Saint Mary's College of California Regular Decision Deep Dive

Considering regular decision for Saint Mary's College of California. Can anyone share their experience or offer advice on what makes a strong application for this route? Any timeline details or tips would be appreciated!

Saint Mary's College of California (SMC) is a school that values not only strong academics but also a deep commitment to personal development. They're looking for well-rounded applicants who can contribute to their campus community in significant ways.

In terms of academics, SMC will look at your transcript to assess the strength of the curriculum you undertook in high school. A solid GPA certainly comes in handy, but it's not as much about the sheer numbers as having shown your ability to take on challenges and succeed. So, if your school offers challenging courses like AP or IB, don't shy away from them.

In addition to academics, Saint Mary’s College highly values personal qualities and holistic characteristics of applicants. This is where your essays and letters of recommendation will play a crucial role. When writing your personal statement, be sure to include experiences that have shaped you as a person and informed your future goals—this helps provide insight into your character and your potential fit at Saint Mary's. Avoid cliche topics and focus on unique aspects of your experiences. For example, instead of writing about a generic volunteer experience, discuss a particular moment during the experience that struck you, and show the lessons you derived from it.

For the letter of recommendation, choose teachers who know you not just as a student, but as a person. They should be able to speak to your academic strength, yes, but they also should be able to paint a picture of you as someone who contributes to the school and local community.

Regarding extracurricular activities, Saint Mary’s College places an emphasis on quality over quantity. Involvement in a few activities that truly matter to you is positively viewed. Make sure to detail any leadership roles you’ve taken on and show how you’ve contributed to and grown from these experiences.

If you're applying Regular Decision, the application deadline is January 15. Keep in mind that the decision notification for regular decision applicants typically comes around late March.

Lastly, SGML considers demonstrated interest. Therefore, participating in admissions events (like virtual webinars or campus tours) will give you valuable insights and may affect your application positively.