Not Sending Standardized Tests

Colleges & Universities Wesleyan University
1

I know there’s still some debate to this because most candidates still are sending in test scores, and if there’s been a myriad of threads concerning this that I ignored please send me to them, but I thought I’d ask because I feel like I’m a very “in the middle” type of student when it comes to whether or not sending would be beneficial or hurtful. Anyway, here’s a general view of “me” (or at least what colleges are going to view as me).

STATS
ACT: 31 C; 33 E, 30 M, 32 R, 30 S, 36 W (score was a 31.25…taking September SAT and hope to get it up to a 33/34, but please chance with regards to current score incase things don’t go as planned)
[This is the big question!! would sending this be a good idea or not? And if I did get it to the 33/34 range, would sending that definitely be the smartest option?]
GPA: 4.56 W; 4.0 UW
APs: World (4), Human Geo (5), Chem (3), Calc AB (5), Lang (5), US History (5); 13 APs by graduation (most of anyone in my class)
Senior Schedule: AP Stats, AP German, AP Physics, AP Bio, AP Lit, AP Psychology, AP Gov (will it look like I’m some mindless drone because I’m taking 7 APs as a senior? I honestly just really like challenging myself and seeing as I took 5 junior year and it was more than manageable, I’m not too worried)
RANK: 3/~440 (top 1%)…by first semester senior year I should be 2/~440, but it’s minor anyway

SUBJECTIVE
my ECs look something like

  1. Global Leaders (somewhat of a global current events bringing light to under-discussed issues that don’t get US coverage and looking at their local news rather than BBC, but also analyzing BBC to see how they present it for bias etc.) 12 [pres and founder]
  2. German Club (founded Ein Stück Deutsch program to promote learning German in VA public schools…still working on this) 9-12 [officer 11, pres 12]
  3. Social Science Honor Society (I wanna do something with this so I’m not just putting it down to put it down, but I’m having trouble coming up with ideas…anyone have anything fresh I could do to have it more than just a leadership position? I’m thinking something to do with inequality or something b/c social science does cover that, but dealing with that in an honor society? I just wanna bring light to social justice b/c I feel like my app is very lacking in that regard despite the fact that it is very important to me) 11, 12 [pres 12]
  4. Mu Alpha Theta 10-12 (again, kinda unimpressive, just looks like whatever) [officer 11, might run for reelection 12]
  5. Class Office (see above) 11, 12
  6. Track & Field (did this for fun! wasn’t very good, but it was a fun experience and a good destresser :slight_smile: ) 9-11
  7. Kumon (employment-love working with kids!! work 3 times a week) 11, 12
  8. Contributor to Disney Princess forum (written ~100 articles dealing with issues such as sexuality, racism, as well as more light and fun topics…not expecting this to be viewed as exceptional, but gives insight on personality) 9-12
  9. Self-taught Norwegian (going to be hard to prove, but planning on listing it nonetheless…again more insight on personality :slight_smile: ) 9-12

those are the 9 I’m definitely planning on putting that…some other possible ones include NHS (kinda typical so probably no), National German Honor Society (overkill…), creative writing club (did 9 & 10, but kinda died last year…might revive senior year so that’s a maybe because I do love writing), pen-pals (is this okay to put? idk), also maybe how I track the pop charts on a week to week basis…is this okay to put? I’m already putting the Disney Princess thing, so I don’t want to seem like too much of a joke…any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Attended German Governor’s School btw, a selective summer program that only ~40 in the entire state of Virginia are chosen for. Also won NaNoWriMo freshman year (wrote a 50,000 word novel in one month) and was National History Student of the Year at my school sophomore year (but this is really minor/insignificant).

Essays should be strong, for common app I’m planning on writing about the Disney Princess forum and how it gave me a sense of community and self that I didn’t have before (might sound cliché, but will come from the heart + unique)

Recs should be strong as well. My counselor and the two teachers I asked all love me and I have really strong relationships with all of them, so fingers crossed! The two teachers I’m asking are both humanities based, which is kinda…problematic, I know, but while my science/math teachers like me, I felt the two teachers I asked would write exceptional letters as opposed to great ones. It was a judgement call and I don’t regret it-I personally feel like that won’t play too big a role in my admissions :slight_smile:

I’m a male, so that’s a positive, white, so that’s negative, I’m also gay (which you could probably tell from the Disney Princess thing haha), I’m sorta first generation (both parents went to 2 year business school, neither to college), and the I’m planning on majoring in??? Psych or anthropology or sociology or something like that…maybe minor in International Relations or German?? Not sure

So what do you think? With my current profile, would sending a 31 help, hurt, or do nothing to my chances? Would not sending that 31 help, hurt, or do nothing to do chances? If anyone could chance me with and without the scores, I’d appreciate it :slight_smile: Have an amazing day and all comments are greatly appreciated!! You’re a trooper if you read this all <3 :slight_smile:

2

Take the ACT or SAT again if you can in fall 2016. Consider applying ED1 if Wes is your top choice. If you don’t take tests again in Fall 2016, do no send your scores. If you do, and you feel you did well on the retake then send. But your chances are going to be highest if you apply ED1, otherwise if you are thinking of just applying in the general admission round I would suggest that you do not send test scores.

3

Update: I got a 33 on the September ACT. What is the general consensus on sending this or not sending this? Would it be a mistake to not send it? Right now I’m leaning towards not sending it still, and just having them judge me off my 4.0 UW/top 1% transcript. Any thoughts on this?

4

I would still consider sending that 33 ACT, as it’s the admit median and above the class of 2020 enrolled median (32). It’s not a score that would hurt you (though might not help much either).

5

Amazing to think a 33 would not help someone. I wonder where I would attend college if I were a kid today.

6

Why wouldn’t you send a score that is above the median for students who enroll? Its effect probably will be neutral to positive… whereas if you don’t send it, one might wonder if your score is below the 25th percentile or something. Your score is one more piece of information that helps indicate you are capable of work of which a typical Wesleyan student is also capable. That’s a good thing!

7

33? Send them!

8

Um, why wouldn’t you send that score? It’s a great score! Anything above the median is worth including.

9

I understand where @berkdork is coming from. Although a 33 is a great score, and is indeed above the average for enrolled students, in all of their literature, website, info sessions, Wes focuses on average admitted scores, which are much higher. It seems to me that many high achieving students use Wes as a safety, apply and are admitted with really high numbers, then go elsewhere, leaving Wes to enroll lower-stat students. A chip on their shoulder, perhaps.