<p>Recently i was called some mean things on CC, but they helped me to know what Ivy Leagues are all about, they don’t want perfect people they want you to learn, like lets say you like English, you excel in that you and you write papers and enter them into competitions get your poems published and do what you love. Don’t just go on and think that grades are everything. </p>
<p>I Love flying and Airplanes and Math so i am going to invest in that, and even if it does not get me into an ivy i still had fun doing it and it was worth spending the time.</p>
<p>so Ivy league students and readers, do you think this is right?</p>
<p>At least you’ve gotten rid of that automaton mindset of yours, so I guess it’s a start. Pursue your passions for the sake of pursuing them, not because it will gain you admission.</p>
<p>yes, you’ve definitely have the right idea. Now all you need to do is keep an open mind. You might/probably will find something else you love just as much :)</p>
<p>You’ve got the general idea. If you can play a sport well enough you’re in, with the most average stats and accomplishments in every other area.</p>
<p>yay! you got the idea!, someone told me that Brown doesn’t like students that are like robots (CR 800 W 800 M 800) they want someone that can take a challenge and excel the difficulties.</p>
<p>That mentality will get you in somewhere, and definitely applies beyond Brown. Do what you love, and put all your heart into it, and you’ll be fine. In the end, that’s what determines success beyond school. Not how many A+ essays you wrote in High School, but how well you do the things you do best, and whether you can put your skills to good use.</p>
So all high-scoring applicants are automatons?</p>
<p>Be realistic. Brown is looking for people who can offer it all: strong academics, good test scores, and can bring something interesting to the table. The acceptance rates at top schools correspond linearly with test scores, and while it is possible that this is mere correlation, there is equal reason to think that it is not.</p>
<p>There was a story that circulated in the Yale admissions office a few years ago. An applicant was extremely passionate about sailing and canoeing, built his own boats, and wrote his essay about it. He even sent Yale admissions their own kayak. His application was outright rejected. Having a talent is nice, and academics alone are not always sufficient for admissions, but not being able to back up your passion with top-notch academics is a kiss of death for an application to Brown.</p>
<p>Ir2010: Do you really define Nerds on such a limited, biased basis? On the contrary, Nerds are people who are particularly passionate about one, or several subjects, whether that be Calculus, or Shakespeare…</p>
<p>Nerds do ECs, often in the subject they are most interested in. Nor is it fair to say that Nerds are 2400 perfect…</p>
<p>Sorry, this is just me getting worked up over word choice… :-)</p>
<p>Dictionary.com:
Nerd - 1. a stupid, irritating, ineffectual, or unattractive person.
2. an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with a nonsocial hobby or pursuit: a computer nerd.</p>
<p>And where is your evidence of that? If you ask me, the people who dominate ECs are the “Nerds,” no matter how you define them. The people who generally tend to succeed in things like Mock Trial, Model UN, Newspaper, or whatever, are generally exceptionally intelligent, and highly dedicated, to the point where someone can become “single-mindedly obsessed…” as you so defined it, Arcadefire.</p>
<p>Any of the decision threads on the ivy league boards would be pretty good evidence of it actually. The reoccuring trend of those who are accepted are those who have outstanding grades (“nerds” as you call it), yet are ridiculously involved with school, and other activities…</p>
<p>Firstly, I find it hilarious how this thread has transformed to an argument on nerds. </p>
<p>And i agree with you HYPhoper, i know so many amazing characters who are going to do great things that would NOT get into Brown because of their lack of flawless grades. So they are looking for perfection when it comes to grades, we all know that. </p>
<p>Luckily it comes down to more than grades, so i think we all have a chance, good luck peeps :)</p>