<p>I don't have a single 800. I haven't taken 11 AP classes (my school doesn't even offer that many). I don't have 500+ hours of community service or work. I'm involved in only a few ECs (heavily involved in two). I don't have any significant national awards or anything of the sort. And I'm not a National Merit Scholar--I wasn't even close to the cutoff. I'm also Asian-American, which kind of sucks seeing as Asians have become overrepresented minorities and, consequently, are being held to a higher standard than other applicants. The only advantages I see myself having are that I'm the first generation to attend college, I'm low-income (e.g. "disadvantaged"), and I'm from Hawaii (that is, if schools even care about geographic diversity).</p>
<p>How can I possibly compete in the cutthroat world of college admissions? Anyone else feel this way? Or, actually, perhaps that's a terrible question to ask on--of all places--CC.</p>
<p>Don't feel inferior. It'll get you nowhere.
From personal experience, I can tell you that it isn't the end of the world. I graduated from a rural HS in Georgia. I took 6 AP's total (and that was a really high number at my school). Only two people from my school went to "Top 10" schools. Sounds like a lost cause doesn't it?
Except that I'm attending Caltech this fall (most people from my school [teachers included] hadn't heard of it until I got in).
Numbers are not your entire application, remember that. You just need to shine in the nonquantifiable aspects (essay, rec's, etc.). Play to your strengths and show your passions.</p>
<p>Here's my suggestion--go get the US News report, but don't read the rankings. Instead, go to the back and see how many colleges and universities there are. Just think, there are people going to ALL of those schools--lots of people. Happy people, people who will have jobs. Don't think of your life as a competition. I can't sing as well as Pavarotti, but I'm not competing with him, so I don't feel inferior. In fact, he's dead, so in that respect I'm superior, and so are you!</p>
<p>CC gives you the idea that there are only about 20-25 colleges worth attending in the US. Like Hunt pointed out... this is not the least bit true.</p>
<p>I would strongly suggest that you read Colleges that Change Lives by Loren Pope. The book contains detailed descriptions of some very worthwhile colleges that offer first rate educations and have great academic reputations. Due mainly to their locations, these colleges are easier to get into than comparable colleges on the east and west coasts. You have lots of opportunities, so do not despair.</p>
<p>Be proud of yourself, be proud of your heritage. All one can be asked for is to do one's best. Work hard, do your best and do not worry about anything else. There are many good schools in this country that you can get a great education and be a productive and successful person in the society. Do not let prestige or ranking to cloud your vision.</p>
<p>I know others have been gentle with you but let me be frank and upfront. Only one percent of the human population will ever graduate college. Your fretting about not having an 800 and therefore doomed to some lower strata of society because the college that confers your degree may or may not be a so-called "Top 25" -- it's rather insulting to the 100000s of other college students in this country, not to mention abroad. Is this what you think of yourself if you don't get accepted by one of these "top" schools? Then it leads me to conclude that you have a pretty low opinion of others not there either.</p>
<p>I graduated from one of the HYPS and recruit for my alma mater. Whenever I find perspectives like yours, I shake my head. I'm sorry but I hope you change your perspective quickly. Life has much to be enjoyed and people to be helped. It seems like you may have some of the tools necessary for this as well. Good luck to you. You (and many others fortunate enough to attend ANY American university) will probably do just fine.</p>
<p>"The only advantages I see myself having are that I'm the first generation to attend college, I'm low-income (e.g. "disadvantaged"), and I'm from Hawaii (that is, if schools even care about geographic diversity)."</p>
<p>Actually, you've got another <em>major</em> advantage, and that is that you are thinking for yourself and carefully researching your options. </p>
<p>Do you wish to attend college on the mainland? What majors are you interested in?</p>
<p>There are about 3,000 colleges in the U.S., and most accept the majority of students who apply to them.</p>
<p>Virtually anyone who wants to go to college can find a college that will accept them. Virtually any "B" student with average (i.e. 1500 total of all 3 parts) SAT scores has probably a couple of thousand colleges that they could go to. Those include many well regarded private colleges and flagship state universities.</p>
<p>It's only places like Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, MIT, CalTech, etc. that are so very difficult to get into that the overwhelming majority of their applicants are rejected although they are students that most colleges in the country would accept in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>Fortunately, in the U.S. one doesn't need to have gone to a place like HPYS in order to have a fulfilling life and lucrative career.</p>
<p>You are not inferior!!! Please don't think of yourself that way. As a senior preparing for college, I keep comparing myself with my genius friends and all the extraordinary people in CC. However, you are probably special in your own way, except you don't realize it because you are too modest. Whatever you do, believe in yourself and have confidence. And remember there are so many others out there who are worse off than you are! I am all you said above about yourself AND I am an Asian international applicant. </p>
<p>But seriously, consider yourself special and let yourself shine in the college applications. After all, later, it is not the numbers or the stats that matter but who you are. I think so anyway.. hopefully.... :)</p>
<p>hahah man i thought i would never meet someone just LIKE me. im pretty much in the same boat. But luckily got into BostonU whoo class of 2014. To make friends, just don’t worry about it. the more you try to chill with people the more friends you will make. Plus when you go on to college it will be totally different, more nerdy people (like me), more niceer people. don’t worry about high school, just do the best you can do. I am sure that there are a lot of people in the same situation as you. I quit my sport cause i didn’t like it, no sports, 4 AP classes all together in high school. ACT was 28, SAT was 1860, my AP Eng score was a 3, only in 1 club, almost got kicked out of National Honor Society, but still got into Boston University. You obviously have better scores so don’t worry and work hard. (wanted to get into Harvard, but im too dumb )</p>
<p>oh here is some inspiration, appliced to all IVY leagues, duke, stanford, rice, UNM (local), Johns Hopkins, NYU and BostonU. GOT REJECTED FROM ALL except BostonU.</p>
<p>Conclusion: Boston U got a great student ( a legend harvard and all got nothin…NOTHIN!</p>
<p>Guys, in case you haven’t noticed, this thread was from over a year ago. The OP got accepted to Princeton and Columbia and is currently attending UChicago. :D</p>
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