many students with perfect GPA, 1500+ SAT, and great extracurriculars are not accepted to Mac.
1 Like
DS is admitted, but he doesn’t want to take out 22K in loans and I can’t afford to pay 9K a year as a disabled veteran. Maybe a miracle can happen.
For posterity: D24 was accepted with $25k/year merit. Top 5%, 35 ACT, 12-13 APs. She interviewed but did not visit.
Mac’s NPC was $32k/year exclusive of merit aid. But with merit aid, D24’s cost would be about $27k/year. Having looked at Mac’s CDS, I had presumed that kids either got merit aid or financial aid but not both.
Anyhow, I’m not sure we can afford Mac, but it’s a great school and we’re thrilled. I honestly would like to write their admissions and thank them. This is a brutal, humbling experience and the one silver lining is gratitude.
5 Likes
dont waste energy being “furious” - there is a lot to this process that we cant see and have some faith that you will end up somewhere perfect for you!
is that 22k per year or 22k total over 4? because if we are talking about the latter, I would say it is worth considering - 22K total is manageable. In that case she would have a payment of about $250 to pay it off in 8 years, and there are lots of loan forgiveness programs as well…
1 Like