for all you ivy leaguers + top collegers

College Confidential Community
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<p>OK, guys. I don't know whether or not you have seen my "venting" thread (do search cuz im not quite sure where it's located). Anyways, it seems to be a success and the people who use it seem to enjoy it. So, I have decided to start another thread (on the Ivy, top college, and college admission forums) to help soothe the emotions of the over-stressed CC'ers. Simply put, anyone on these forums who has gotten into any ivy league schools (or something comparable) and tell of any competitions they DID NOT win, any tests they DID NOT ace, etc. Bascially, show the frazzled CC'ers that you are human, that you are not god. Thanks to all who respond!</p>

<p>P.S. I am one of these CC'ers who could use this.</p>

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<p>Pointless thread.... carry on folks, no need to waste your time with it like I did.</p>

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<p>^^ yeah the second time i've seen you be rude. wow you sound like a wondeful person Nam3less.</p>

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<p>am i being rude or is nam3less? if i am, sry! just trying to help fellow CC'ers. (if this thread seems semi-sadistic, it was not meant to be)</p>

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<p>no lol! i was talking about nam3less</p>

<p>you sound perfectly nice!</p>

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<p>I'm a rising senior, so I've got nothing to contribute, but I appreciate this thread and hope that people participate.</p>

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<p>well it looks like all ivy league or similar caliber school matriculates won every single competition out there, so i guess we are all screwed!</p>

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<p>I know somebody who got into MIT with around 2200 SATs, ranked 15 in a class of 600, and average ECs based on CC standards...no state or national math competitions, no USAMO etc.</p>

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<p>One of my closest friends is attending Yale this fall, and she definitely failed an ap chem exam with me (acids, bases, and titrations, how I loathe thee). The class average was about a 51, lol... but it's all good :) She definitely had her imperfections, but she was a VERY hard worker and did everything possible within her ability... that's why I believe she got into Yale, when we only have about 1 Yale admit from our school in every few years...</p>

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<p>i got in everywhere, and im pretty dumb</p>

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<p>I'll be going to Tufts University in the fall; here's my go: I did NOT win the AAA National scholarship (only a top 50 finalist) - so I got SO close only to have a stupid question get the better of me (although it was a great trip); some pretty bad math midterms/finals in HS that left me scrambling with projects and bonus work to avoid losing points at the last second.</p>

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<p>i went through this phase when i first came on CC and you'll get over it. it doesn't matter whether or not these people don't or do win competitions because even if they didn't or did they're still strong competition at any of the universities they apply to. and anyone that gets into a top school is a strong applicant so don't waste your time trying to console yourself by finding average CCers or seemingly average people that get into amazing top colleges. instead of focusing on what others are doing, focus on what you're doing cause I can guarantee that some one will pass you if you're busy looking around.</p>

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<p>btw, 30 threads on this same post? yeah, you're definitely setting yourself up for some distraction in this rat race by reading all of the responses</p>

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<p>jessy 09: i just wanna see the first round of responses to make sure everyone is ok with this idea. then im done with it, ive got bigger fish to fry. oh, and im not looking for average applicants either. im just trying to show that remarkable applicants have their imperfections, b/c it seems that everybody on this board adulates everyone who gets into HYPSM etc. unnecessarily. they are hard-working, talented individuals, but they are still people. that's my aim.</p>

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<p>i'll bite. it's been a while (I'm a rising senior). </p>

<p>1) got a C on my AP Govt final (although still got an A in the class, but the C is on my transcript)</p>

<p>2) didn't take any AP science classes (that means no AP bio, chem, physics)</p>

<p>3) never in the National Honor Society or something</p>

<p>4) no leadership positions in clubs (I think).</p>

<p>5) got a 78 on my Chemistry Regent and 81 on my Physics Regent (although they didn't see my Physic regent scores because I took that senior yr)</p>

<p>6) no band/theatre/fine arts</p>

<p>7) JV sports only</p>

<p>-- I'm currently a rising senior at Cornell and got into the UC system as an out-of-stater (only applied to UCLA and UCSD).</p>

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<p>Hmm, what I can remember right now..</p>

<p>1) I'm not a National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist.</p>

<p>2) I auditioned and was rejected by this better choir in my school, AFTER I'd been in choir for eight years. Ouchie. ><"</p>

<p>3) I was rejected by every major theater production in high school.</p>

<p>4) I've gotten C's on a couple tests.</p>

<p>5) While they never said so, I'm pretty sure a couple teachers hated me.</p>

<p>6) My IBHL English teacher thought my essays were abysmal. (But then I thought he was a lousy teacher so go figure).</p>

<p>7) I'm absolutely hopeless at math.</p>

<p>8) I was rejected ED.</p>

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<p>hmm... okay, I'll humour you. This feels like a bastardization of the resume I sent to colleges.</p>

<p>I didn't get into TASP, I don't think I ever got higher than a 3 on the AIME, I got a 660 in my Physics SAT II, I am not a National Merit Finalist, or Semi-Finalist, I got a 184 when I took the PSATs as a sophomore, I got a 3 on my AP French exam, my average score for science league was less than 50%, I sing but I never made it to All-State, or even gotten a solo in my high school choir, I'm a Girl Scout but I did not get my Gold Award, I'm kind of bad at the piano, I completely failed my Heart of Darkness reading quiz, and subsequent questions, I don't play a sport, or have a job, nor have I published a book, won an Olympic gold medal, or invented anything extraordinary. I've dabbled in lots of things but am in no way distinguished in any particular activity.</p>

<p>I am Chinese and I live in New Jersey. My parents make a comfortable, but in no means extravagant, income. I went to public school. I think I've had it pretty good.</p>

<p>You guys need to calm down. Worry will do nothing for you.</p>

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<p>I didn't get into QuestLeadership.</p>

<p>I consistently scored below 700 on my SAT math (got a 670 on SAT I math, ended up with 690 on SAT Reasoning Math) even though I took it three times - this was really frustrating.</p>

<p>I got a 670 on Writing (really sad b/c I think of myself as a fairly good writer). </p>

<p>I was a Treasurer of a club but was kicked out because I never went to meetings.</p>

<p>I forgot to sign up for the SAT II Math IIC test and only realized this the week of the test (and it was the last time I could take it for the colleges to see it too - Stanford recommends this) and so I gave up and just didn't take it.</p>

<p>I was rejected from Harvard and Yale. (both RD)</p>

<p>I only got a 2160 on my SAT and took it two times before and got a 1470 and a 1440, respectively. </p>

<p>I got a "Below Average" on my California STAR testing in the subject of Summative High School Math. </p>

<p>I didn't break at NPDA (National Parliamentary Debate Association Championship Tournament). </p>

<p>I never won a regional debate tournament on the Open level. </p>

<p>I never got 1st in Open Impromptu or Open Extemp.</p>

<p>I know of at least two teachers (Calculus and AP English) who hated me. They never said so, but I could definitely tell...</p>

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<p>As previously stated, this thread is to show that exceptional applicants have imperfections. This is definitely true, as there is no such thing as the perfect applicant. To demonstrate this, I think that it will be effective for posters to list why they are outstanding applicants, and then explain their faults. No matter what you believe will hold you back in the application process, there is always something that you can emphasize to put you ahead of the rest.</p>

<p>I will start...</p>

<p>-I will be a freshman at Vanderbilt this fall
-I was a finalist for Vanderbilt's ENGAGE program (admission to Grad school before admission as a freshman)
-took gifted youth engineering programs at Stanford
-amazing ECs (including several internships, jobs, and missions trips to underpriviledged countries)
-National Merit Scholar
-National Honor Roll
-Chinese National Honor Society
-34 ACT
-2230 SAT
-800 SAT II Math Level 2
-varsity soccer for 4 years, captain my senior year
-most demanding schedule available at my school
-tons of community service
-accepted at every school that i heard back from (withdrew remaining applications after i was accepted to Vanderbilt, as it was the school at which i felt most at home, and therefore i wanted to be at most)</p>

<p>these are the things that i emphasized in my application because i have several faults/imperfections that i did not want the adcoms to see...for instance...</p>

<p>-I got a 175 PSAT as a sophomore
-I got a 1960 on my first SAT
-I will be getting this years AP scores in the mail soon, but so far I have yet to get a 5 on any AP exam
-I HAVE A 3.31 GPA
-I have only had 3 awards mentioned on my common app when I applied (now i have several more, but colleges didn't see them)
-I demonstrated little to no interest in my schools (only visited 3 of the schools that I applied to)
-I had a legacy at only two of the schools that I applied to</p>

<p>I know that the application process can cause one a TON of anxiety. However, I still think that you can get into the school of your dreams even if your test scores aren't ideal, or your GPA is terrible (like mine). How do you do it? You play to your strengths. </p>

<p>Colleges adcoms love kids who are passionate about something and are able to show it. For instance, I love science. To emphasize this, I participated in several extracurricular activities that demonstrated my desire to continue with science. In my essays, I described my past and present interactions with science and my desire/dream to continue to learn and further science via engineering. This is key: tell the adcoms not only about why you are passionate about something now, but ALSO why you will passionate about it in the future and what you plan to do with it. </p>

<p>I hope that seeing my imperfections (which, clearly, I have several) lets everyone know that you can get into a top CC college even if your application has its pit-falls. Best of luck to everyone!</p>

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<p>Wah! Taw19 I think your reply will depress more people.. =P</p>