<p>I am currently a junior in high school. I take an insane courseload. Unfortunately, I am an A/B student as I got Bs on certain courses this year. </p>
<p>I'm applying to Penn, Princenton, Harvard, Stanford, and Yale. </p>
<p>My top is Penn. </p>
<p>But here it is:</p>
<p>When I think about it, sometimes, it just... seems like I am not going to get in. Why? Geez because I never won science state champion, never joined a math league, never did research in a fancy hospital, nope. Not an exchange student, didn't volunteer building homes for the poor. None of that. </p>
<p>I didn't go to summer programs in expensive universities. I don't speak five languages. I am not international. I never did MUN and won a thousand awards of "best delegate".</p>
<p>So when I add all of those up, I think, compared to the other kids that apply, I won't get in. </p>
<p>But at the same time, I should get in. I deserve to get in. It would be their stupid mistake if they didn't accept me. </p>
<p>I am a brilliant girl. I am brilliant. I am not trying to bragg or anything- I know there is so many people out there that are better at math, or science or whatever. But that doesn't mean I am not intelligent by comparison. I am bright. (At this point, many of you are thinking: "Yeah. Just like 99.99% of the rest of the applicant pool).</p>
<p>I've always loved to learn. I can sit in a library and stay there forever. I love to learn. About everything. I'd hate to end up somewhere where kids just go to get their degrees and get out. Somewhere where people don't have the same passion for learning as I do. </p>
<p>So the Ivy League is a dream. Plus the other Ivy League equivalents: A place where people- everyone- has had a passion for learning since they can recall. A place packed with intellectuals. With people so incredibly bright. </p>
<p>But then you see all these kids that get rejected. All these things they ask for. I look at my transcript and I'm not a straight As student. I take a ridiculously insane courseload (11 courses a year: 6 APs, 1 foreign lang. 1 IB, I honors, the rest dual enrollment in college). I don't have that many ECs. As a matter of fact, I only have one main one- been president of my graduating class. It's not a huge list of "President of this, VP of the other..."</p>
<p>But it means so much to me. And I've accomplished so much in the position. So much. My administration so far has raised the most money in my entire school out of any club, any class. We've organized the most activities, held the most events. I am so proud of what I've accomplished with this. </p>
<p>But again, it's just one EC. </p>
<p>Not the "Show 2 or 3 activities you're really passionate about" most people in CC recommend. I am super passionate about politics and the stock market but they are not "official" clubs, just activities I do on my own all the time. Because they are not "official" clubs, I can't hold any title.</p>
<p>My scores don't need work. The SAT wasn't a problem, neither were the 2 SAT Subject Tests I took Sophomore year or the 4 I'll take in a few months. Neither the ACT. </p>
<p>But again, "just like 99% of the applicant pool of those schools".</p>
<p>=(</p>
<p>I'm depressed. </p>
<p>But I am good. I am really good. And I am not your typical Asian or WASP. And I don't mean that in a bad way either. I mean stereotypically, the Asians kids in CC are just so... overboard that it's already common. </p>
<p>I am poor. Very poor. I am a poor Latina girl who grew up in the ghettos of Miami and who works so hard to get out of this. </p>
<p>My parents aren't wealthy lawyers who can afford to send me to an expensive summer program. My parents are hardworking people who wash cars for a living to give me a roof to sleep under. </p>
<p>So I think I should get in. I deserve to get in. </p>
<p>But at the same time, when you look at everyone else- the other 20,000 kids who apply- there's a huge chance I won't. </p>
<p>And it's not fair. It's stupid. I don't want to go somewhere where people are not overly intellectual. Where people don't share my passion for learning. Where people are just not overachievers. </p>
<p>Not because there's anything wrong with those people. But people I feel I will grow so much as a person if I dealt with students who are so much more competent than me, or so much brighter. I'd grow. </p>
<p>So I guess this is a rant. Perhaps some of you have felt the same?</p>