Class of 2015 from Nepal

[ROCKHARDABS]

<p>list…and apply to more sensible colleges</p>

[sujitbaruwal]

<p>Everyone check this out…I got this from the thread of 2013…
Its a very useful one…

@DjFU

(“”“” I’m going to tackle this a little bit differently from what I see
elsewhere. The admissions process seems so robotic most of the time,
and as I filled out applications, none of that ubiquitous information
seemed to tell me what I really needed to hear. So, after being
admitted to Stanford, here’s what I wish I had had the opportunity to
read beforehand…</p>

<p>I didn’t really involve myself in the admissions process until late in
my Junior year of high school. By about September of my Senior year, I
knew for sure that Stanford was my top choice, not because I wanted to
attend the “best” school but because it had to offer more than anywhere
else exactly what I wanted. And I think that was an important step in
terms of getting in. I never made it my life’s goal to attend a highly
competitive college, but rather, throughout high school, I was who I
wanted to be and was interested in what I uniquely wanted to be
interested. When college time rolled around, I searched for the school
that best fit my own persona. I did NOT spend 4 years creating a
persona that fit the school of my choice.</p>

<p>A friend emailed me a link the other day. On the page, a prospective
Stanford student applying in my year had posted his stats, asking “What
are my chances?” Almost all of the replies were “You are probably
getting in!”
Let me give you a taste of his stats, altered slightly (but not with
any noticable effect upon quality), done as to preserve his privacy:</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 unweighted.
SAT I - 2360.
SAT IIs: 800, 740, 790, 710.
All honors courses, including seven, count 'em, 7, AP courses taken
BEFORE Senior year: 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5. Taking a lot of APs senior
year.
Class rank: 1 out of 300-something.
Activities: involved himself in a number of clubs and non-school
activities, did community service hours, etc.</p>

<p>Impressive? Yeah, he is definitely one smart, hard-working guy.</p>

<p>Two months later… Status: REJECTED.</p>

<p>Is this surprising? Most people think so. The common reaction
is “getting into Stanford is just ridiculous.” To be honest, had this
kid applied to some of the nation’s equally competitive colleges, I
sincerely think he would have stood a much better chance. And that’s
where Stanford is different. If you just dropped your jaw and you feel
as though you have no chance of admission to Stanford, close your mouth
and keep reading. In fact, wrap your lips around some more stats, which
seem like crap when compared to those listed above (as with the above
applicant, also altered slightly for privacy):</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 (unweighted)
SAT I - 2160
SAT IIs - 800, 620, 640
APs - took honors courses throughout, 2 APs Junior year: 4, 3. And a
lot during Senior year.
Rank: School does not rank.
Activities: computer music, DJ, drummer, founder of some clubs in those
areas…</p>

<p>Status: ACCEPTED.</p>

<p>Neither of the two applicants have any connections nor are they
atheletes or legacies, and they are the same race, if you think any of
that would have made a difference. They both excel in all classes
rather than being “lopsided,” towards math or language, for example. In
short, I assure you that they’re playing the same game. So what’s the
deal? Is the decision that random?</p>

<p>Think about this: both applicants can doubtlessly do the work at
Stanford. Yes, they’re both have the IQs. Academic success is criteria
number one, but that doesn’t mean it’s “weighted” more than anything
else as they make final decisions. They want to know that you are
intelligent enough to succeed academically once on campus. And, like
one other survey giver said, the dean of admissions remarked at
orienatation that 10,000 of the over 20,000 applicants could do the
work at Stanford.</p>

<p>So the only logical conclusion? Once academic success by numbers has
become clear through the application, as it is in both of the above
cases, admissions officers have to ask “So what?” Through the
application of kid #1, the rejection decision makes it obvious that
Stanford (wisely) cares not for superficial success. Playing merely to
win results in losing. And from application #2? Playing to play results
in success.</p>

<p>“Passion for ideas, imagination, intellectual vitality, creativity,
uniqueness, ability to understand ambiguity and complexity” - these
phrases and more can be found on Stanford’s own undergraduate
admissions website. Why some choose to ignore Stanford’s own words is
beyond me. Rutherford Hayes once said insightfully, “We’re drowning in
information and starving for knowledge.” Likewise, a good life is not
about acquiring information. It’s about the desire for knowledge. I
wish more applicants would understand just how important that is. Don’t
base your high school education around “building a resume,” as one
other survey contributor so aptly said. It’s four years of your life,
for crying out loud! Base them around yourself, who you truly are, and
by the time the “dreaded admissions process” rolls around, you’ll be
halfway there already. All aspects of the application WILL fall into
place nicely and will form a complete “you” so long as you are honest
with yourself. I promise. Of all the current Stanford students I know,
these traits in them stand out. I’ll put it bluntly just as Stanford
itself implies on its own website: Lots of kids are smart, but only
some of them really, really, want to learn for learning’s sake. Make
sure you’re one of the latter!</p>

<p>I don’t know what the essays of Applicant #1 contained, but I’d be
willing to bet that while the quality of writing was indeed high, the
content was either vague, impersonal, or at worst, arrogant or
fallacious. He probably tried to explain his life to the admissions
staff as he thought they would like to hear it. His teacher
recommendations doubtlessly attest to his being one of the most
intelligent guys on the earth, but they may not offer insight into why
that may be. He is his class’s valedictorian. Does he like that title?
If so, what does that say about him as a thinking person? Thinking
about this kind of stuff. These questions are important!</p>

<p>I have read applicant #2’s essays, and it’s obvious he tried hard to
make them personal - to show who he really was and what really made his
clockwork turn. One of his recommendation writers sent him a completed
letter of recommendation after his admission, and he posted it, so I
have also read it. It displays his true love of knowledge from the
teacher’s point of view as well as his ability to draw from reality to
create the fantasy he loves. The recommendation is actually as personal
as are his own essays.</p>

<p>If it hasn’t clicked by now, then I don’t know what else to say. It’s
as simple as realizing that colleges admit real people, therefore the
admissions process must also be personal!</p>

<p>Specifically, I strongly believe that Stanford wants kids who are (as
they say) CREATIVE, IMAGINIATIVE, and who are ceaseless EXPLORERS,
bound by nothing - all of which, as I have hinted, shine through those
who live life for living’s sake, not as they think the admissions staff
would like them to. As I filled out my application for early admission,
I felt like my chances were, as is so often said (by my own college
counselor, too), “a crapshoot.” All those “applicant #1s” out there made
me shrivel up in comparison. I wish now that before I applied I had had
the opportunity to read what I have just written so I could have had
some assurance that this process rewards those who live creatively, for
their own true goals and interests.</p>

<p>If you’ve read this far and you’re thinking about Stanford, then please
don’t take lightly what I have said. I’m not an admissions expert; I’m
just another applicant like you, but I assure you that from the moment
you submit your application, Stanford (again, as they say on their
website) has the utmost respect for you as a person - who you are, your
aspirations, your talents, and your worldview. That’s a very refreshing
offer straight from them to you, and it beats the heck out of any
school’s more stat-driven admissions process. Respect their offer and
return it by showing them exactly what makes your soul yours. If they
weren’t so generous with their time and respect, I KNOW FOR SURE that I
would have stood NO CHANCE against those in the applicant pool like
applicant #1. Reflecting on my application, I know that my fortunate
admission means that they truly cared about me as a person. It’s so
refreshing to think that Stanford cares about something more than
numbers.</p>

<p>I hope this information helps you in the process, and I wish you the
best of luck with your application! “”“”)

Do read this 2 to 3 times…</p>

[_400]

<p>^ Guys this is College Confidential.</p>

[Prasadian]

<p>@ROCKHARDABS
thats alright what u said but how do u prove the university that u had initiated the project and not others ???
and thanks for the “being aware” thing…really appreciated it</p>

[ROCKHARDABS]

<p>hey the post by sujit is good…see…the thing why i always say…that college admissions should be counted as in probabilty,chances…is that you really cannot speculate…i mean sometimes even guys with good intentions.like the one who got aaccepted to Stanford in the previous thread could have been rejected in other schools…you really cant tell…its really hard to speculate…actually a waste to speculate.</p>

<p>@prasadian, you dont need to prove anyone anything…if you do what you are interested in…that should come across in your recommendations,…essay…you can always submit a resume stamped from some authorty in your school (i did that)…but then,its always half the story…if you have a long list of extracurriculars…and it really dint mean to you that much except for listing it…than…fgot it…that resume will go to waste//but say your really enjoyed doing all those stuff in the resume…+ that somethng you are glad/proud of having done…that should definitely be included in the list of activities in your resume…</p>

<p>during my highschool days, i sang, i danced, i did taekwondo, i was in editorial, i played… i viirtually did everything…i mean the "all-rounder " thing…at that time, i had no idea about US admissions process…and none of what i did was intentional…</p>

<p>i was privileged enough to have received so many facilities in my school (sadly, not all kids in nepal enjoy that)…but then, i did all of those things, because i was really into those things…i realy enjoyed playing guitar…singing songs…fighting to save my yasss. in takewondo.,…it was all part of school culture…and i was so much imbued into tht culture…having come this far, i so much appreciate the beauty of doing a good work unintentionally…there in lies the power of doing things…there in lies the joy of wanting to re-doing it all over again…</p>

[Kalyan]

<p>wah wah ROCKHARDABS…you are the real man…your help and suggestions to juniors like us are always a very good step to be appreciated…</p>

[sujitbaruwal]

<p>@ all 2015ners
Where are all the people?..Why are u all so lazy?..
Lets make this thread active…its dying out…
And where is the thread starter?..Is he dead too?..
Do post guys…</p>

[3333]

<p>@future engineers: Do apply to Mississippi State University… if you’re on time… you’re gonna get hell of a free ride I tell you… get a great composite and apply… it can be a great fallback…</p>

[Prasadian]

<p>Sujit is rite!!! where r the guys??
@3333
What is it about Mississippi State University that makes u call out future engineers ???
does it gives a greater chance of scholarships n aids??
can u plz ellaborate…</p>

[ccprofile]

<p>^One of the reasons is that there aren’t that many LACs out there which provide engineering courses.</p>

[3333]

<p>^^ yup and another thing is there u can get such awesome merit aid here that can cover not only your tuition/ room & board but also your meals, transportation, books, insurance, etc… but then you’ll have to apply within the deadlines…</p>

[Prasadian]

<p>@3333 where can i find LAC engineering rankings?
@ALL
guys this is getting too boring!! lets spice up the thread
has anyone made a shortlist of possible university to apply to??</p>

[pinkfloyd4life]

<p>Lets get this thread kickin’ then! College lists anyone…?</p>

[pinkfloyd4life]

<p>I ain’t taken up any of the reasoning tests, and as far as academics are concerned, I got just 77% in my grade 11 (+2) from Golden Gate. Im thinkin’ of applying to Colby, St. Lawrence, Hamilton, Union, Skidmore, Oberlin…etc. Well this is just the preliminary list…</p>

[sixstringsrocker]

<p>2015ers +2 students:
most +2s don’t have proper counseling facilities, so it will be hard for you but you’ve got the internet. and ECAs: i know its hard (me being from +2 myself) but like Gurung said, initiate projects, be yourself, work on CV and apply early.
As for SATs, take your time. and take a lot of practice tests. school and SAT practice might be difficult to manage, but its worth it.</p>

[sixstringsrocker]

<p>And, dont go to Spiny Babbler to volunteer. We are just babysitting a bunch of spoiled rich kids. There’s absolutely NO self satisfaction rather we feel a sort of guilt.</p>

[3333]

<p>^^hey come on! some people can enjoy it… it really depends upon your personality!!! <em>and no i never volunteered there either</em></p>

<p>@Prasadian: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/382751-usnews-2008-engineering-ranking-compilation-3.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/382751-usnews-2008-engineering-ranking-compilation-3.html&lt;/a&gt; its a little outdated… but is good enough… best of luck… but if u’re up for engineering… do look out for some state unis as well…</p>

[hewocreep]

<p>ssup people…</p>

[sixstringsrocker]

<p>welcome to CC hewocreep…</p>

[hewocreep]

<p>=]
what exactly is ED and RD?</p>