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Hi!

I applied to Wesleyan R.D.; due to financial constraints, I was not able to visit, but from everything I've read and heard, it is one of my top choices. Do you think I stand a chance?

2.6 unweighted GPA, 3.0 weighted. I am a slacker. My grades show a general trend of improvement, though, and I have good rec's.

1600 SAT1; 800 Writing, 800 MAth IIC, 790 Math IC, 760 Lit, 760 U.S.

7 AP exams with 4's and 5's (mostly 5's) and a 3 on the Calculus BC exam, which I took in my freshman year.

Decent EC's.

What do you think?

Thanks!

By Garland (Garland) on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 02:12 pm: Edit

Wow, interesting profile. First of all, my D goes to Wes and absolutely loves it (does not at all share the experience of the visitor who posted above.) If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

As far as your chances, I'm assuming you've probably read Gatekeepers. GPA is very important, though they can get flexible for an interesting student, and you certainly have the ability to do fine there, judging by all your scores. Did you present a reason for your lower grades? How steep has the change been (in other words, have you done a lot better the last couple years)? Are there other things in your app that might win them over, like a unique EC or particularly memorable essay? You mention financial constraints, so if there are outside reasons for your grades, be sure the adcoms know them.

Overall the GPA is a tough hurdle for you. If you do get turned down, be aware that Wes does take quite a few transfers. My D was one. So do well wherever you go, and if you don't love it there, you might be able to get into Wes next year.

Good luck to you!

By Ars (Ars) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 06:12 pm: Edit

SAT1 1390 690V 700M (i suck)
SAT2 680 math IIC, 670 writing, literature 630 (i suck more ) - ( but taking all 3 again in jan)
Olevel: 7 A's, 3 B's
Alevel 2 A's, 1 B
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EC: web & graphic designing (my life) & tennis

School sports: soccer, hockey, table tennis, cricket, baseball, atheletics
School societies: computer society council, human rights society, chess & scrabble society, econ society, business society

* done 2 interships + 1 startup internet venture (part time)
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awards: merit awards from school in geography, science & a linguistics medal (pretty basic stuff)
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1 great, 1 good-ish teacher recom.....& from the reviews i got, very good essays
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i can tell you can't even figure out half of the stuff i wrote here; its based on the cambridge system here, but all it says is that i suck....lol

By Ars (Ars) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 06:18 pm: Edit

yea huh.....i admit, i made the mistake.....i should have written abt the entire 'renegade brigade' population wes has rather than the controversial gay topic.....but anyway, as long as it is a good place academically, blah blah, i think i'll have fun....

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btw Wjk323.....what are your stats?....anyone can put mine to shame....so temme yours

By Tongtransfer (Tongtransfer) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 10:51 am: Edit

" SAT1 1390 690V 700M (i suck)"

Since when did ranking in the top 5% of all test takers suck?

By Velvetoneo (Velvetoneo) on Thursday, April 22, 2004 - 08:52 pm: Edit

My Stats:

1500 SAT-800 SAT Verbal, 700 SAT Math
800 Spanish, U.S History, and Writing SAT IIs, 690 Math SAT II.
APs: U.S History (5), European History (5), Chemistry (4), Biology (4), Statistics and Probability (4), English Language and Literature (5), Art History (5), Spanish Literature (5), Spanish Language (5.) Straight honors throughout high school, and possibly the heaviest academic courseload ever achieved in the school.
ECs: Internships with Democratic Party, ACLU, and an Art Museum (Art Museum is the longest), some awards in painting, awards in essays in the humanities, Model UN, Debate, Political Science Club, Theater, Spanish Club, NHS, Spanish Honor Society, Published Poet and Short Story Writer, Wrote Two Novels and an Epic Poem, EIC Newspaper, EIC Literary Magazine, Lambda Activist, President of Ethical Awareness Club with focus on gay rights.

I have to note, though, some of these were kind of inconsistent. I did the Spanish Club three years out of four only and Model UN and Debate intermittently, but enough to get credit for all four years.

What do you think my chances are at Wesleyan and Swarthmore?