Hello. I am starting my junior year at high school and something has caught my attention regarding applications and addmission. I want to go to an Ivy League University or an UC school, like UCLA or USC. Usually, most counselors and admissions directors emphasize that they accept a student because they specifically desire “his” qualities or talents that would be applied to the respective school, especially if it’s something special or unique. Unfortunately, I don’t feel like I have anything worth considering and that I’m basically average at everything. Last semester which was during sophmore year, I had a 4.73 weighted GPA, 3 AP classes, 3 honors classes, and 2 regular classes. I got As and A minuses along with one or two A pluses but I didn’t have consistent excellent marks. I was/am in the Varsity Tennis and Varsity Soccer teams and I play the piano, though not expertly. I am also in the Academic Decathalon team (I won two individual medals- Gold in Literature and Bronze in Art, also one team medal) and I am in the Mock Model UN team, where I won an Honorable Mention award with my partner. I got honor roll every semester since the 6th grade and I’ve kept mostly straight As with one exception of a B in AP Psychology during my first semester in 10th grade. I got a 4 in AP World History as well as in AP Psychology and a 3 in AP Biology. I volunteer two days a week at my local hospital and I did a short internship in a foreign country (although I did not get official hours for that.) What I’m trying to say is that even though I get good grades and I participate in activities, I don’t think I stand out enough and my life is pretty boring. The thing I care most about is helping people, which is why I want to become a doctor but I haven’t done anything spectacular that would show my true wishes. Also, I go to a private school where everyone is White and the same ethnicity, which I feel weakens my individuality. I don’t want to seem like I’m complaining but I’m just looking for some advice as to what I could do to make myself different than others in a positive light and demonstrate to the admissions committe that I am worthy of going to their school. Thank you.
I can’t help but thinking you’re looking for some stroking here, someone to say “no, that’s amazing!! Ivies are a sure thing!!”
At that private school are not the counselors familiar with admissions to top schools? Maybe you should talk to them since they know what classes you’ve taken, what your teachers think of you, etc. Stuff anonymous people on the internet don’t know
“Usually, most counselors and admissions directors emphasize that they accept a student because they specifically desire “his” qualities or talents that would be applied to the respective school, especially if it’s something special or unique.”
Oh, dear another misconception. It’s not about being unique, in the ways CC thinks- you juggle hatchets or make your own rope. Nor that you won the biggest award in the world or cured cancer. Or have a sadder tale than the next kid.
But it sure does help, when filing out the app and supp, to know what that college truly values and looks for, not be assuming or going on some second hand impressions. Sorry to say, but that’s one way to “stand out,” in a pool of kids who know what they want, but can’t adequately answer a Why Us sort of question or present a savvy app.
Be the one who digs in and tries to learn what makes you a match for them- not just what makes you like them. It’s much more than gpa, the count of your APs, your awards, how many vol hours.
If you want to be a doctor, will have a stem major, the 3 in AP bio will be an issue for Ivies.
Sounds like your work on college selection isn’t quite complete. USC is a private college and not part of the public UC system.
Also kids that lump all Ivies together are usually focused on prestige rather than fit, making it difficult to produce compelling reasons for the adcoms to admit them since the colleges themselves believe they are quite unique.