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Assume decent but not state or national-level ECs and unhooked but full-pay female from DMV public. Can go TO or not. Used MCPS weighting (+1 for honors and AP).
Applicant #1: 1450 SAT and 3.9/4.7 10 APs Applicant #2: 1380 SAT and 3.9/4.5 8 APs What tier of SLACs would you say these applicants fall into for a viable chance of ED acceptance at their reach? (Eg Hamilton/Wesleyan, Amherst/Williams, Bates/Kenyon, Smith/Bryn Mawr, Lafayette/F&M, Colby/Middlebury, whatever). These are made up but I think representative so please don’t tell them to prep to increase scores. Accept as is. |
| If stats determined outcome, then admissions officers would not be needed. |
To clarify 3.9 is like B+ in AP classes? |
No. That’s unweighted so almost all As. |
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Applicant #1 is competitive for all of the noted LACs.
Applicant #2 may be competitive for all of the specified LACs depending upon the rest of the application. |
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#1 - wouldn’t go for Williams/Amherst. Would focus on Middlebury/Colby/Ham/Wellesley/Wes level for both Ed 1 and 2. Not sure about Swat.
#2 - Would try for Ham/Well/Colby ED 1 and then Bates/Smith level ED 2 |
Good advice, I would consider for #1 going to ED2 at the Bates/Smith level if she likes one of those schools a lot. Risk is double rejection and then you are in RD land. Is Ham/Colby that much better than Bates/Smith to risk landing at F&M/Dickinson? |
If #1 is open to Midwest schools, they’d have solid RD options. |
Probably- better demonstrate interest tho. Comes down to judgment call and how the student really feels about the different schools, should not be overly influenced by 5-10 spots on UNNWR |
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There are a lot of variables, even with GPA. For example, is there an upward trajectory of grades? Why specific AP courses were take. (Hard ones or BS ones just to bump up GPA)? What does the rest of the schedule look like (rigorous classes? 4 years of foreign language and other classes the college values?).
This is an art, not a science as much as people here want there to be a formula. Also, consider they will look at recs, essays, etc. It’s the whole package. Finally, ED is a binding decision. Where does the kid really want to go? (See ED regret thread). I think ED is over rated unless the kid really loves a school and is sure that is where they want to be and the family is sure they want to write that check. I have a kid at an $80k a year school (one of the ones referenced above but kid went RD) and it is no small commitment! |
| It really depends on what school the student is coming from. |
We know it’s a DMV public using MCPS gpa weighting. |
| Stats alone well not really tell you much. these schools get many apps with people with high enough stats. SLACS are looking at other aspects of application once threshold has been met and many with high stats don't get in and vice versa... |
Right. We all know that and it’s been said multiple times. This thread is about for what schools are these stats likely high enough to be a “viable” candidate. Most DMV girls aren’t getting in unless they also have the stats. Doesn’t mean they will get in. |
DC had the stats of #1 with higher test scores pre pandemic and rejected from many of the schools you identify. And it has gotten harder since then. |