<p>If they win intel science prize of 50k or more, probably about 75% in one of the Ivies. I know based on fact that someone who did that still did nt get into Harvard and Princeton because of grades last year.</p>
<p>If someone cured cancer, they dont need no college.</p>
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<p>Both T26 and I have been HYP alumni interviewers. But I’m sure you know best.</p>
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<p>You’ve been given that answer several times already: minimal to none. You just don’t seem to like the answers you’ve been getting. </p>
<p>Perhaps you don’t appreciate how many 35s, 36s, 2350+ SATs, they see at HYP. Those scores used to be much rarer, back in the day when these tests were offered less frequently. When I began to interview, I was absolutely astonished at the qualifications–both academic and extracurricular–of the applicants who were not getting in. </p>
<p>High standardized test scores will not make up for grades that don’t measure up. HYPMS can fill their entering classes several times over with applicants who boast both stellar test scores and stellar grades. The real work of the AdComs is choosing among those students, and not choosing whom they’ll push aside so that they can offer somebody with lower grades an opportunity.</p>
<p>I didn’t intentioanlly mean to discredit the alumni interviewers. But I seriously doubt that any Ivy would be able to fill themselves up with perfect scorerers when average test scores are 32-33 ACT, 2150-2250 SAT.</p>
<p>There is at least one example of a CC person who did not get into HYPS with a 36, 2400, number 1 rank and a perfect GPA this year.</p>
<p>Annually, there are 400 SAT perfect scores, 550 or so ACT perfect scores and with score choice, there are many more who end up with perfect scores over a few attempts.</p>
<p>Top 1% of ACT takers fall in 34-36 range. That range has 1.4 Million x 0.01 = 14,000.</p>
<p>If you check SAT tables, you probably have 10,000 or more people in top 1% that may have scored over 2300+.</p>
<p>There is nothing stopping you from applying based on hope.</p>
<p>OK, Michelle.</p>
<p>Here’s the thing: admission to the most selective colleges and universities in the country is both intensely competitive and extremely unpredictable. (I never would have predicted, for example, that the CC poster whom texaspg mentioned above would be shut out of HYPS. Frankly, I’m still stunned and sad about it.) I totally understand why you’d “seriously doubt” what you’re being told. It really just doesn’t seem possible. Several years ago, when I started interviewing, and even more recently, when my oldest kid was shopping for and applying to (non-Ivy, as it happens) colleges, I was astounded, too. </p>
<p>But even though it strains credulity, it’s real. Sorry.</p>
<p>On the plus side, as HYP, etc., have become almost impossible to get into, the overflow of highly qualified applicants has made some formerly good colleges and universities even better, and some formerly mediocre ones really stimulating and exciting places to learn. In this case, I think the old saying that a rising tide lifts all the boats has really been borne out.</p>
<p>Although this actually does not help much and your chances are very low, maybe ask your counselor to explain why your grades were so low or something? What is your rank?</p>
<p>My advice to the OP: forget the Ivies; people here with real knowledge of the situation have told you that you have NO REAL CHANCE! Perhaps had you worked harder and achieved a better GPA, but you didn’t; that’s a choice you made and it cannot be undone, no matter how much you wish it was otherwise. </p>
<p>Now concentrate your efforts on finding the right school for you among the thousands that will welcome your app with open arms. You can still be successful and have a great life.</p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>You’re all right, but I suppose I might apply to a couple anyway, because the stats I described (tets scores, ECs, GPA) are close to mine. </p>
<p>What about for schools like Princeton or Uchicago, that compeltely disregard/put little emphasis on freshman year. My gpa would be ~3.73, as i got straight A’s junior year. Would my chances be better there? thanks</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/808925-what-lowest-gpa-someone-has-been-admitted-cornell-1.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/808925-what-lowest-gpa-someone-has-been-admitted-cornell-1.html</a></p>
<p>Sikorsky, no offense, but you and T26 seem suspicious to me. How can we really know that you are what you say? Your pages offer no credentials and you offer no links to any pages that reveal your identities. How do we, the readers of CC, know that you are not high school students playing a manipulative head-game to eliminate competition as you apply to your own schools? Yeah, I’ve seen your threads and birthdays on your CC profiles, but that could easily be fabricated too. Until solid proof is given than both of you are what you say you are, I’m calling your bluff. I’ve caught too many people on (and off) of CC in lies about the admissions process and I’m sick of it.
Moreover, don’t be so quick to judge Michelle’s trials; until you know what they are and how she defines them, you can’t provide fair commentary. One person’s trial could be another’s end-of-the-world.
Michelle, screw these people, screw CC, build your case, and just apply.</p>
<p>I second NovelNova2010.</p>
<p>Brilliant rant.</p>
<p>hahaha. NovelNova2010: go ahead and look at my posting history. Judge for yourself if you think I’m a HS student or not. Maybe look up some of my posts which the site admins have even “stickied”.</p>
<p>I graduated from an HYP and have been interviewing and recruiting since before most CC users were born. I interview 10-15 kids from my county each year. I have a reputation for being blunt here on CC, but mostly helpful as well. Several respondents have said they like my sometimes cynical sense of humor/sarcasm.</p>
<p>If you look, I joined in March 07 – when most of you were perhaps 8th or 7th graders? Since then I have over 6400 posts. </p>
<p>As for indicating to people my real identity: no way. Frankly i think too much of my stuff is out there already…</p>
<p>An upward trend is only valuable if you have a good reason for weak grades in your previous years, such as a severe illness or a family problem or commitment. Being lazy is not a reason. Colleges don’t like laziness. What’s to stop you from doing that in your first year of college?</p>
<p>I get why a person might question who I am. I am kind of a CC dilettante. I post a bit. I move on. I haven’t been here all that long, and I don’t know how long I’ll stay. You want to doubt who I am? Be my guest. I truly do not give a rodent’s behind. </p>
<p>But have you noticed the quantity, the depth and the language of T26’s posts? Seriously, if you think this person is a high-school senior, you’re on drugs.</p>
<p>Novelnova - It is fine for you to advise OP but that abusive language - will ensure your blacklisting even if all of us are truly high school students.</p>
<p>My dorm RA was admitted into Cornell ED with a 3.27 UW freshman-junior taking an AP/Honors laden schedule (he had a 3.1 freshman and sophomore year, and 3.6 junior year GPA), 2200+ SAT scores, and leadership roles in a handful of ECs. On the other hand, he attends an elite NE boarding school, so I’m not sure how big of a role that plays in the grand scheme of things.</p>
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It’s because some schools don’t count the freshman year grades.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter to me if I’m blacklisted as long as I know the truth, which honestly, I probably won’t on a forum like this.
Anyhow, I have seen many insecure people who are paranoid about college join CC in 8th grade to “get an early start”. Never underestimate anybody, regardless of age. If the people on CC are as brilliant and accomplished as they say, language like T26E4’s would not be impossible for an 8th grader to produce. Posters (mainly high schoolers) brag about their accomplishments, yet when questioned, they insist that somebody so young could not produce posts with both sophisticated language and depth. A lack of both could not earn a student a 5 on an AP and/or 700+ scores on the writing section of the SAT.
The fact that no identity can be traced is further reason to question the validity of both posters. There are plenty of people on here who are connected to various schools, are open with their identities, and provide various means of contacting them. Openness and validity would not matter if you did not boast about your affiliations while refusing to provide ID. Neither one of you may give a rat’s behind about this, but if the CC posters are as smart as they claim, they will. Why should they listen to someone shady with no affiliation when there are plenty of affiliated admissions’ officers on here who are bending over backwards to be open with us?</p>
<p>May I counter?</p>
<p>“but if the CC posters are as smart as they claim, they will.”</p>
<p>Look at the bulk of my replies. They speak for themselves. There are plenty of alum interviewers and parents who share their knowledge of the admissions experience. </p>
<p>"Why should they listen to someone shady with no affiliation when there are plenty of affiliated admissions’ officers on here who are bending over backwards to be open with us? "</p>
<p>1) actual admissions officers are few (although valuable sources of info). They may (and I only say this lightly) suffer from institutional biases which my skew their info about their own situation.</p>
<p>2) I’m not immune to this bias, surely. However, since my alma mater has an under 8% admit rate, I’m not naive about the relative chances of any of my “recruits”. Therefore, I devote my energies to a broad swath of students and families who have questions about selective school admissions. On my own alma mater’s forum, I advise as I can. </p>
<p>Believe it or not, I actually contribute to this site because I want to clear up misconceptions, promulgate solid info and advice, and frankly, share in the successes of the many super talented kids I see on this site. This is the same reason I interview and recruit in real world.</p>
<p>Also I’m only aware of very few actually identified admissions officers who frequent this site. I’ve clearly stated that I’m an alumni interviewer. You’ve judged me to be “shady”. Fine. I’ve clearly stated my role here. You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t toss out my personal info for people to contact me. I get a goodly number of PMs from CC users asking me for advice already (OMIGOSH, they actually are stupid enough to ask him direct advice?).</p>
<p>But go ahead and believe what you will. It’s good to be skeptical in general. No skin off my nose. Have a great day.</p>