<p>Several highly qualified students from my school are applying to my dream school, and they have no intention of attending even if they get accepted (I'm 99% sure they don't). They are all aiming for HYP/other Ivies, while I'm aiming a little lower. My dream school has never accepted more than 2 people from my HS in one year, so I'm probably screwed right now. I'm a little ticked off right now, because I hate the fact that my chances of getting into my dream school are greatly reduced because of other people. Are any of you experiencing this right now, where people in your school are applying to your dream school as their safeties?</p>
<p>Also, should I even be worrying at all? Do large schools in the Top 30 even have time to compare individual applicants from the same HS?</p>
<p>I’ve known people who competed in high school events and won many scholarships to a particular college - that they never intended to attend, which is pretty awful as well. </p>
<p>Depending on the school you may end up on a wait list so that if a lot of students do reject their offers, you may get a call. I really do not think they would even realize they are comparing and choosing a number from the same high school - they would compare overall qualifications of the applicant pool, and in some cases may consider if you are a member of a desired minority group. Even if there are more qualified students than you at your high school, imagine how many qualified students there are at other high schools. They will not be so choosy as to say “We’d like 5 students from school X.”</p>
<p>These other students are not guaranteed to get into HYP/other ivies. Maybe they will attend your “dream school” if they get in. What do you expect them to do, apply only to HYP?</p>
<p>Try applying ED. If this school is just a safety school for them, they’ll be applying RD and you’ll be considered before they are. If your qualifications are good enough for this school, you might just get in over your classmates.</p>
<p>A) apply ED if you really like that school.
B) show demonstrated interest in the school. Make sure your counselor and the school know how much you want to be there.</p>
<p>@moonman676: I want to go to UC Berkeley, so ED is not an option and the school doesn’t accept recs either. </p>
<p>@prefect: I’m pretty sure they’re applying to 10+ schools, most of which are ivies and top 10/20 schools. They’re freaking geniuses with everything from grades and test scores to leadership and ECs. I would be surprised if they DON’T get into an ivy. Plus I know some of them and I’m 99% sure that they don’t want to go to UCB and would only go if they got rejected from everywhere else.</p>
<p>Well then this “They are all aiming for HYP/other Ivies, while I’m aiming a little lower.” isn’t really a correct statement. They are all of equal (or similar) selectivity for the most part. Berkeley is a great school as are HYPSM etc. </p>
<p>But still, demonstrated interest can only help you. Contact admissions officers, etc.</p>
<p>How will I be able to demonstrate interest if Berk doesn’t have a “Why _____?” essay prompt and doesn’t accept recommendations? I’m going to a UCB info sesh where there’ll be admissions officers to answer questions, but how will they remember me? Man I’m really stressed out right now :(</p>
<p>Berkeley is all “numbers”. If you don’t meet their “numbers” and not minority material, then don’t expect too much from Berkeley. People from your school have nothing to do with your not accepting to Berkeley. Only top private schools have bodies to do the interview and selection a student over others in the same school, or same area</p>
<p>Sorry, for the first post I didn’t know which school was being considered. And in all honesty I don’t know much about the UC system, I just assumed it was similar to other schools I’ve been looking at. So good luck, and again sorry for any non-pertinent info I put up.</p>
<p>Berkeley usually doesn’t look too closely at the school you come from. A couple of years ago, about 10 kids got in from my school. You still have a good chance to get in.</p>