<p>A lot of you seem to have strong opinions about the specifics of a person's chances of acceptance to Harvard and other schools. I just was wondering if you guys think what fellow CC'ers post about chances are actually accurate; is the "CC" decision generally the same as Harvard's or wherever, or are these people without first-hand experience merely making guesses?</p>
<p>If you actually think that people spend a lot of time on "chances" then you're kidding yourself. Of course they're just making guesses most of the time.</p>
<p>are "CC" decisions really accurate?</p>
<p>no</p>
<p>"are "CC" decisions really accurate?"</p>
<p>Not always. I remember being told I wouldn't get in. =)</p>
<p>It depends on who you're talking about. Some people are more level-headed than others. But no one here is an admissions officer.</p>
<p>Regardless, there are quite a few people here who will get in, and quite a few who won't. I'd venture to say that, overall, the CC crowd tends to be pretty successful, if only because CC attracts bothersome (<em>cough</em>, read: endearingly obsessive) overachievers.</p>
<p>I feel even when they do predict successfully, they're off on some account (why they got in, what their chances of getting in are, etc)</p>
<p>hey they aren't meant to give you a definitive chance. either they are designed to give you a confidence boost or more importantly they can let you know where you need to imrove. i dont mind chances threads in small doses because they give good advice to juniors. they are stupid for seniors and sophmores because either its too late to change or there isnt enough data to give a solid estimate. also at the mit thread, Ben Jones, an admissions officer (adcom) readily gives advice. i would like to warn you to not pester him with chances threads though. his time is valuble dont waste it. hes really nice so if you have a meaningful question or are interested in mit you can check out his blogs or ask him a direct question.</p>
<p>No one can predict with 100% certainty other than the admissions officers, but those who have studied the process, known a good number of people who applied (and then seeing if they were accepted or rejected), thought a lot about it, and use some common sense on top of that can certainly predict with decent accuracy. There's no reason to believe one couldn't understand the admissions officers' thought processes with enough work. It's still important to be wary of predictions though.</p>
<p>Well, it depends. From what it looks like, people here can tell you if you're in the ballpark. Other than that, however, they can't provide much accurate feedback. The chances threads don't usually have nearly enough information about each applicant that's needed: background, location, income, essays, recs, interview, etc. And, to be brutally honest, these chances threads seem to be really generic. Sure, you may have a common hook like URM, Athlete, or Legacy, but the adcoms are more likely to remember some of the really rare and almost unheard of hooks.</p>
<p>I agree with sharkbite. And that would mean I am a hypocrite. I posted a chances thread a long time ago and got many different reactions, from you're a really strong applicant to you have an average chance. It was nice for people to tell me where my app was weak and were it was strong, advice which I used in writing my essays and ordering my ECs. I do think that some seniors need it though. I come from a school where everybody goes "you're a shoe in", "you're valedictorian, who's going to reject you?" These are quotes from my counselors.</p>
<p>Manguo, I know what you mean (you and I both go to crappy schools where an SAT over 1000 is considered brilliant). I hate it when people tell me "oh, you're so smart... you'll definately get in!" </p>
<p>It's like, what if I don't? I'll feel bad as if I'm letting a bunch of people down.</p>
<p>It totally feel that way, like poeple just don't understand that 91% of kids don't make the cut. I feel just terrible when people say "I'm certain you'll get in." All I want to do is to crawl into a hole and block my ears so I can pretend that it's a sure thing that I'll get rejected so I can prepare for the worst. If just one person said, "Yea Harvard is really tough, don't feel badly if they reject you," I'd be so happy. I dread the Friday where I have to tell everyone and their cousin that I was rejected, especially my teachers that were really invested in my application process. Why the hell does everyone feel the need to announce, "So-and-So is applying to Harvard!" I think its a conspriacy so that when I don't get in, I won't feel bad about not going, Ill just feel humiliated because I have to tell everyone.</p>
<p>running + maguo -> same problem! my counselor said i was a shoe-in everywhere i was applying the other day... :/</p>
<p>its annoying...</p>
<p>"Manguo, I know what you mean (you and I both go to crappy schools where an SAT over 1000 is considered brilliant). I hate it when people tell me "oh, you're so smart... you'll definately get in!" </p>
<p>It's like, what if I don't? I'll feel bad as if I'm letting a bunch of people down."</p>
<p>That's how I felt last year. Ultimately, though, you have to recognize that you're not applying to colleges for your counselor, or for your friends, and that if you don't get into Harvard, those people won't be disappointed in YOU necessarily.</p>
<p>I feel that either people want to make the geniuses feel bad or they want to make the people who have no chance feel better.</p>
<p>It's nice to know that other people feel the same way that I do. I'm not quite sure that I'll be able to tell everybody I get defer/rejected. What's really annoying is that these people know that the last two people who applied to Harvard with similar stats both got rejected. When I tell them that, they say "Oh, your better than him", or "You scored ten points higher on your SAT".<br>
While I'm on a roll, you know what I hate more? Guidance Counselors who think that U of FL is the best school in the country. They always call it "The Ivy of the South", which it certainly is not (Duke, GT, Emory, Vandy in my opinion are all better). Sometimes that I think that my guidance counselors are airheads. My counselor is; I had to explain the difference between ED and RD earlier this year.</p>
<p>"I just was wondering if you guys think what fellow CC'ers post about chances are actually accurate"</p>
<p>They are as accurate as are flips of a coin. Why anyone would bank on predictions by uninformed strangers on anonymous board is beyond me.</p>
<p>My personal prediction is that people who repeatedly post on the chances boards are unlikely to get into a place like HPYS because they are seriously lacking in critical thinking skills.</p>
<p>I think it's OK to post once -- just for fun, just like one might ask "What's your sign?" while flirting. It's stupid, however, to seriously ask chances posts because clearly people here are not adcoms nor do people here see posters' applications.</p>
<p>Instead of asking for "chances," people would be better off studying, doing ECs or polishing their essays.</p>
<p>lol im addicted to this website. so i might as well post to feed the hunger. lol</p>
<p>also the humiliation of failure is another good reason to simply be humble. i never talk about my failures or my succeses. i love those kids that are like "i got a 5.0!!!" and then next semester always try to change the subject when it comes to grades (because their grades arn't as good anymore) </p>
<p>besides, its always cooler to say i got into harvard when everyone thinks your stupid then saying i didnt get in when everyone thinks your smart.</p>