There’s no secret formula for getting into selective schools. Students who got accepted don’t know what it was about their app that tipped the scale in their favor. Students who are academically qualified but didn’t get accepted can’t know for sure why they got that decision either. It’s nice that you want to help other students, but unless you got direct feedback from the college you really don’t know what worked and what didn’t.
I hope you have other affordable options that you’re excited about.
@cuteraspberries thank you so much for posting this. sending you lots of love and good luck–it’s all part of the process:) you’re going to have an amazing college experience no matter where you end up going. but thank you again for imparting on this little corner of the internet some of the wisdom and knowledge you’ve gained from this whole journey, your shared perspective is truly a gift.
spend your years in high school focused on activities, responsibilities and people you find meaningful (as opposed to selecting on the basis of what you think colleges want to see), &
don’t get over-invested in any one particular college.
There are hundreds out there. If you didn’t consult data from ranking lists you’ll probably find 100 that would be a good fit to what you need. Find a college that’s a good fit don’t make yourself a fit to a college. You’ll be in a college for 4 years but you’ll be yourself forever. If you mold yourself to a college you’re stuck with the outcome.
@cuteraspberries I think you come across as an interesting person. Where did you end up getting admitted to and going? By the way, in response to the above poster, I think most elite colleges except for MIT, Harvey Mudd and CalTech are overrated but not as much as some other schools which I am not going to mention. By the way, I always marvel at some kids who are really, really passionate about certain areas during high school, because I wasn’t passionate about anything during high school except for skipping school; and having observed and spoken to my kid who graduated from high school, he developed an interest area but I would not say he was really, really passionate about the area. I am hoping that he develops a passion in college or at least a deeper liking for a field of studies in college.
I guess I am more in the camp of: “Develop passion for the area you are in.” For example, I developed passion for an area of work I was in so really make it a success, but after I made it a success and got out of the field, I am not that interested in the field anymore. lol