<p>JimmyEatWorld: If you want to be more technical - a person with a D average and SAT scores of 600 total would not have a 9% chance of getting in to Harvard. They would have a 0% chance. </p>
<p>Again, my point of increasing your chances by 100% is purely motivational (i.e. - you can't get in, if you don't try). </p>
<p>There's more to life than crunching numbers. Clearly, most people saw my OP, not as a statistical statement, but someting nice to say. If we all ANALyze everything in life; we never see the beauty of anything. </p>
<p>Thanks to your comments; what was orignally intended to lend inspiration to others; has turned into a lesson on stats.</p>
<p>Since I knew nothing of your stats, I simply gave you a 9% chance of getting into Harvard. You could be URM, or celebrity, or have a D average, for all I know, so I assumed the average- 9%. I don't see how my reasoning there is flawed.</p>
<p>But seriously though worldshopper, lighten up. I meant it more as a joke than anything else. My lame-radar was definitely going off after about the 10th "motivational" comment and I felt the need to say something about it. If my comments seriously depress you then just read the first 14 posts again. Or you could develop a sense of humor.</p>
<p>Jimmy: I would gladly take the 9% chance and so would a lot of other applicants. When someone comments "hope you are not writing your essay on stats"; I find no humor in it -- sorry. I felt it was a bit callous. By the way -- I have a great sense of humor. What is really funny is that when your "lame-radar" was going off, my "jerk-meter" was going off as well. Hope you have a great sense of humor as well.</p>
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By the way -- I have a great sense of humor.
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You just don't have a great sense of humor when someone jokes about you. Understandable. I say this in all seriousness. I can see why you would be defensive about it. </p>
<p>Jimmy: I went to dispair.com and read the quote on inspiration. It was funny AND probably very true. Certainly wasn't a downer; just light hearted fun. I don't see anything wrong with posting quotes like that one on this board because everyone could use some light hearted fun as we go through this application (and waiting) process. I certainly would not have be offended in any way had you posted that quote on inspiration from despair.com.</p>
<p>A girl at my school last year had a 1270 SAT and modest grades. Most teachers/counselors advised her to aim for UNC Chapel Hill. She ended up getting a full ride to Davidson, admitted to Duke, and half-tuition scholarships to Emory and Wash U. Who would have guessed? :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Jimmy: I went to dispair.com and read the quote on inspiration. It was funny AND probably very true. Certainly wasn't a downer; just light hearted fun. I don't see anything wrong with posting quotes like that one on this board because everyone could use some light hearted fun as we go through this application (and waiting) process. I certainly would not have be offended in any way had you posted that quote on inspiration from despair.com.
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Fair enough, I'll come check in with you guys every now and then with a Despair quote.</p>
<p>warblersrule86: Thanks for the story! I would love to read more examples like that one and I hope more people post them. Very encouraging!</p>
<p>This goes back awhile but I know someone personally who got straight A's in h.s., graduated Val and got a 1050 on his SATs. Went to a very selective school (non-Ivy league, but right up there) and became a physician and not just any physician (chose the 2nd hardest specialty). It's sad so much pressure is placed on SAT scores and I personally feel that some people equate your SAT score to your level of intelligence or your success in college. Most of the pressure is probably from the colleges themselves. My personal theory is that you might be a better candidate if you did NOT get all As in school. We all need to be able to handle failure (not that getting a B is failure by any means) because when we get to college and get a B for the first time in our lives - some of us might not be able to handle it. As far as my friend goes - yea, in college he got his first B and first C ever in his life and he was crushed! It really humbled him. But even with getting a "C" in a class that was really important in his pre-med studies; he still got accepted to med school.</p>
<p>Not that this has anything to do with college but it certainly has everything to do with determination and attitude.... Did you see that guy on t.v. last week that was born with no legs and was on his h.s. football team? He said since he was born without legs, he didn't miss them and he felt that not having any legs did not prevent him from doing anything! By the way, he had no prosthesis either (even when playing football).</p>
<p>Obtaining an Rx for drugs to maintain your mood might be a bit more effective. All joking aside - I would rather be thought of as "lame" than a bunch of other things. No offense taken, seriously.</p>