<p>To all those who post here and get discouraging responses - take the responses with a grain of salt. </p>
<p>I posted my info on this thread last fall, which I thought was pretty good. 36 ACT, 800's on my SAT IIs, top of my class. I noted my ECs and awards were solid but not spectacular - a semi-finalist in one of the science olympiads, lots of community service, a varsity sport, math team. </p>
<p>While a few of the responses were encouraging, most thought any of the top schools were a high reach at best. I didn't show any passion, I didn't have enough leadership, nothing stood out etc... It wasn't till I got to a few of the lower Ivies that a decent amount said that I had a fair shot - but plenty still said those were a reach as well.</p>
<p>Well, I got into one of these top schools (lets just say my new favorite color is crimson). And I was accepted at Columbia and Penn.</p>
<p>So, don't get discouraged by the comments - they are often way too harsh.</p>
<p>First of all congratulations on your acceptance into Harvard. Secondly, I completely agree. The people on here think that if you haven’t “changed the world” you won’t get into Harvard. That’s completely wrong. Most people who get into Harvard haven’t “changed the world”. Let’s face it, a highschool kid who’s in 3 Ap classes doesn’t have time to “change the world”. Harvard wants people who are interested in education, not necessarily people who are accomplished. Thank you for this post and have fun at the top school in the world. :)</p>
<p>Congratulations on Harvard, Columbia, U Penn. Although, just because you made it through the gauntlet, does not mean it is not reasonable to assess most applicant’s chances as a reach at HYPSM, Ivies, or many of the top 12 schools. Clearly the admission process is amorphous and your odds of successful outcome are low, perhaps only 10%-30% (Reach), even if you are highly qualified. </p>
<p>I do, however, concur that HYPSM and Ivy hysteria are way too prevalent on CC. Often the admission challenges are mythologized. There is no magical “special” applicant requirement to get into these schools. The students that get into Ivies are the same highly accomplished kids that get into Duke, U Chicago, Northwestern, Caltech, Wash U, Vanderbilt, or Pomona. The SAT scores, objective stats, and even EC’s are relatively similar amongst all of those enrolled in the top tier schools (just compare the results threads for U Penn or Brown or Cornell vs. U Chicago or Duke or Northwestern, etc). The difference in admissions challenge is primarily just varying statistical odds due to a relatively small difference in admission rates. But too often the chances for positive admission outcomes at these “mortal” schools are assessed reasonably, while there is an instant impenetrable shield attached to HYPSM and the Ivies. </p>
<p>It is true that HYPSM/Ivy hysteria seems to compel many ambitious HS seniors to throw their admission fees at a few or more Ivies, resulting in increased # of applications and a lowered admission rate. This single factor in selectivity should be kept in perspective: If you find yourself behind after going “All In” on the flop, I do not think a successful Texas Hold’em player will assess the odds of making their hand with two or three outs (9% - 14%) as an impossible dream but then consider their chances with only three or four outs (14% - 18%) as somehow a dramatically improved and predictable circumstance. Whether only 1, 2, 3, or 4 outs, completing your hand will be a challenge and these scenarios do not present terribly different odds for achieving a successful outcome.</p>
<p>So next time somebody proposes applying to an Ivy League school, before informing them to bow to the Ivy gods to beg for mercy, perhaps take off the Ivy goggles and you may find that the Emperor’s new clothes are just imaginary. Or at least, you may gain a fresh enough perspective to notice that there are quite a few other Emperors with similarly resplendent clothes.</p>
<p>Good NOT to be discouraged.</p>
<p>But Better to ALSO be realistic.</p>
<p>There are so many top applicants to the HYPed schools that they must reject most hightly qualified applicants. Example: Brown said “no” to about 70% of those with an ACT of 36.</p>
<p>Love Thy Safeties.</p>