<p>What you lack in money you make up for in time and dedication. I am not what anyone would consider rich. My parents are divorced; my family income is $10,000. When it came to education, my mom couldn’t provide much help because she couldn’t speak English and I was already learning things well beyond her level, and she couldn’t provide monetary support.</p>
<p>I was nominated for a bunch of those National Leadership whatchamacallits, but I could never attend any. But I figured early on that, if all the people who went to those seminars/meetings/whatevers got into top schools, why then do they not promote that instead of an itinerary that had little to do with the experience they claim to provide? That’s because it’s not so much education as it is a trip to get away for a week or two to have some fun while “learning.” I think adcoms see that. Unless it’s a real, solid course over the summer at a legit university, it’s not worth it to go anyway.</p>
<p>All I’ve done and accomplished are results of dedication and hard work. You can’t be born smart – that’s just ridiculous. You get smart by knowing how to make the most of what you have, seizing every opportunity you come by. And I think I’ve done all that to the best of my abilities.
So, while richer students have the advantage of not having to spend so much time on studying for, say, SATs because they can afford classes, it doesn’t mean that poorer, less advantaged students are cut out. It’s just the matter of how much you and/or your parents are willing to sacrifice for you to go on to a great college. Grab a SAT workbook. Study some terms. Practice some essays. Read Hemingway and then read Shakespeare. You’ll become a better writer, which is a skill you will definitely need come application time.
My mom, needless to say, gave her all for me to go on to college. She encouraged me to buy prep books in lieu of attending special courses, and she encouraged me to buy things I needed for school. And today I have been accepted to both Harvard and Yale, attending Yale next year.</p>