Just deferred from Vassar so I’m thinking of applying ED2 to wes since I loved it just as much.
Premed
major: neuroscience and music(maybe theater not sure yet)
GPA: 3.99 (my school only does not weighted)
SAT: 1400, I don’t think I should submit
ECS:
President of my schools Arts Society- plan open mic nights, planning a career in the arts nights where kids can learn about a plethora of careers in the arts.
Theater for 8 years in and out of school, lead roles
100 hours volunteering at hospital
Accepted into national choir twice, vocal NYSSMA score of 98
80 hours shadowing DO doctor
Vice president of my creative writing club, helping kids’ works published
Teacher for non-profit, TASSEL, correcting 4-5 page essays for kids in Cambodia amidst educational challenges due to the Khmer Rouge regime
Ambassador at non-profit, random farms, assistant directing musicals
AP chemistry tutor
Freshman transition leader, helping freshman while they were adjusting to high school
9 APS
A little worried because I have a B in AP environmental science.
A/A+ in everything else though.
Awards: (pretty basic) honorable mention for national spanish exam, Russell sage book award (to student who makes the school a more creative place), AP scholar
Essay: About an eating disorder but not just a trauma dump. About how it sparked my interest in weightlifting and medicine.
Submitting music portfolio: With some arias (queen of the night), some show tunes, and maybe some with me and my ukulele
LORS: one from english teacher who i’ve done plays with throughout hs, one from my science teacher who i’ve done ap chem and ap comp sci with, one from chorus teacher and musical director, AND one from a wesleyan alumnus who i’ve known since I was born basically.
Congrats on all your achievements! You certainly are academically qualified for Wesleyan (just as you are for Vassar.) The issue is that Wesleyan and Vassar are famous and popular East Coast liberal arts colleges, and as such receive many more qualified applicants than they can accept. So their admit rates are minuscule unless you are a “hooked” candidate (e.g. legacy, donor, recruited athlete etc.)
So, yes, go ahead and ED2 to Wes since you indicate it is your close 2nd favorite. But also make sure you also apply to other schools that have higher admit rates. Remember that these higher admit rates should NOT be seen as a sign of lower educational quality, but rather as a sign of these schools being less famous or in less trendy locations. If you need any suggestions, just let us know! There are a number of schools where you would have a fabulous experience, get a top notch education AND where you would have a very likely chance of admission.
In terms of improving your application, do not worry about the AP environmental science grade. A couple of Bs will not measurably affect your application chances. But one thing I would change would be your essay topic. It is not fair, because you deserve to be very proud of all the hard work you have put into recovery, but the reality is that colleges do actively discriminate against students who reveal a mental health diagnosis (past or present) because college mental health services resources are currently stretched thin to the breaking point. So even though they may not admit it, admissions officers have basically been given the message by their higher ups not to admit students who talk about mental health challenges, even if they frame it as something that made them stronger in the end. So I would 100% pick something different, unfortunately.
I appreciate the help! My essay doesn’t actually mention the fact that I had an eating disorder once (I just said it was here). I also had it checked by a few people (even people who have done admissions before, and they said the topic itself was fine! As long as I didn’t mention something that would make it seem like I actually need help). It’s just about how my mother called me fat and I was motivated to lose weight, but realized I was doing it for the wrong reasons. It does not mention mental health once nor a diagnosis of anything.
I’m not sure you can articulate a 1480 from their data. But I see how you got it. That’s just the 50% of each section but they didn’t provide a 50% of total.
Perhaps in this case it would be good not to submit.
vasser and Wes ( Wesleyan univ CT) are rather different personalities. Perhaps you are more Wes and that’s why Vasser rejected you? Let’s go with that
ED at most schools including Wes = about 5O% of their class so yes, ED increases your chances of admission
Wes will like that you do music and science. They have an awesome neuro program ( my sons major ) and extensive music
But will they know from your essay that you are interdisciplinary? Wes has no “ why Wes” essay so it’s only the common app essay. Was your essay a one note comment on why you want a particular career or was it a peek inside your multidimensional personality?
The process is like a dating game. You want them to think you are a match but the only thing they have to go on is that essay. Did it say enough about you to show them you are?
I am submitting a music supplement to wesleyan. They require a short essay there about music and liberal arts (their connection). I am including a short anecdote about how I wrote a song in core chemistry about ionic and covalent bonds. Do you think they’ll appreciate that? My essay doesn’t talk about music, but it talks about a really important experience of mine. My activities are also very diverse (shadowing doctors, hospital volunteering, and a lot of music related activities).