How much of a role does luck play in admissions for top schools?

Applying to College
1

<p>My parents want me to apply to schools that are way out of my reach like Princeton and Penn, and their reasoning is that I'll have a (infinitesimally small) chance of getting in if I apply, so it's better to try my luck than to not apply at all. So I'm wondering, how lucky can one get in admissions to top schools? Can an unhooked applicant who's below average get incredibly lucky and manage to gain admission? Have any of you seen this happen before?</p>

2

<p>Anything CAN happen, but probably won’t. In the name of keeping peace, maybe you could tell them that you’ll apply to one reach school of their choice.</p>

3

<p>I would say luck can cause you not to be admitted if you’re very qualified or to be admitted if you’re about at the level, butdefinitely not if you’re far under the level.</p>

4

<p>Yeah, a kid with a 2.0 and a 1600/2400 and nothing else will definitely have no chance at all. But do you think that someone who’s weak in one aspect of the application but strong in the other aspects can get lucky enough? For example, I have a ~3.3-3.4 UW GPA, but I also have a 2290/1540, 8 APs, (IMO) good and focused ECs, and perfect SAT IIs and AP scores. Obviously, my GPA, even with an upward trend, will make my chances of getting into those two schools close to impossible since there’ll be applicants out there with a 4.0 plus everything else I have. But am I too far below average, or do I still have a chance of getting incredibly lucky?</p>

<p>Basically, I’m trying to decide whether if I should listen to my parents and apply or spend my time focusing on schools that I have a better chance at.</p>

5

<p>It’s a lottery, but only for those who have competitive credentials.</p>

6

<p>A better choice would be to conserve your time/ money and just try talking to your parents?</p>

7

<p>to the poster. You have to know whether or not you actually want to go to this school. Don’t let your parents pressure you into making a bad decision. YOU are going to college, NOT THEM. Apply to schools that you like. Also, be wise. If you know you don’t have a chance don’t. One factor does not discount you.</p>

8

<p>^I’d actually LOVE to go to both schools. I’ve actually always wanted to go to Princeton (too bad I didn’t work hard enough earlier on T_T), and Penn will be great to. I’m just wondering if I should even bother applying, if my stats are far too low to give me a decent shot of getting lucky.</p>

9

<p>What’s your class rank/percentile?</p>

10

<p>My school doesn’t rank, but I’m sure that my rank is terrible T_T</p>

11

<p>Chances are slim to none if you have:

  • <2000 SAT
  • <30 ACT
  • <3.7 GPA
  • class percentile higher than 10
  • anything less than the most rigorous schedule your school offers</p>

<p>Even if you are well above all of these criteria, your chances are still slim. </p>

<p>Some things you can do to improve your chance of acceptance:

  • donate a building to the college of your choice
  • have strong connections with the board of trustees and/or president
  • be a URM
  • win national awards in a field that interests you</p>

<p>slon02 summed it up beautifully: “It’s a lottery, but only for those who have competitive credentials.”</p>