Note that this is a NOVEL and it focuses on a specific subset of families - clearly, not yours since you meet Questbridge’s basic guidelines.
Instead of reading these books, read another of the Miller’s Kills novels (a fountain filled with blood I think is the next one.)
You may want to watch Liberal Arts, thinking about what you want about your education, what it means to grow up, etc.
Fat Envelope Frenzy is nonfiction…and actually one of the individuals profiled in the book came from a very low-income background. It was not just about students from rich families. Most of them were very middle-class, and the students’ merit was based on their individual achievements; not familial influence.
Sorry, I mistook it for something else.
But that book is very misleading, because it DOES focus on very specific subsets (beside the one token lower income student who’s the most affecting): if I remember properly, tiger parents, Olympic gymnast, Carnegie-hall pianist…
Try to read Marcus’ Acceptance or Bruni’s Where you go is not who you’ll be, plus Steinberg’s The Gatekeepers.
Has your life been a series of disappointments, one after another? Has the only thing that you’ve had to hold onto was the fact that you had the highest grades? Were you ever told by your father, out of pure malice towards you, that he didn’t want your transfer application go through at a good school you had been in since kindergarten because he’d rather you go to the one in your district; one of the worst schools in the state? I know it’s unrealistic. I know it’s highly improbable. I need to get out of here. I know my future isn’t determined by where I go, but from where I stand it seems like I’m being told not to even try. Fine, I’ll go to to the local state flagship, get a degree in I don’t know what, I’ll get some thankless office-cubicle job and retire with a pension that could support about half a person. I’ll die unwanted, alone, with nothing. My grave will be government-subsidized and maybe I’ll be lucky enough to let a 2 by 2 inch stone inlay with my initial on it if the taxpayers are feeling extra generous. Maybe I should just expedite the whole process, huh? The economy will only get worse. Better to strike while the iron is hot, am I right?
If you think this is even remotely realistic, you need more guidance than strangers can offer over the internet.
Otherwise, stop making up doomsday scenarios.
I think your problem is that your mind is stuck in the phase where you want to go to Columbia for pre-med. What happens if you don’t get in? For example, I was very excited and wanting to go to Penn State but didn’t get in. That’s that mean I’m doom? Nah, I will be attending the University at Albany and study Chemistry. I will probably do the pre-pharmacy requirements if I want to study pharmacy. Maybe apply to Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons once you complete your bachelors of Science?
Look, it’s not my fault that I was born into the circumstances I was born into. Now, I know you know that but seriously is there anywhere I can go in the world where I won’t be judged, picked apart, and scrutinized like I’m on trial? When will I get a break? When I die?
If you truly feel this way I strongly suggest that you seek out counseling at your HS. If not, then please stop being melodramatic. This is a college site and the advice you have been given has been overall quite reasonable.
@happy1 Yes, you’re right. The advice I’ve been given is very reasonable. I’m already in counseling, OK? I’m sorry but I get more easily depressed in the evening. I’m sorry.
Glad you are doing getting some help to work through your issues.
@futurecollege00
dood ur only an incoming sophomore u probably shouldnt spend this much time on college confidential yet – youre gonna get so stressed and burnt out before junior year even kicks in
research is probably the single most important thing you can do to stand out. imo (im not an admission officer obv, so i dont know how reliable my advice is but i think im at least a little credible given im going into columbia for biology to be premed) volunteering/science team/[insert any other activity someone else can do] is all background noise b/c it doesnt “wow” the admission officers due to the fact that anybody else can do them (unless u get some exceptional award for ur efforts). research is different bc not everyone can get those opportunities
cold-emailing profs in the area is great. try to leverage any connections ur parents or relatives might have. the best scenario is if u get published as a coauthor (or even first author!!! - but almost impossible) bc that sets u apart from all the ppl that did research too. see which labs are cranking out the most publications. try to get into those
pce
My reaction to your very first post was that counseling would be of benefit. I skipped to page 4 and am even more glad to read that you are getting it.
It seems that some of your dreams are geared to escaping your current situation and how you imagine that extends out into the future is such and such doesn’t happen. The idea of going to medical school, and the specific focus on Columbia for undergrad, for instance.
Freshman and sophomore years are too early to think about this stuff. Because focusing on admissions that early can truly distort your entire high school experience. These years are best spent getting to know who you are, as you develop. You don’t want to fit yourself to a school, you want to find a school that fits you!
I hope the counselor helps. It sounds like there is a lot going on. You will be fine no matter where you get in and no matter what you major in and there are many many possible career paths ahead.
Try not to make college all about med school admissions. Consider other paths and be flexible. Otherwise you will just repeat the distortions of your high school experience, in college.
Questbridge is a great program. Good luck!
@compmom thanks for the encouragement 
@captainfaker I had a mtg. with a prof yesterday and he said like next summer I could start being an assistant in his lab (he said he would also talk to a couple other profs about taking me on as an assistant) so I’m definitely on the right track! Yeah, of course, my goal is to be coauthor/author, but even if that doesn’t happen the research is still great experience for my major and career
@NASA2014 why was I tagged on this thread?
@SuperGeo5999 Sorry I thought I was in your Algebra Thread