Your advice is too idealistic, but it can cheer people up I guess.
It’s like saying you should quit your job if you don’t like it. Things don’t just work like that. You need to balance out priorities. Making money, like going to a good college, is important to some people, and I don’t think it’s wrong for people to do things they don’t want to do in order to achieve something they really do want.
Personally, I’ve pretty much quit every club I didn’t want to do and focused on some things. I had a decent SAT score (2300), grades, etc. I was rejected from Yale EA (not that I care TOO much). Whatever the case, like someone else said, you wouldn’t be giving the same advice had you been rejected. I like your intentions, but they’re misleading.
That being said, you’re a great writer, so I’m sure that helped.
I think the real focus should be on what is the best fit for you. Yes, adcoms can’t always tell that, but not everyone can get into HYPSM…that’s why these schools do have such a name.
A teacher gave me some great advice last year, saying that as far as like hoping you’ll do well on the SATs and stuff, well there again, not everyone can get a 1600. That’s the point of the test. But your scores will help guide you to where is a good fit for you, whether it’s the place you exactly believe it should be or not.
Also, a different teacher said something great:: So often we as humans are trying to discern between the good and the bad, the right and the wrong. That’s not what this college search is though. We are looking at a LOT of good choices, there are so many good options. So don’t focus on one as the absolute right, and the rest are bad and could never be as good. We will be lead
I don’t know. My son would not be attending Pomona next year on a full-ride if it were not for CC. My guess is UF. Time spent on here can be invaluable and life-changing. There is a lot to be learned about this process and I’d say starting in December of my son’s junior year was almost too late. It took a lot of time to learn about schools, stats, scholarships, essay-writing, and application structuring. CC should be a required class for every high school junior. This doesn’t have to take away from ECs.
I do agree that doing what your passionate about is key. (I learned this on CC too).
I’m a college sophomore myself and I would say that a person posting on CC telling others to just chill (and for them to listen) simply because HE’s in a college is ridiculous.
i just dont understand how taking karate lessons can get anyone into MIT??? lol
for god’s sake take extracurriculars that complement your personality and thats relevant to your major.
^By doing something that shows a passion for something. If the person likes to do karate and enjoys it, there should be nothing stopping them from pursuing karate.
This is the most realistic and honest summary of the admissions process I have read yet. Nick is right, the college admissions process is a game. Some people already naturally fit the rules of the game. Others have to adjust to/bend the rules.
The “be yourself” motto doesn’t necessarily work for the majority of people, so we have to compromise some bits and pieces of ourselves.
However, some people overkill and try to change themselves COMPLETELY in order to tailor their personalities to what (they think) the school is looking for. X University really doesn’t pay attention to if you take this elective versus that elective.
But if everyone followed what the OP have said, not only would the world be a much better place, a lot of pressure will be relieved, and doing what you really like will be worthwhile.
I was rejected by MIT and I agree with what the OP has to say.
Awhile back I was sitting at my computer, looking at rejection emails, and I thought to myself, “I wouldn’t change a thing.” I had fun. I didn’t do things to get into college, I did the things I liked. I didn’t play the game, per se, and I might have “lost” in a sense, but I think I’ve gained so much more. I still wouldn’t change a thing.
I wouldn’t change a thing. No matter where you end up going to school (or where you ended up going) the most important thing is that you really love what you are doing, and that you’re pursuing that thing to the extreme. Your experience anywhere will be primarily defined by how much effort you’re willing to put in, not just where you are.
When it comes to admissions, just make sure your application shows how much you care about the stuff you’re passionate about. So long as your tests show that you’re smart, it doesn’t matter if you have a perfect score. So long as you spend time on the extra-curriculars that you actually enjoy, it doesn’t matter how many clubs you were in. Be yourself - the maximum version of yourself - and you’ll be just fine.
I didn’t read the whole thread yet, but it always sort of bothers me when people say you shouldn’t do ECs just for college…I’m so shy that I never would have had any reason to do anything at all after school if it weren’t for college admissions hanging over my head.
If I had only done things I loved at first sight, I would never have done anything at all. If I had only taken classes I knew in advance I’d like, I wouldn’t have discovered certain interests I now know I have. IMO, the “do what you’re passionate about” advice assumes teenagers are way better at introspection than they actually are.
