<p>That’s a bit harsh. Lots of kids get in with less than your list and I am sure they are “deserving”.</p>
<p>The main purpose of the ACT is to anchor your GPA wrt grade inflation. It sounds like you have a good chance (if you get that 35!), work on the writing portions, and see what you can do with the LORs. For the LORs, either learn yourself and draft a sample for your recommender to edit if s/he wishes, or direct them to a resource on writing effective letters. You may find resources to help you in your application process, including for this, here:</p>
<p><a href=“http://phoenixscholars.org/services/”>http://phoenixscholars.org/services/</a></p>
<p>You may wish to explain to your recommendation letter writers that in 10 years, no alum has cracked the top ten, and tell them you intend to do so, so they are not put off by you “schooling” them.</p>
<p>Do everything within your control, then try to influence what is not in your direct control. Then follow up and follow through. That is what you can do. Good luck!</p>
<p>More than just a bit harsh. The entire notion of “deserve to go to X” is a complete misunderstanding of how college classes are built. </p>
<p>Moreover, the suggested stats and achievements implicitly exclude a lot of students who have an unequal opportunity to attain them.</p>
<p>If you asked the average college admissions officer, they’d say “Everyone here deserves to be here, and so did the vast majority of those we turned away.”</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If you know them really well and ask for the inside scoop, they’d tell you there are plenty who get turned away that are more qualified than those who get in, but politics from various quarters demands those who get in, get in. And not all are qualified.</p>
<p>This all being said, would anyone like to chance me with my current stats? </p>
<p><a href=“Chance me for Columbia ED! - Columbia University - College Confidential Forums”>Chance me for Columbia ED! - Columbia University - College Confidential Forums;
<p>I wish there was an unlike button or a “most bloviated post of the day” award. That would go to @Mangiafuoco for sure.
To say this is hogwash would be cruel to hogs.</p>
<p>.</p>
<p>I did not realize that people will be offended by my post. I understand that not everyone has equal opportunities. However, three of the most important factors that colleges look at are GPA, course rigor, and test scores. Not everyone has access to a lot of AP/IB classes because not all high schools offer them, but most high school students have an opportunity to achieve a high GPA and a high SAT/ACT score. Unfortunately the top universities do not have enough room to accept all students with a high GPA, high course rigor, and high test scores. As a result, colleges must look at other factors that make a student stand out. That is why I said “one or more of the following.” Obviously, not everyone has equal access to these special factors. But, at least one of these special factors is often necessary for a student to be accepted by the top universities. I should have added “a really impressive personal statement” to the list of special factors because everyone has an opportunity to write a good essay.
At my high school, I have observed that in recent years, most (if not all) unhooked students who go to these top universities do so through I<em>O medals, USA</em>O finals, or various science fair type competitions (ISEF, Intel STS, Siemens) in addition to their perfect GPAs and high test scores.
Perhaps I should not have said “The only kids who deserve to,” but instead say “The only kids I know who.”</p>
<p>^ Well that makes a bid difference Mangia. In your first statement, you seem to imply that those w/o vast nos. of your items don’t “deserve” a spot a top uni. </p>
<p>In reality, the majority of applicants are qualified and are thus “deserving” but many subsequently get denied b/c of the lack of seats.</p>
<p>@T26E4
In defense of my comment, I never said “vast numbers” of my items. I said “one or more.” If someone were to have a vast number of such items, he/she could call Harvard a safety. I doubt such a person exists in this world.</p>
<p>@Mangiafuoco I think (hopefully) the catch there is “at my high school.” My school offers hardly any of those things on that list, and with our location, it’s difficult to get these awards/participate in these events, as I’m sure it is similar for other new/semirural schools. I’ve heard that a lot of top schools look for “context,” so in your school’s context, those things are probably commonplace. </p>
<p>@wilguen, there are some things on that list that are very much available, if you know about them. USAMTS is wholly online and feeds into the AIME, which feeds the USAMO and MOPS --> IMO. Actually, the first round of USAMTS was released less than a week ago- you may want to give it a try if you have a few spare moments. Similarly with science fairs: they are helped by a reach-out to a university researcher, but conceivably could be done with a six-week internship + remote Skype work, depending on the subject, and some universities have URM summer internship programs for high school students (look, e.g., at USC). Ross/PROMYS, etc. do not require any geographic placement (and few even in old suburban/urban high schools are aware of them). Similar for the SSP or TASP- they are based on applications and normal school curriculum. I would think most of these are independent of location, but not of awareness. You can still try to bag one for senior year- you can always update your application through decision day (or beyond, if you are wait listed)!</p>
<p>Furthering my post #21, you may wish to read this thread. There is wisdom there for you:</p>
<p><a href=“A Princeton student wrote her own recommendation letters - Applying to College - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1692828-a-princeton-student-wrote-her-own-recommendation-letters-p1.html</a></p>