Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like all these self-reporters have submitted a high SAT even though most of these colleges have a very low SAT submission rate?

Because majority are white or Asian and not FGLI. Schools want to see those scores. Very hard to get in unhooked without strong stats across the board.

Even at Williams College the majority don't submit a standardized test. Only 35% submitted an SAT score and 17% submitted an ACT score. Allowing for overlap, less than half submitted a test score.

So those who score at or above the 75% have an incredibly GREAT shot at getting into top LACs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DC at Swarthmore, 4 unweighted GPA with high rigor, 1550 SAT, ED1, no optional video or interview, no demonstrated interest. (Swarthmore does not look at demonstrated interest). Essays demonstrated deep interdisciplinary interests & character (grit, determination, working with others).

Look at the Swarthmore CDS for what factors they care about in admissions. You’ll see character is a very important factor (in many other schools it is not listed as very important) Also look at their own site.

https://www.swarthmore.edu/admissions-aid/apply-to-swarthmore

This is what I'm hoping for with my kid who applied ED this year to Swat - huge character applicant and focused on that. Lots of community leadership, volunteer work, national level activism as well as at their school, deep commitment to two significant causes. Also legacy, 1520 SAT, top grades.

That's a strong application, good luck to your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like all these self-reporters have submitted a high SAT even though most of these colleges have a very low SAT submission rate?

Because majority are white or Asian and not FGLI. Schools want to see those scores. Very hard to get in unhooked without strong stats across the board.

Even at Williams College the majority don't submit a standardized test. Only 35% submitted an SAT score and 17% submitted an ACT score. Allowing for overlap, less than half submitted a test score.

So those who score at or above the 75% have an incredibly GREAT shot at getting into top LACs.

Ofc at Williams- that school is a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like all these self-reporters have submitted a high SAT even though most of these colleges have a very low SAT submission rate?

Because majority are white or Asian and not FGLI. Schools want to see those scores. Very hard to get in unhooked without strong stats across the board.

Even at Williams College the majority don't submit a standardized test. Only 35% submitted an SAT score and 17% submitted an ACT score. Allowing for overlap, less than half submitted a test score.

So those who score at or above the 75% have an incredibly GREAT shot at getting into top LACs.

Ofc at Williams- that school is a joke.

+1, out tour guide spent more time talking about their experience abroad at Oxford than anything to do with Williams. Then, their admissions presentation heavily emphasized their Oxford program immediately after. I wasn’t sure the purpose of going to a college where it seems everyone wants to be somewhere 1000s of miles away. It’s really sad, because there is none at Oxford even thinking about Williams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they apply ED1 or ED2? Were they a sports recruit? A legacy? Did they do an optional interview or video? What was their unweighted GPA? Did they have "most demanding" rigor? Did they submit SAT/ACT? Did they show a lot of demonstrated interest?

10 Most selective co-ed SLACs:
Williams
Amherst
Swarthmore
Pomona
Bowdoin
Claremont McKenna
Harvey Mudd
Middlebury
Carleton
Wesleyan

These are not the 10 most selective SLACs. Colby, Davidson and Haverford have lower admit rates vs Wesleyan, Carleton and Middlebury.

It appears that the OP chose these schools subjectively. Wesleyan and Carleton, for example, received selectivity ratings of 96 from the Princeton Review, which would place them outside the top 10 by this standard.

Wesleyan University (Wesleyan) - The Princeton Review College Rankings & Reviews https://share.google/MCF5vuZVRlOBsXphK

Carleton College (CC) - The Princeton Review College Rankings & Reviews https://share.google/PTeetCVydb8QgEWsC

There appear to be 15 coeducational LACs with Princeton Review selectivity ratings of 97 or higher (on a 60 to 99 scale).

[Anonymous]

Born smart, worked hard in school, sports, and music.

[Anonymous]

Williams

Male helmet sport state-ranked athlete, 1300, 3.5

From an athletic powerhouse prep school 2 state championships in his sport

No legacy

Ivies had no interest

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like all these self-reporters have submitted a high SAT even though most of these colleges have a very low SAT submission rate?

Because majority are white or Asian and not FGLI. Schools want to see those scores. Very hard to get in unhooked without strong stats across the board.

Even at Williams College the majority don't submit a standardized test. Only 35% submitted an SAT score and 17% submitted an ACT score. Allowing for overlap, less than half submitted a test score.

So those who score at or above the 75% have an incredibly GREAT shot at getting into top LACs.

Ofc at Williams- that school is a joke.

+1, out tour guide spent more time talking about their experience abroad at Oxford than anything to do with Williams. Then, their admissions presentation heavily emphasized their Oxford program immediately after. I wasn’t sure the purpose of going to a college where it seems everyone wants to be somewhere 1000s of miles away. It’s really sad, because there is none at Oxford even thinking about Williams.

Classic Williams. They know they have nothing to offer other than opportunities to leave. Go Mammoths!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like all these self-reporters have submitted a high SAT even though most of these colleges have a very low SAT submission rate?

Because majority are white or Asian and not FGLI. Schools want to see those scores. Very hard to get in unhooked without strong stats across the board.

Even at Williams College the majority don't submit a standardized test. Only 35% submitted an SAT score and 17% submitted an ACT score. Allowing for overlap, less than half submitted a test score.

So those who score at or above the 75% have an incredibly GREAT shot at getting into top LACs.

Ofc at Williams- that school is a joke.

+1, out tour guide spent more time talking about their experience abroad at Oxford than anything to do with Williams. Then, their admissions presentation heavily emphasized their Oxford program immediately after. I wasn’t sure the purpose of going to a college where it seems everyone wants to be somewhere 1000s of miles away. It’s really sad, because there is none at Oxford even thinking about Williams.

I have been on tours at Williams multiple times with my kids. This flat out isn’t true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they apply ED1 or ED2? Were they a sports recruit? A legacy? Did they do an optional interview or video? What was their unweighted GPA? Did they have "most demanding" rigor? Did they submit SAT/ACT? Did they show a lot of demonstrated interest?

10 Most selective co-ed SLACs:
Williams
Amherst
Swarthmore
Pomona
Bowdoin
Claremont McKenna
Harvey Mudd
Middlebury
Carleton
Wesleyan

DC was accepted to Amherst and Middlebury RD and WL at Williams (currently attends one of the two NESCACs where he was admitted).

- RD to all schools
- No hooks, Asian male
- Interviewed at Middlebury; Amherst and Williams do not interview.
- Competitive private school, top 5%, 4.0 UW
- Maximum rigor possible at his school (all APs junior and senior year)
- 1580 SAT
- Toured Amherst and Williams the summer before his senior year
- Significant leadership on campus at high school, but not much awards or external ECs

Middlebury did not require supplements. All supplements for Amherst/Williams were recycled. He used an essay about his Asian-American identity for an Amherst prompt related to diversity (affirmative action was still legal at the time of his application cycle).

Geez. Just admit kid goes to Amherst…

[Anonymous]

Wow - these SAT scores are so high! I am glad my 1480 kid has larger state schools on his list. He's got a neat academic interest/extracurricular and probably good letters, but dang. Good for those kids - they deserve to get into these top schools!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like all these self-reporters have submitted a high SAT even though most of these colleges have a very low SAT submission rate?

Because majority are white or Asian and not FGLI. Schools want to see those scores. Very hard to get in unhooked without strong stats across the board.

Even at Williams College the majority don't submit a standardized test. Only 35% submitted an SAT score and 17% submitted an ACT score. Allowing for overlap, less than half submitted a test score.

So those who score at or above the 75% have an incredibly GREAT shot at getting into top LACs.

Ofc at Williams- that school is a joke.

+1, out tour guide spent more time talking about their experience abroad at Oxford than anything to do with Williams. Then, their admissions presentation heavily emphasized their Oxford program immediately after. I wasn’t sure the purpose of going to a college where it seems everyone wants to be somewhere 1000s of miles away. It’s really sad, because there is none at Oxford even thinking about Williams.

I have been on tours at Williams multiple times with my kids. This flat out isn’t true.

Not true. The kids who choose the isolation of Williams/Williamstown appreciate it for what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow - these SAT scores are so high! I am glad my 1480 kid has larger state schools on his list. He's got a neat academic interest/extracurricular and probably good letters, but dang. Good for those kids - they deserve to get into these top schools!!

At these high metrics I doubt the difference between 1480 and say 1530 is material to an admissions decisions versus other factors - particularly GPA on a rigorous curriculum. Look at Naviance from your kids high school for insights on GPA/SAT of admit vs rejected kids at the College interested in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like all these self-reporters have submitted a high SAT even though most of these colleges have a very low SAT submission rate?

Because majority are white or Asian and not FGLI. Schools want to see those scores. Very hard to get in unhooked without strong stats across the board.

Even at Williams College the majority don't submit a standardized test. Only 35% submitted an SAT score and 17% submitted an ACT score. Allowing for overlap, less than half submitted a test score.

So those who score at or above the 75% have an incredibly GREAT shot at getting into top LACs.

Ofc at Williams- that school is a joke.

+1, out tour guide spent more time talking about their experience abroad at Oxford than anything to do with Williams. Then, their admissions presentation heavily emphasized their Oxford program immediately after. I wasn’t sure the purpose of going to a college where it seems everyone wants to be somewhere 1000s of miles away. It’s really sad, because there is none at Oxford even thinking about Williams.

Classic Williams. They know they have nothing to offer other than opportunities to leave. Go Mammoths!

Please stop. Amherst is a great place (regardless of your - undoubtedly athletic - affiliation with it) and so is Williams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did they apply ED1 or ED2? Were they a sports recruit? A legacy? Did they do an optional interview or video? What was their unweighted GPA? Did they have "most demanding" rigor? Did they submit SAT/ACT? Did they show a lot of demonstrated interest?

10 Most selective co-ed SLACs:
Williams
Amherst
Swarthmore
Pomona
Bowdoin
Claremont McKenna
Harvey Mudd
Middlebury
Carleton
Wesleyan

Regular admission. Top 1% academically with high rigor course load at a large competitive public high school, top 1% in SAT and PSAT, all 5's on 16 AP courses, extracurricular not national level but sincere and longterm engagement with school's arts program, local nonprofit and city volunteer program. No interview. Did visit. Okay essay, nothing special.