I have a HUGE problem. I’m a senior, about to graduate, and I still haven’t been accepted to a college. I’m on the waitlist at Skidmore and Hamilton, and was rejected from Vassar and Franklin and Marshall. I was supposed to apply to Muhlenberg (when I interviewed there, the guy said if I applied, I’d get in) but my dad never gave me the application fee and he said deadlines weren’t really deadlines but by then I couldn’t apply.
My Stats:
SAT: 750V/670M
ACT: 35 Reading;33 English;29 Science;27 Math
GPA: school does it by strict percentages 93.583% weighted, no idea unweighted
Rank: 31/189
It’s obvious on my transcript that I have a weakness in math and my lower grades are in things like Health and Futures I (both had tryannical teachers who based grades on stupid projects)
I’ve taken all Honors/AP courses (when availible, except for math) and I’m a year ahead of everyone else my age- I’ll be seventeen in June.
Activities:
Drama Production- eight consecutive years in Musical plus two of the fall dramas
Debate- speaker, on semi-final team (4 best debaters in school)
African Drum Circle- been in it for two years, coordinated all the stuff to play at Cultural Diversity Week @ school
National Honor Society
Literary Magazine- designer, we’ve won top awards in PA; Keystone award for the 15 best in the state
Job/Volunteer Stuff:
I’ve done the mandatory NHS stuff, volunteered at a theatre a few times, worked 35hrs/week in the summer, and other small stuff
Great recs and great essay (won me the writer of the month award @ my school)
So I’m wondering what I should do. Does anyone know of any colleges who would still accept me? Should I take a year off and do something- travel, work? Start in January if possible? I’m really lost here and sick of just hoping it all works out because it probably won’t.
<p>I see Drew is on the available list. Very nice location, and home of some major theater productions. Since it sounds like you are in the NY area, it might work for you logistically since it’s in NJ. Good luck.</p>
<p>Though it’s not listed on NACAC, Simmons College in Boston is still accepting first-year applications according to their website. They are a small women’s college with a nice choice of majors and they are located right in Boston among several other larger colleges and universities. Check their site and call them if you like what you see. I believe they waive the application fee if you submit online. Good luck and keep up posted with your story.</p>
<p>Skidmore has a freshman semester in London program for the fall semester that takes 36 students abroad and then brings them back to Saratoga Springs for the January semester. You may want to inquire if it is possible for you to be considered for this program as an alternative to Saratoga (if they are not planning to take anyone from the waitlist for their main campus).</p>
<p>Or you could wait out the waiting lists and if nothing comes, get a job and save some money for tution (and application fees!), gather “real world” experience, more independence and apply next time around to Muhlenberg, Drew, Goucher–perhaps Susquehanna U. College of New Jersey,… I worked a year between high school and college and was then a happy, more mature freshman.</p>
<p>It seems that Mulhenburg really wanted you. If you call, explain what happened with your app and explain that you have no acceptances, they may still be willing to accept you at this late date.</p>
<p>You also could take a year off and do some structured travel, volunteer work, work a job – any job that would give you real world experience. Then you could apply again.</p>
<p>Assuming that you aren’t planning to major in a math-oriented subject, the math weakness would probably keep you out of places like HPYS and the top ranked LACs, but should not stand in your way to get into second tier places or many schools at the bottom of the first tier. A productive gap year could boost you into colleges that rejected you before. </p>
<p>The problem with LACs is that being a female is a disadvantage because more females want to go to LACs than males do. Thus, when comparing your stats to LAC colleges’, don’t assume that if you’re in the top 25%, it’s a sure bet. I don’t think your health and futures grades are hurting you because many colleges don’t consider such courses when evaluating students’ transcripts.</p>
<p>If $ is a problem, don’t set yourself up for disappointment by applying now to colleges that you can not afford without financial aid. Most colleges that are still accepting applications for next school year have limited or no financial aid available. It’s also unlikely that you’d get a merit scholarship since they’ve already allocated those funds.</p>