<p>Honestly, we need ‘hooks’. Top colleges nowadays are receiving application after application of just smart kids with good grades. They have to narrow it down so they look at the scholar athletes, or people who stand out. It took me awhile to realize this but trust me when I say there are plenty of applicants with just good grades, I mean it.</p>
<p>Yeah, plenty of applicants with just good grades, but it’s doubtful they get in since they don’t stand out. Ivy decisions were released today. I was looking at the decision threads and it was brutal, man.</p>
<p>I read this book “How to be a high school superstar” by cal newport. Basically it advocates that we quit laudry lists of activities and comitt our times to developing a genuine interest in one thing. Next year I’m quitting a bunch of my “useless” clubs.</p>
<p>Yeah I read that too. I’ve been doing the whole underscheduling thing to try and figure out things I’m interested in but still have no idea.</p>
<p>lol. yesterday was Ivy League Decisions Day (5:00 Eastern Time, March 28th). 
My friend, who’s Model UN vice-president this year, got into Harvard! She worked so hard. I was so surprised though, because the President of Model UN was valedictorian was waitlisted and will go to Carnegie Mellon instead. Do valedictorians play a significant role in college admissions?</p>
<p>Pretty sure as long as top 10% your good. It doesn’t matter too much whether your valedictorian or not I think.</p>
<p>I don’t go to a really competitive school so hopefully I can get Valedictorian. Anyone here an URM (under-represented minority)? I am. You think it helps getting into college?</p>
<p>I am. And it wont help me cause my parents are expecting a full-ride (they can afford to play, but will not). so I’ll probably end up aiming for Howard/Hampton. I heard it helps some places though</p>
<p>According to my hs, Asian is no longer a minority. :(</p>
<p>I am representing a minority so I qualify for the NAACP scholarship specifically meant for blacks. Hopefully I can get it when the time comes.</p>
<p>I was asking because in most of the threads about University of Chicago Early Action Results, most people were either white or asian so I was wondering if URM’s had better chances.</p>
<p>Yea if you’re a URM, you have a great shot!! My school is minority filled with overachievers and we had 3 Chicago’s all being URM, class of 2013 has been the best yet!!! are val(urm) got full ride to Columbia via QB and are sal(urm) got into all the schools she applied(wish I was her)
btw I’m southeast ATL</p>
<p>Sad thing is I’m ranked 35/1034, so I’m top 5% in my class. And the girl that’s 1st ranked is crazy dedicated which drives me nuts because I am just as dedicated, and I’m 35 -.- hopefully my class stays this large, and if I keep on dropping I have some hope for Princeton(dream school)
Sorry just renting
Wow I’m so behind in math compare to you guys I’m still taking Accel Algebra 1, as for next year I will be in Accel int Geometry, for 11th it’d be Precal but I’m planning to skip that for AP calc AB
Spring break is just 1 week away!!! yayy!!!</p>
<p>I’m on spring break right now, next week we have school. My school is full of minorities but only our valedictorian gets into schools like those. Last year it was Brown and someone this year got into MIT. Usually the saluditorians go to UC Berkeley.</p>
<p>I’m in accelerated algebra 1 as well. We aren’t behind, the people on this thread are ahead.</p>
<p>@hailbo I’m sure you’ve read many of uchicago stats for admission already, but the people admitted from my school were ranked 5,7,8 and were completely passionate about what they want to major in.
@Highschool2016 nice to know I’m not the only fish in the tank (:</p>
<p>@EveningSwan Dude, that’s really stupid. Asians are totally a minority. We only make up like, what, 5% of the US population? But I guess we’re not a minority at top colleges though. Le sigh.</p>
<p>That’s why they changed the word to Under Represented Minority, because Asians kick ass at everything. I personally feel bad because most Asians have to compete a lot harder. I am just so damn lucky I’m Latino.</p>
<p>I’m in Spring break now! Yes, I am SO tired of school. Does anyone else look at on level classes knowing that if you were in those classes, you’d easily ACE them.</p>
<p>Yeah, but I wouldn’t be able to stand being in a class full of idiots. That makes me sound so pretentious, but honestly, there are already a bunch of dunces in my honors classes, so it makes me shudder to think what an on level class would be like. Their idea of a good joke is something like “Dude. You’re… so black. ROFLROFL.” I know there are intelligent people in on level classes, but I go to a super ghetto school where the majority of the population just doesn’t really care about school.</p>