<p>I know the top-tier schools (MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Harvard, etc.) are just so competitive now. In order to have a decent chance of getting accepted, you have to have national or international recognition in something (whether that be in research projects, sports, debate, or competitions). What about the rest of us, who are just typical straight-A high-scoring well-rounded students who really want to go to these schools? What can we offer about ourselves to stand out? </p>
<p>For example, I do cross-country, track, volunteering, research, and student government. However, I'm not very unique in any of these (I'm on varsity xc, I have a small leadership position in both volunteering and government, and I'm doing a research project that probably won't win any awards). How can I manage to make myself stand out? Should I simply write honestly and personally about my interests in some of these activities, what I've learned from them, etc. ? Would simple honesty and a demonstration of personality/creativity through my essays simply make me stand out from the crowd? </p>
<p>I was looking through the MIT Early Action results thread from last year, and it seems that only people who were either Intel/Siemens finalists or minorities got accepted early! </p>
<p>Does anyone have any other specific suggestions or things to say for people like me, the "average" applicants, to make myself unique and special in my application? Thanks!</p>
<p>What is unique about you among your classmates? Do you have a talent (serious or silly) that most do not? Are you into a genre of music or art that is a bit out of the ordinary for your peers? What would your friends say is unique about you? </p>
<p>I see that you are doing a research project that you do not plan to win any awards with. So why you are doing it? Examine that. </p>
<p>I encouraged my son to do this based on the idea that if it was unique among his peers, then it’s probably not a topic that shows up by the hundreds in essays. Or maybe it is! The real point of the essay is convey information about you. </p>
<p>I know it’s a cliche but there really is only one you. Instead of writing yourself off as average, change your perspective to highlighting what you have to offer, which is a lot!</p>
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<p>This is often said, but is an overstatement–believe me. There may be a couple hundred kids who fit this bill, but the top colleges needs thousands of bright well-rounded kids to fill their seats. So not to worry that you don’t have national/international recognition.</p>
<p>The problem is that there are LOTS of bright, well rounded kids that are competing for a spot in super-selective universities. Why should they take YOU from that big pile of applications? That’s what you have got to tell them in your essays. Wholeheartedly agree with PMK that you’ve got to accentuate what makes you uniquely you.</p>
<p>I’d write up the research project into a paper to submit to MIT as part of your application. They’ll be interested.</p>