<p>So, I just browsed through Cal Newport's blog. </p>
<p>I am, for all purposes, Dave. I have a slew of extra-curriculars and a handful of awards and officer positions. I have strong grades and test scores. My essay (when I decide which one I want to use) will be something about life. I am not someone that no one else could be.</p>
<p>There's a lot of negative karma around me right now. Frustration knowing I've seemingly screwed myself over with hard work. Anger because it all makes so much sense. Hoping that God-mod will come and ban these people for haxxing the system.</p>
<p>Anyone else kinda feel like that? What do we not-exceptional people do? D:</p>
<p>I feel you.
that’s the student I am too. and I’ve worked my behind off to be that student!! now I’m just finding out that that’s not who I should be.
ughhh frustration.
what does Cal Newport’s blog say? and what is it?</p>
<p>Haha I experienced Cal Newport’s blog a few weeks ago and kind of died inside as well. I sort of disagree with him though. We need normal, hardworking people in society! There’s nothing wrong with doing things that other people also know how to do. The point is that you did something to help the world. Or that should be the point, but it’s probably not.</p>
<p>The only way you died inside was because you convinced yourself that HYSP are the only life-giving universities in this land. Once you detach your sense of self-worth from your ability to say, “Everyone! Please look at me! I’m going to ________ University,” you will stop dying inside. </p>
<p>Your credentials would ensure your acceptance into about 95% of the nation’s universities, and you’d have a chance at the other 5%. Be happy. Find a school that suits your personality, not your ego.</p>
<p>That blog reads like a commercial for Cal’s new book. Take it with a grain of salt. What he says is not the end-all-be-all to getting into what some CC posters call “lottery schools.” </p>
<p>Please, relax. Be proud of the resume you built, don’t regret a minute of it. Listen to jamma. Hundreds of colleges will want you. And some of them are just as excellent as Stanford, etc. </p>
<p>I think any mature, goal-oriented student should review Cal Newport- he makes sense. Don’t waste time talking about how you’re dying inside. He points out what all super smart adults know about building the knowedge and experience base that gets you through.
The reason there are so many Daves, is because too many hs students have too narrow a focus- school hands them opportunities- sports, music activities, debate teams, service clubs, whatever. That’s all they can see. It’s their comfort zone. Hey, it’s even scheduled conveniently and you can do it right at school- and be with friends. After a short while, adcoms are bored with kids who can’t “climb out of” this comfort zone.
No one is saying you have to work for the U.N. Steve could have done something far less glitzy and gotten the same attention.</p>
<p>Yeah, this was my initial reaction to the blog itself. I read over some comments, and it felt a lot better. Tons and tons of people posted about how Cal Newport is so great, so I decided to check him out. </p>
<p>This psychological thing is really just a gimmick, and I hope colleges see past it: heck, they should KNOW about this trick. Dave clearly works really hard and is talented and shows leadership. Steve kind of got a lucky break-- a big opportunity showed up, and he rolled with it. Shouldn’t college admissions people also go “how did he do that?” to people who juggle difficult courseloads with extra curriculars, jobs and volunteering? </p>
<p>@Jamma: unfortunately, a good number of the schools I WILL be applying to swill be from those 5%. I’m masochistic like that. :D</p>
<p>@lookingforward: What you say about the comfort zone is interesting. However, so few people actually have the chance to leave their comfort zone-- I’m constrained by time, money and other factors. I can volunteer with Habitat for Humanity to build a house, but that’s still “feasible” for anyone who tries. Its incredibly to find something or come across something that will make someone go “how did he do that?”</p>
<p>Adchang- Yup! Many parents actually take the Steve approach with their kids, ecourage them to find something beyond what school offers.
It can be simple- actually, few kids on CC- very few- mention Habitat. So, that’s good, even if your school sponsored it. Your orchestra involvement may be school- but it speaks to some level of musical effort over the years. The USDA bit is good.<br>
Steve is a wrong example- he fell into those activities, he lived in a big city with big opps and public transport. But, by definition, one should seek out what shows more committment to doing good for somebody or something- even mentoring at the middle school- such a fruitful effort and so easy to accommodate. It’s not the same as being Pres of club x- it’s a fabulous addition.</p>
<p>His philosophy is not that grinds don’t get into top schools; it’s that there are other, less stressful and more impressive ways to get into top schools. The laundry list approach can work, assuming you have made significant impacts in everything you’ve been involved in. His new book mentions a girl who got the UVa Jefferson Scholarship with an absolutely insane resume–internships at Business Week, awards up the wazoo, club presidencies, the works. (Notice, however, that this is a laundry list of remarkable proportions. It does not consist only of club memberships and “Founder of Pie Club.”) Indeed, he mentions several times on his blog and in his book that doing more may, in fact, make you more impressive–but only marginally so.</p>
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<p>His entire philosophy centers around working hard. His career and college advice is to get really good at something to make yourself marketable.</p>
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<p>What I’ve found valuable about Cal’s advice is that it doesn’t tell top students to shy away from the HYPSM rat race. It is a way for top students to poise themselves for entry into these schools without selling their soul to student council and an endless stream of community service.</p>
<p>This doesn’t mean kids like David WON’T get admitted. There are few Steves and Karas out there, who’ve demonstrated extraordinary initiative; even Stanford can’t fill the whole class with kids like that. </p>
<p>Incidentally, his model of “estimate how easily you could see yourself doing something like that” didn’t work for me. While I was more impressed by Steve, I actually could more easily see myself at a UN convention than leading a track team. Mostly because I can’t even run a mile without dying.</p>
<p>First, I agree with Jamma, this only applies to a handful of schools, and David will get into many fine colleges.</p>
<p>But what Newport writes squares with what I’ve seen as I’ve observed who gets into the very top schools. I’ve seen many 2350 plus, top student, team captain, school club presidents, turned away from ivies and the like. And I’ve seen many 2200 kids with more Bs than the top students and a truly outstanding activity/experience/story get in.</p>
