<p>Thank you all for your helpful responses. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to help. I agree that I should have applied to more match schools, or more schools that are typically less common for people in my school to apply to. I considered applying to Davidson, Occidental, Trinity, Connecticut College and Boston College, but ended up not. I probably should have as I may have had a better chance at those schools. My parents were very discouraging of me applying anywhere without great financial aid, but I ended up getting a very good aid package at st. olaf, which is not 100% need-blind or need-met.</p>
<p>I agree that I should have taken more AP’s but my school really only offers math and science AP’s which is not really what I am interested in (although I have always done well in those classes). I took college courses in Theology and Poly Sci, mainly just because I was interested in them, but also to show colleges that I wasn’t just slacking off in my senior year. I also took an extra curricular french class and really went above and beyond what most seniors at my school were taking.</p>
<p>I think I was surprised to not get into Kenyon because I felt the writing program would be a huge help. I guess I was wrong about that. Last summer they really made the young writers feel like they should apply to Kenyon as a “safety”, and that they view young writers differently from the other applicants. I really fell in love with the school and was very disappointed. I initially felt my waitlisting might have something to do with finances. My family has a very low income, and a low family contribution on Fafsa, and Kenyon does admit that they cannot afford to be need-blind. A lot of kids got into Kenyon from my school. To be honest, most of them had weaker academic stats (lowers SAT’s and GPA’s) and less interesting extracurriculars. They are all wealthier than I am, which didn’t quite seem like a coincidence. </p>
<p>For a while I was really leaning towards going to St. Olaf, as I really liked it whenI visited. I do worry a lot about the Minnesota winters and the lack of diversity. Also, I was not thrilled with the classes I sat in on. The profs were great, but there was a lot of texting and hair twirling and students who had not done the HW. However, I do feel I could have a good experience here. That said, I do have a lot of opportunities open to me, I have 3 passports, and some money saved up from my summer job, and a part of me agrees with M’s Mom that I don’t have anything to lose by taking a gap year. I will not lose my scholarship at St. Olaf and I might try to remedy some of the mistakes I made the first time around.</p>
<p>I agree that my first block was aiming too high. This time I would re-apply ED to the schools I got waitlisted at, probably Williams ED 1 and Haverford Ed 2. I would also probably apply to Scripps, occidental, pepperdine, davidson, bc, cc etc. I would not re apply to any of the schools I got rejected from. I am still not 100% sure about my choice. I agree that I don’t want to do this for prestige reasons. I don’t just want to go to a brand name school. I just want to make sure that I am in a place with other highly motivated individuals and rigorous academics.</p>
<p>I don’t want to take a gap year just for the purpose of re-applying, but I do feel it could help me become stronger as an individual, while possibly helping my chances of admission. I do feel that ED would show these schools a greater level if commitment, especially from a student who was waitlisted and re-applied. My guidance counselor thought this was a good idea. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Thank you all again, I’,m sorry this post was so long!</p>