Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 07:14     Subject: Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?
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
Post 11/18/2025 04:04     Subject: Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?
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
Post 11/18/2025 03:44     Subject: Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?
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
Post 11/18/2025 02:54     Subject: Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?
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
Post 11/17/2025 20:08     Subject: Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?
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
Post 11/17/2025 19:47     Subject: Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?
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.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2025 19:17     Subject: Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?
Anonymous wrote:DD in at Swat and Wesleyan. No interview or video, no tour. 1480 SAT, 6 APs, 3.85 unweighted. NYC public. National level arts-related ECs. Submitted a portfolio.


What other schools (aside from LACs) was she admitted to? Curious where national level arts portfolio will be admitted. My DD is similar
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2025 19:02     Subject: Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?
After reading all these posts, I realized my DD was super lucky to be in one of the SLACs.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2025 18:23     Subject: Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?
Anonymous wrote:
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

Princeton review is not using admit rate.

The Princeton Review considers admission rate among its criteria for its selectivity rating. In any case, the OP apparently did not rely on admission rates to determine her list of 10 schools.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2025 18:09     Subject: Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?
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

Princeton review is not using admit rate.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2025 18:03     Subject: Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?
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?
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2025 18:01     Subject: Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?
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
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2025 17:48     Subject: Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?
DD in at Swat and Wesleyan. No interview or video, no tour. 1480 SAT, 6 APs, 3.85 unweighted. NYC public. National level arts-related ECs. Submitted a portfolio.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2025 17:21     Subject: Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?
DD to Middlebury
1560 SAT
4.6 GPA
14APs
NMF
Recruited Athlete
Solid ECs (mostly volunteer hours) but not exceptional
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2025 17:19     Subject: Success Stories? How did your DC get into one of these selective LACs?
Male, highest rigor, UW 3.98, weighted 4.48, SAT 1540 applied RD to Williams, Amherst and Wesleyan- accepted to all 3.
Lots of leadership and impactful EC's