By direct admissions, I believe this is something like the Niche admissions process, whereby students are given offers of admission to schools who see their stats, but that a student actually needs to formally apply to turn it into a real acceptance. Is that correct @houndsharkk?
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Okay, hi, I’m sitting down now so I can reply to things in bulk now.
Thank you for the recommendation, however I struggle HARD with online coursework. Quarantine was awful for me, and I retained no information from the 2 years that I was online. I would consider their in-person school, but the campus was abysmal and our tour guide seemed incredibly unhappy there.
Thank you, again! As for your other recommendations, I don’t have specific comments on them, but I appreciate it for sure. I will be taking a look!
Definitely agree with this.
And with this. They are incredibly micromanaging and want me to do better than they did, so they’re super pushy about it. If I go against their wishes, they get mad at me, so considering the fact that they’re paying my application fees + tuition, it’s very hard to persuade them into listening to me. It feels like I’m not really independent in this process, even though this is meant to be my step into independence, if that makes sense.
Agree, but my dad really does not want me to take a gap year. My stepmom and therapist both thought it would be a great idea, especially to wait out any potentially life altering political changes in the coming year, but since dad said no, I can’t.
Agree with this whole paragraph. However, most of the lower rated schools I’ve looked at get less funding overall. Less funding = less maintenance and programs = less accessible, generally.
To be completely honest with you… somewhere between overworking myself to the point of burnout (like I’ve done with everything my whole life) and completely giving up. In my head, I’ve been done for years, honestly. I just have to keep pushing to make a life for myself that I will be happy in, and then I can finally rest.
Wish I could, but don’t really have time. Weekends are spent volunteering or helping my grandma, and any upcoming breaks have surgeries scheduled. Can’t afford to take time off of school, either.
See my other comments about GMU.
3.9 was for the marking period, as stated in that post.
Parents went to college but didn’t graduate. This is considered first gen by most schools as well as Common App.
Not sure what you meant by this.
Will do!
Thank you for this information 
This is true - most schools I’m looking at do not offer marine bio, and I applied under regular biology.
Yes, sorry, I meant Farmington! However, the UMaine campuses that I saw were… kind of awful to be completely honest.
Thank you for this whole paragraph. I’ve been in therapy since 5th grade and do not plan on stopping even in college. I was just never diagnosed or medicated before freshman year, and I’ve been hospitalized (mental and medical) several times throughout high school, which threw me way off course.
This is what I did. I’ve been brutally honest at points about it, yes, but I understand that twisting the narrative is necessary for things like this. In reality, I do not think they have “made me stronger” or anything like that. I suffer in pain every day of my life and push through for other people despite it genuinely killing me. If anything, it’s made me weaker, physically and mentally. However, I did twist it in a way that would make it seem like it’s changed my worldview and whatnot on applications. Showing only weak points to colleges is a good way to get denied. That’s what my dad says, at least.
It’s not unaffordable, I’ve just been to caught up in things recently to focus on applications. I may email them this weekend and see if they’d accept a slightly late app.
Best friend with similar stats and less ECs got in, which is why I did that. However, I do agree that it was probably unrealistic.
Less marine sci specific programs, and the campus felt a lot less alive when I visited. Community at SBU seems to fit me more. I don’t dislike Bing though - it’s a nice school.
Honestly, it’s hard to put into words exactly what I’m looking for. Size and location don’t really matter to me (other than not being in the south). Major choices, community, campus upkeep, etc. matter more.
Didn’t apply to the direct admissions ones. I’ve only been accepted to one school that I actually put in an application to.
My school does not calculate GPA for us, and it was hard to tell what it actually was. UW 3.5 is the correct number, it was never an UW 3.7.
Didn’t take classes that were super difficult to me until 11th grade, and my school also does not count AP/Honors weighting in honor roll.
What do you mean? If you just mean why I don’t want to go there - it’s not really my environment.
Yes, this is mostly correct, however the application process is very different from normal apps. You don’t need to submit essays or do any of the Common App questions, just submit a transcript and your intended major.
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I have a different take on this. In my experience, the quality of the specific major is what matters. This is because so many of your classes, friends, and professors will come from the major.
I went to a school that was strong in my major (bio), so that’s what I experienced. It was really pretty bad in some other majors like art, music and theater, but that didn’t matter to me because I wasn’t majoring in those. On the other hand, my son is a theater major and goes to a school with a great theater department—but its STEM is not known for strength.
So my advice is always find a school strong in the majors you care about, and that major will become your own little “nest.”
Best wishes, we are rooting for you!
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I also want to address your title. You have acceptances already. There is a long way to go until March. You haven’t gone wrong.
Have you thought of Oberlin? That seems it could meet your social needs for sure, and it has Marine Science. Deadline is Jan 15. What about U of Oregon? I think that’s a good bet, especially if you are willing to go to Alaska.
You still have time to apply to some really good colleges. It can be disheartening to not get into your reach schools, but you haven’t gone wrong at all. If anything, you have time on your side. Maybe look at the website Ni*che to get a better idea of what some of these schools offer. And give Bates serious consideration. It has its own coastal and salt marsh nature preserve, the Bates Morse Mountain Conservation Area.
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Why? The deadline is today and there are no supplements. Bates is a high reach, but it might be within the realm of possibility. It is not very likely they will accept a late app and they have a pretty high yield rate. Obviously, don’t apply if you dont think you’d be happy there.
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If LACs are in the mix, Connecticut might be a bit easier admit wise and Dickinson students can spend a Marine Bio Lab at Woodshole. Someone already mentioned Washington College.
Staying close to home, Hofstra has a marine track.
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I’ll do it when I get home, then. Didn’t know there were no supplements, and I’m celebrating my birthday today (it’s on Monday but I’m busy all weekend so it’s gotta be tonight) so I didn’t think I’d have time. Will definitely submit by the deadline.
I have a friend at Dickinson… might consider it.
Have to agree with this.Nearly half the schools applied to won’t have decisions until March.
But, here’s my take: the essay may not have landed quite the way the OP intended. The topic of “overcoming obstacles” is always a tricky one.
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With a 3.5 UW, depending on your area, the SBU and Bing deferrals actually make sense. From my (instate) school you really needed a 3.6 at the very least.
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So you said you can’t get out to places - most schools have ambassadors you can talk to. Or reach out to the department and ask if there’s a student you can speak with. Or admissions, etc.
So you can ask them first hand - what’s it like day to day, academically, socially - whatever interests you - the qualify of food and dorms - whatever it is. You might even be able to zoom or facetime - so that way you can get info straight from someone living it vs. “I’ve heard”…
Good luck.
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When I say “I’ve heard” it’s generally from people who go to or work at those schools, not just random people online. Most of my good friends are college students, and my parents have several connections within admissions at various places.
For the last statement - true, but I didn’t submit those essays to every school. My primary Common App essay was the topic about a life experience that changed the way you viewed the world (paraphrased, don’t remember the exact prompt off the top of my head).
I think Dickinson is a wonderful school. ED2 and RD are Jan. 15. Definitely should be consdered. Conn College, same deadlines, is also a good option. Both easier admits than Bates for sure.
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Yeah, part of what I’m taking away from all of this is that the college system is actually more screwed up than I thought and someone with no passion or motivation to succeed (not that everyone is like this, but I know some who chatgpt every assignment and got in to both schools) can take the spot of someone like me because of something as small as a 0.1 GPA difference. Really wish they actually hollistically looked at apps like so many schools claim to.
Happy early birthday!
Another school to think about would be St. Mary’s College of Maryland. They’re right on the Chesapeake Bay, and so have an emphasis on marine science. For getting your parents on board (everyone else here shut your ears for a second), they’re the #1 public liberal arts college in the country according to US News & World Report (here) (once you remove the military service academies), and they position themselves as “The National Public Honors College”. Your GPA matches their average, and your SAT is in their top 25%. The campus looks lovely. Their deadline is January 15th.
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I may apply there honestly… they’ve sent me a couple scholarship offers but I never actually looked into it. Thank you for the information (and for the birthday wishes)!
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Considering applications holistically does not mean that a lower GPA (relative to a school’s applicant pool) will be overlooked.
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I guess you did nothing wrong _()_/’
EDIT: Also, this is above any of our pay grades. Recommend that you talk to a school guidance counselor:
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