Can strong LOR's offset lack of course rigor?

I think your best bet is to play up your writing especially if you get published. That could significantly help your chances.

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All the time you have wasted on Reddit and here arguing why you should be able to get into a T20 school, despite not the best class rank and no standardized test score, would have been much better spent prepping for the ACT and TAKING IT! You’ve convinced yourself that if you could somehow explain yourself to T20 schools, they would take you, and you’re wrong. They won’t.

Meanwhile, the easiest way to improve your application is to prep for and take an ACT. Did you speak with the GC at school about getting extended time? You’ve got to hurry up on that - it doesn’t happen last minute.

And I agree, if you were to win a prestigious writing contest, it would help. But you’re still not going to get into a T20. The smartest kid in my son’s public school, who was an excellent athlete, a published writer who had won several awards, took all the most rigorous classes, which means many APs, was valedictorian, also a talented musician, did everything well, didn’t get into a T20 school.

Let it go, get off the internet, and start doing something to improve your chances, such as prepping for the ACT.

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I think you are confusing what is often said here on CC about students being considered in the context of their school. There is a difference between a school not offering many (or any) AP courses vs students who are not on track to take the APs that are offered.

You’ve obviously overcome a lot to get your grades up but as others have said, you need to be focusing on preparing for the ACT and spending the majority of time working on your essays for your matches and safeties.

You may also find that you have more success in RD so that colleges can see your first semester senior grades.

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As I read through this long thread, the OP made that statement multiple times. And each time I wondered if the OP was actually understanding the concept. I also believe the OP may be confused, but hopefully after your last post understands that rigor is evaluated on taking the hardest courses available to anyone in the school
to those on the most advanced track.

In the event the OP is still reading this thread (although I hope has moved on to more productive activities that will enhance a college application), I hope you have a support system in your family and your school as you navigate this process. You have accomplished a lot and are a gifted writer; I hope you find a wonderful college home where your strengths are valued and where a solid support system is available if needed. Best of luck.

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Of course, the OP can’t move up in this recalculation unless someone else moves down. And they can make the exact same argument “I pay a zillion dollars to go here, and you will rank me the way I tell you to!”

As far as I can tell, there’s only one fair way to handle this. Auction.

I thought the user is banned when using multiple usernames? Isn’t that what’s happened in the past? Why is this poster being given a second chance?

No. We will close one and refer the user to the rules that state that one can only have one account. Now if a user goes and makes yet another account after having been advised, then in all likelihood we will close all accounts.

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Well, thanks for the clarification. So every user gets one to make one mistake before they are banned.

If so I believe you just used yours😀

With some exceptions, at least one.

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I wanted to update some of you, 2 months after the last reply on here.

A few weeks ago, I visited some schools of interest. These were Colgate, Cornell (I’m not applying, but always wondered what its campus was like. I was let down), and Hamilton.

My counselor has told me that schools like Hamilton, Bates, and Colby are all ‘realistic’ reaches for me, and if I wanted to try for the arts college at CMU, that would also be a realistic reach. I visited CMU in August and was very impressed. It is also freshman-blind.

While I haven’t visited Bates or Colby, I did visit Hamilton, and was awestruck by its campus. A very close-knit, community-based school, it was. It’s also in-state and close enough to home. That isn’t even mentioning that its writing program is among the best reputed in the country. So, I signed the contract. I will be applying ED to Hamilton College. One of my teachers went there and believes I’ll get in, and my counselor has put my odds at 50%+. I still approach this all confidently, but without expectations. I would, however, like to thank the users of this thread who pointed out Hamilton to me. It immediately caught my eye. I hope for the best.

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Congratulations on finding a school you believe fits and I hope it works out for you!

Did you prepare properly and complete the ACT?

Did you decide to include a LOR from your support aide?

You appear to have become a stronger college applicant in the short time since your earliest posts on CC. Wishing you the best of luck.

An hou

At 8:00 tonight, I was rejected from Hamilton College. I had high hopes, but low expectations from such a competitive school.

Now I’m back to square one, in some sense. Regrouping, looking to decide which direction to go. I’ve applied RD to Colby, Skidmore, Connecticut, Binghamton, and UHartford (mega safety, apparently).

Not sure which school to choose for ED2, or if I should even apply ED2. But I’ve lost most of the hope I had for schools of Hamilton’s caliber. Whether this is just in my head, I don’t know. I would ask my counselor, but they put my odds of admission at 60-80%. In retrospect, that’s laughable. But maybe I just happened to be that ~30%.

I visited SUNY Binghamton a few months back. It’s a very nice campus with attractions around it. I also have great transfer options were I to perform well after one year, but if I enjoyed the school as much as I think I would, why destabilize? So that’s an option. I’ll also be publishing my book very soon and intend to write another while a college freshman. I have options, but this all stings.

Sorry for your rejection to Hamilton.

Did you ever take the ACT as previously strongly suggested and discussed and or submit the LOR from your aid which was strongly advised against?

You were given a lot of advice on this thread I am interested to see where you wound up in terms of that advice. Then hopefully we can help you regroup and identify a path.

Hang in there!!

Bing is a great school and you are fortunate to have it as an instate option. I’m sorry to hear about Hamilton, but you have other applications in
so hang in there!

Are there any other SUNY schools you plan to apply to?

Interestingly, my aid disappeared. One night last month, I received an email from the administration that they’d no longer be at the school. They left without a word or trace, so that LOR isn’t happening (not that I’d have asked for it anyway).

Thanks for your kind words. I plan on applying to New Paltz or a similar school. Ideally, I’d go to a smaller school upstate.

A smaller *SUNY school upstate.