<p>I recently found this forum and decided I had to create an account to share something with the students on here (this "chances" thread in particular):</p>
<p>I completely understand the unique benefits that a site/forum like this can provide. It is often difficult to know what schools will be a good fit for individuals, what specific criteria schools are looking for, etc... This is a great place to find a lot of that information. My worry, however, is that there are numerous students on here who are being told that their "dream schools" are a "reach" or "extremely difficult" for them to get into. This, I believe, may lead a number of these students to hesitate or completely disregard the application process to some of their top schools.</p>
<p>Students, do not be fooled by the numerous and anonymous people on these boards that are telling you there is no shot at some of these places. Apply to every school on your list. Of course have safety schools, but DO NOT allow anyone on this website to discourage you from applying to Harvard, Yale, MIT, Brown, etc... The mere fact that you are on this website, learning about application procedures, seeking advice, means that you are taking your education and the college application process seriously.</p>
<p>You may not get into your top school. Rejection is a lesson we all must learn. There is no reason, however, not to TRY. This past year, I applied to eight of the top graduate music composition programs and, after interviews and such, was ultimately accepted at my top choice and perhaps one of the most selective programs and one of my lowest choices. As a wise professor once told me, "there are far too many talented candidates to accept all that are deserving."</p>
<p>Again, I understand the benefits that come from "applying" for a "chance". No one on this board can tell you if you will for sure get in or not. It is very discouraging to see individuals claiming to "have worked in an Ivy League admissions process"... Who cares? Will they be reading your essays? No. Will they be comparing you with the other applicants? No. Someone claiming this type of experience has just as much information as anyone who can look up statistics online; they have no idea what the admissions counselors on that day, with that specific applicant pool are looking for.</p>
<p>There is a fine line to walk between idealist and realist. Someone with a 2.5 GPA will likely not get into a top university, but don't take these anonymous individuals' words as gospel and truth. Talk with YOUR school counselors; they will have your best interests in mind. You have no idea if some of these "chance raters" hold grudges against schools because they perhaps were not accepted or for other reasons. By all means keep submitting "chance" threads; they do have merit - let them inform your safety schools, let yourself see how to stack up against others, let them inform future or current ECs... but DO NOT LET SOMEONE'S REPLY KEEP YOU FROM APPLYING TO THE SCHOOLS YOU TRULY WANT TO GO TO. If a single student is persuaded NOT to apply to a school just because one of these anonymous respondents says it is a "reach", this website has done far more harm than good. </p>
<p>Alright, prepare for the inevitable pessimistic rants! Also, I will leave all the prospective students with this wonderfully beautiful quote by Henry David Thoreau, popularized by "Dead Poets Society": </p>
<p>"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."</p>
<p>Never look back and have regrets about "what could have been", friends.</p>