<p>Brown University has been my dream college since the age of ten. Recently, though, my options have opened up a bit more, and as I started looking at Harvard as well, I made the decision to apply to all of my schools regular decision. This doesn't mean I wouldn't LOVE to get into Brown, though.</p>
<p>I just found out that the valedictorian of my class applied to Brown early decision, and was wondering how much this will hurt my chances..</p>
<p>Differences between us:
- She's valedictorian, I'm #6.
- She's captain of the swim team which has won league championships 3 years in a row, I'm captain of the tennis team which doesn't do too well at states/leagues.
- She's applying to the School of Engineering to go into science.
- I'm a prospective Classics major.
- I was homeschooled before 9th grade and took college courses from ages 11-14, so entered HS with 33 college credits.
- My senior schedule has one more AP class than her (AP Euro). We're both in AP Calc, AP Chem, AP English Lit, and honors physics.
- I have more EC's. She's on student council, National Honor Society (president), Latin Club, and then swim of course. I have Model UN, Latin Club (treasurer for 2 years), National Honor Society (treasurer), Ski Club, tennis, Imagination Club, volunteering weekly (raising and training service dogs), theatre (set, ushering, student producing, and now acting), and Thespians.
- I went to Harvard Secondary School Program this past summer.</p>
<p>Now, I'd certainly be happy for her if she got into Brown (we are friends), but was wondering what the chances of BOTH of us getting in are, or if she just killed my chances..</p>
<p>Agree with the above posters, don’t worry about what others are doing. But, without scores, there is no way of knowing if you or she are even in the ballpark. Val or #6 of a sub-par school won’t get you anywhere. But, if your school is competitive, you should have a chance. Add that to good SAT scores, and your chances look even better.</p>
<p>Correct me if I am wrong, but I was always under the impression that Colleges do not really have a fixed quota of students that they accept for each High School so I don’t think you should be too nervous about direct competition from your High School</p>
<p>Alright, thanks everyone. I’m not concerned about what other people are doing, unless it’ll affect my chances-- that’s why I asked. There’s nothing I can do about it either way.</p>
<p>My SAT scores were a 2040 (630 math, 710 verbal, 700 writing) although I just retook in Nov. and think I did better. Hers are around a 2140, I think. I got two 740s on Latin and Literature and a 660 on Math 2, and a 30 on the ACT. Not sure about her scores on those.</p>
<p>My essay is about an incident last year where a disabled war veteran, who got his service dog through the organization I volunteer at, was told that he could not bring his “pet” into a restaurant (McDonald’s) and was thrown out not once, but twice, and later attacked by some employees. I talk about what I did to try to get my voice heard on the issue, and how upset I was when no one listened, and when everyone but me eventually stopped caring. Then I say how horrible and shocking it is how large corporations can treat people so unjustly and lose no real business, and how wrongheaded the policy of profit over people is. And then I tell how it’s really led me to believe that I must speak out for what I believe, even when it’s not convenient… More eloquently than I just described, but yeah.</p>
<p>And oh okay, Mango. I know some people say they do, and some don’t, so I wasn’t sure.</p>
<p>:D It was founded by some seniors a few years ago, one of which was my ex-boyfriend lol, been involved since my sophomore year… I wrote my short answer “elaborate on an EC” piece on it, so this might help explain:</p>
<p>“You should come to Imagination Club,” my friend suggested before the start of our school’s enhancement period. “What’s that?” I asked – yet I would soon discover the answer for myself. The room we entered was full of people, all smiling and eager to engage in the day’s activity. The club officials plugged an iPod into loud speakers and told us to write whatever abstract thoughts came to mind as each song played. I responded with thoughts of teenagers in plaid suits who ate at restaurants the colors of 80s bowling alleys and of lines of dancing macaroni with grinning faces- and everyone nodded in agreement and understanding. I had never before encountered such a free-thinking group of individuals or had my creative mind so actively stimulated. After that day, I become a regular member of Imagination Club, always willing to find the nonsense in the ordinary.</p>
<hr>
<p>Basically, we use artistic, musical, or overall creative venues to enhance the imagination. Last week, we played statues. And before that, we created a TV show on the white board. And before that, we made beards… Yeah. It’s awesome.</p>
<p>Don’t bother comparing yourself to others, it’s a losing proposition. Honestly, both of you have below median scores for Brown and they unfortunately reject most vals and most number 6s.</p>
<p>There are no set quotas, so they are just as likely to accept both of you as to accept neither. And, frankly, she won’t be your competition, nor will you be hers; both of you will be competing against hooked applicants and applicants with much higher SATs.</p>
<p>I used my essay as what it’s supposed to be – a chance to show who I am, and something about myself that’s not on the application. The application itself TELLS my background. I don’t need to reiterate it.</p>
Last week, we played statues. And before that, we created a TV show on the white board. And before that, we made beards… Yeah. It’s awesome.</p>