Anyone find this forum freaks them out more?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
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<p>Hey!
I'm a newbie- but I've lurked at this site for ages- since I was a sophomore, I think.</p>

<p>Anyway I had a spasmodic attack of "OMG will or won't will or won't?" this evening, so I got on here and started actually reading posts to find some comfort-</p>

<p>ehm, so petrified right now. Like I think I'm going to throw up. You people have such GOOD stats, and at the same time you seem to be full of the fear that I have....</p>

<p>I've never been more afraid and unsure in my life now.</p>

<p>Er. Yeah.</p>

<p>Good luck to all of you.</p>

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<p>The only thing you really see on this forum are stats in terms of "OMG will I get in???!!!!!!!!"</p>

<p>The guy can give you an SAT score, SAT II scores, rank, and a BRIEF overview of their extracurriculars. Sure, they are extremely important, but they can't give you their essays, recommendations, etc. Any subjective information they really cannot give objectively.</p>

<p>For example, teacher recs saying something like: "XXXXX is easily the best student I've ever had in my 30 year career of teaching English" is gonna pack a helluva more punch than: "XXXXX was my favorite student last year" because the second one kinda beats around the bush and tries to evade the fact that the student wasn't the best.</p>

<p>Also, everyone seems to think their essays are good. But if you ever read A is for Admission, or Acing the College Application by Michele Hernandez (who worked in the Dartmouth Adcom), she said that around 75% of the essays she read were just plain bad. It doesn't matter if your essay can impress every english scholar out there if it can't impress the adcom (although chances are that if they do impress english scholars, they should certainly impress adcoms :p)</p>

<p>I can give you 4 examples that will make you feel better.</p>

<p>Friend A: 1600 SAT, 2400 SAT IIs, but did not get into any tier 1 or tier 2 schools because his GPA/rank sucked and he had no ECs</p>

<p>Friend B: 1560 SAT, 2400 SAT IIs, salutatorian, on the US National Table Tennis Team, a few other activities besides Table Tennis. Did not get into any tier 1/2 schools either because he came across as extremely cocky.</p>

<p>Friend C (This guy I pity and yet laugh at): Had 4000 SAT, val, amazing ECs, don't know about recs or essays, but wound up at his CC because he only applied to MIT and Caltech.</p>

<p>Friend D: 1300 SAT, top 15% at a not-so-competitive public school, high 600s, low 700s on his SAT IIs. A few ECs, but in depth. Applied out of state to UMich and UVa and got in to both. I'm guessing his essays really showed some stuff because quite honestly, his stats are not impressive for those schools. He's not urm, disadvantaged, athlete, developmental, VIP, etc.</p>

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<p>I wish I had a 4000 on my SATs :(</p>

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<p>Aw, Friend B should have gotten in somewhere!</p>

<p>I'm laughing a little at Friend C too o_x;;;</p>

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<p>oh whoops, when I said 4000 SATs, I meant 1600 SAT I, 2400 SAT IIs</p>

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<p>Hahaha! I was so going...extra credit?!</p>

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<p>Ah that does sort of make me feel better- but what worries me is that I really am one of those people who is counting on my essays to pull me through.</p>

<p>God. It's so depressing to see my life and personality summed up in one interview and one application. There are so many more things I wish I'd said...</p>

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<p>yeah but what can you do? who cares anyway, its just our lives. (lol)</p>

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<p>This forum really does freak me out. I've been lurking for ages and there are people who are like "OMG I HAS 2400 SAT'S N SIXTY VARSITY SPORTZ, I BE SO WORRIED, I CAN HAS ACCEPTANCE LETTER 2 HAHVAHD NAO!?" (not quoting/offending/harming anyone).</p>

<p>Here I am with my lowly SAT scores, not an athlete, musician, or insane breakdancer. I don't know. I guess if adcoms have Gods, I'll be praying to them soon.</p>

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<p>I realize that this thread was randomly bumped from a while ago, but I think it's an interesting sentiment and I thought I'd give my opinion.</p>

<p>As one peruses the several "chance me" threads on the College Confidential forums, they will undoubtedly notice the impressiveness of most people's resumes. This is occasionally coupled with "I know I'll never get in, but..." followed by near perfect SATs, etc.. It's enough to make any other applicant want to give up and throw in the towel. I feel though that many of these posters are not your run-of-the-mill applicants. I mean, think about it, who would go on a forum such as this besides someone serious about grades, colleges, and their future? A perfect example is in the SAT forum: "Should I retake this 2390?," "Darn that 790!," and the list goes on. So I don't think anyone should be discouraged from applying to prestegious institutions such as Princeton based on the few applicants that are members of College Confidential. Sure, it gives you an idea of what you're up against, but there are almost 20,000 other applicants (to Princeton, that is).</p>

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<p>lmao @ mysh ^
i love lolcats-esque language.</p>

<p>Saw a really funny pic recently of Michael Phelps yelling after the USA won the 400 M free relay, and the caption said "I HAZ GOALD METTLE!!!!!" I subsequently laughed out loud :)</p>

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<p>hahaha...</p>

<p>lolcats are my guilty pleasure...</p>

<p>This is completely unrelated...but this is my favorite one ever</p>

<p><a href="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/ihasfacelift.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/ihasfacelift.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Re hookem and xatuu: I do love me some lolcats every once in a while. XD</p>

<p>I think you brought up a good point though... I guess one shouldn't be discouraged despite all the "DARN THAT 790!" stuff (well, it's "DARN THAT 690!" for me, but, anyway). But hey, it's human nature.</p>

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<p>Yes, this forum is petrifying. Until I came on CC, I never knew there were so many uber-qualified kids. For them to have accomplished so much so young, they must have discovered a way to extend their days to 40 hours instead of 24 (kinda like how that friend managed a 4000 SAT)</p>

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<p>Oh god, I'm familiar with the MOST extreme necroing (being a regular of a couple forums here and now and then), but...</p>

<p>this is the greatest I've seen.</p>

<p>3 years. Wow. I'm speechless. </p>

<p>(No offense intended, though...I can share your sentiment towards the original topic anyways)</p>

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<p>A lot of these people are liars fishing for compliments.</p>

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<p>In other words, don't stress.</p>

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<p>"A lot of these people are liars fishing for compliments."</p>

<p>Exactly-even when they are being truthful, many just want to hear people say how smart they are.</p>

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<p>Yes, CC has its share of trolls, but many of us are just honest high school students seeking honest opinions (well, mostly honest)</p>

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<p>hahaha!! i totally agree with the title!! i come on here to get advice but then I'll click the chance threads just to see how they compare with me and of course then I start to hyperventilate.</p>

<p>yeah, this site will actually make me feel bad about myself. so i plan to just send my stuff away and be done with it. no more frantic comparisons with people on cc. it's bad for morale.</p>

<p>good luck everyone!!</p>