Expectations for F&M Acceptance Rate?

Hello community, I have Franklin & Marshall College as one of my reach schools currently. I've seen the acceptance rate, but what do they generally look for in a successful application? Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone step-by-step through this type of process with F&M or similar colleges.

Franklin & Marshall College, like many liberal arts colleges, follows a holistic review process. This means they evaluate all parts of your application rather than primarily focusing on quantitative factors like GPA and test scores. However, strong academic performance is undoubtedly important.

Looking at F&M's class profile, the middle 50% of accepted students have a GPA between 3.6 and 4.0 (weighted). If your GPA falls in this range, you can consider it competitive for F&M. Regarding testing, for the 2024-2025 application cycle, F&M is still test-optional due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but if you have strong SAT or ACT scores, they can certainly strengthen your profile.

Next, extracurriculars carry considerable weight in F&M's admissions process. F&M values students who have shown significant commitment and leadership in a few activities, rather than a superficial involvement in many. This could be in traditional areas like school clubs or sports, or other activities like part-time jobs or family responsibilities. The most successful students usually have 8-10 total extracurriculars, with a focus on quality rather than quantity. They’ll have a few Tier 1-3 activities, showing notable accomplishments or leadership.

Additionally, your essays will be an integral part of your application. F&M wants to see students who are intellectually curious, who are eager to engage deeply with their course of study. The strongest essays will address these traits either directly or indirectly, using specific examples from your life experiences. Avoid cliche topics to stand out. It's also significant to illustrate why you want to study at F&M in the supplemental essay- tailor it to specific programs, traditions or values at F&M that resonate with your future goals or personality.

Lastly, Letters of Recommendation (LoRs) provide the admissions committee with a third-party perspective on your intellectual curiosity, character, and contribution to class engagement. For F&M, as with most colleges, it's advisable to get LoRs from teachers in core academic subjects where you’ve demonstrated strong skills and engagement.

Remember, these are general observations. Admissions can vary from year to year depending on the applicant pool. But by prioritizing these aspects of your application, you could significantly improve your chances of an offer from F&M. Good luck!