ED Bump at Bowdoin or Middlebury

[Anonymous]

Our DD from one of the area private schools (Top 5 according to DCUM) is really interested in Bowdoin and Middlebury. She wants to ED at one of the two schools and we are looking for guidance about which one gives a bigger bump for ED. Our DD's GPA is about 3.68. She will be going test optional. She has some sports leadership activities (Captain of teams since 11th grade) and should have excellent recommendations. At her private school, the regular admits for Bowdoin and Middlebury are around the 3.75 - 3.8 range so she is not competitive for RD. Unfortunately, there are not enough kids from her school doing ED to Bowdoin/Middlebury to get accurate Naviance data for this subset. Any anecdotal and/or factual advice would be really helpful. She honestly loved both schools from her visit and can see herself at either campus so her focus is on making the right ED decision. We are full pay if that helps.

[Anonymous]

err have to say I just don't think that there it is as big of a bump at either.

My DD applied to Middleburg RD and was denied, with a 4.44 GPA at competitive public school, test optional and lots of leadership. It's a tough, tough admit and I don't think TO helps your cause.

[Anonymous]

I agree w/the PP, test optional is unhelpful with that GPA. I'd be looking beyond top-20 LACs/top-50 universities. Can she retake?

[Anonymous]

Ask your high school's college counselor. They are likely to have a better idea than DCUM, assuming the GPA will need high school context.

[Anonymous]

Total 2nd hand info but passing along. This is from friends of ours whose dd was Valedictorian of her class, strong public in the Northeast, really wanted Midd. No hooks, but was full pay. Was told by their private college counselor that "girls in the Northeast who aren't athletes absolutely need to apply ED to have a chance." She did apply, got in, and is very happy there. I don't know any similar detail about Bowdoin to compare.

[Anonymous]

At our large W school, there are no admits to Bowdoin on Naviance. One RD to Middlebury. (But public schools don’t have as high of rate of ED applicants) Both really tough admits. I think Bowdoin is generally the tougher admit but more supportive of test optional. But it doesn’t sound like your DD’s grades are at top of class. My gut says Middlebury between the two or find a third option. Maybe Midd for ED1 and a lower reach for ED2 lined up?

[Anonymous]

With that GPA and test optional, I would think rigor of school class load would be important as well as essay responses. I would ask your school's counselor and the perhaps reach out to admissions to each of the schools. Demonstrated interest may also help push your kid up the ladder.

[Anonymous]

One thing to add on Middleburg is that they have no supplemental essays, so it's really hard to set yourself apart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Total 2nd hand info but passing along. This is from friends of ours whose dd was Valedictorian of her class, strong public in the Northeast, really wanted Midd. No hooks, but was full pay. Was told by their private college counselor that "girls in the Northeast who aren't athletes absolutely need to apply ED to have a chance." She did apply, got in, and is very happy there. I don't know any similar detail about Bowdoin to compare.

When a third of a class gets filled with primarily affluent NE athletic recruits, I think this is the typical end result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DD from one of the area private schools (Top 5 according to DCUM) is really interested in Bowdoin and Middlebury. She wants to ED at one of the two schools and we are looking for guidance about which one gives a bigger bump for ED. Our DD's GPA is about 3.68. She will be going test optional. She has some sports leadership activities (Captain of teams since 11th grade) and should have excellent recommendations. At her private school, the regular admits for Bowdoin and Middlebury are around the 3.75 - 3.8 range so she is not competitive for RD. Unfortunately, there are not enough kids from her school doing ED to Bowdoin/Middlebury to get accurate Naviance data for this subset. Any anecdotal and/or factual advice would be really helpful. She honestly loved both schools from her visit and can see herself at either campus so her focus is on making the right ED decision. We are full pay if that helps.

She should fall in love with door 3.

[Anonymous]

They both offer ED2, so she should apply to her preferred school ED1, plan to file to the other ED2, and have a Plan C (St. Lawrence? Whitman?) she'd be excited about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They both offer ED2, so she should apply to her preferred school ED1, plan to file to the other ED2, and have a Plan C (St. Lawrence? Whitman?) she'd be excited about.

I think she’s going to end up disappointed with this approach. I’d choose one for ED1 and then go for a more reasonable ED2. It’s really easy to get boxed out from the small lacs if you’re not in at ED. Middlebury is larger so I think it’s the better bet. Coming from a private and with athletics as her ec, she’s really not bringing much diversity from all the athletic recruits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DD from one of the area private schools (Top 5 according to DCUM) is really interested in Bowdoin and Middlebury. She wants to ED at one of the two schools and we are looking for guidance about which one gives a bigger bump for ED. Our DD's GPA is about 3.68. She will be going test optional. She has some sports leadership activities (Captain of teams since 11th grade) and should have excellent recommendations. At her private school, the regular admits for Bowdoin and Middlebury are around the 3.75 - 3.8 range so she is not competitive for RD. Unfortunately, there are not enough kids from her school doing ED to Bowdoin/Middlebury to get accurate Naviance data for this subset. Any anecdotal and/or factual advice would be really helpful. She honestly loved both schools from her visit and can see herself at either campus so her focus is on making the right ED decision. We are full pay if that helps.

Don’t go test optional. Test optional isn’t meant for full pay, private school kids. Hasn’t your college counselor told you this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They both offer ED2, so she should apply to her preferred school ED1, plan to file to the other ED2, and have a Plan C (St. Lawrence? Whitman?) she'd be excited about.

I think she’s going to end up disappointed with this approach. I’d choose one for ED1 and then go for a more reasonable ED2. It’s really easy to get boxed out from the small lacs if you’re not in at ED. Middlebury is larger so I think it’s the better bet. Coming from a private and with athletics as her ec, she’s really not bringing much diversity from all the athletic recruits.

Exactly. Good friend's DC applied ED1 for one of those two last cycle then to a very slightly less competitive for ED2 and was boxed out - denied not just deferred - at both. Think GPA higher than OP's DC and had good test scores.

Our full pay DC had a similar (maybe slightly lower) GPA, a 34 ACT, two varsity sports but not captain, and very impressive ECs (not national level but definitely showed continuity in and connection among them). His school CC - also the office director - dissuaded DC from applying ED to one of these schools. Said that DC would get deferred in ED1 then denied in RD and asked if that is how DC wanted the ED card to play out.

If OP's DC will be unhappy if they do not try, then risk it on Middlebury as I strongly doubt Bowdoin will even consider. But then they need to have a good list in the three categories, some probable EAs, and be ready to go ED2 with a lower ranked school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree w/the PP, test optional is unhelpful with that GPA. I'd be looking beyond top-20 LACs/top-50 universities. Can she retake?

Either go test optional and consider schools beyond the top 20/top 50 category or retake as the proposed approach is not tenable.