<p>Following the PSAT, I've been receiving various letters in the mail from colleges I have absolutely no interest in (No, not even NYU could woo me). My parents kept telling me, "Be realistic." And of course, I got ****ed. It's been my dream to attend either Harvard, Stanford, or Princeton, and no, I'm not some wannabe. First in my class out of 471 students. Debate team, track team, law office intern, published poet, novelist-in-progress. That's me. I don't work hard for nothing. Not even the fact that I'm lower-middle-class from a family who is about 100,000 dollars in debt can discourage me. I will try, and I will achieve what I want to achieve. I will find the money myself to pay for my college tuition, and I will make something of myself. I will.</p>
<p>Great, now expand on that and format it into a college essay!</p>
<p>Wouldn't that seem cliche? I perceive writing an essay about mean, obstructing parents as extremely pathetic and almost narcisstic.</p>
<p>...Show-off. :rolleyes: Ya people an yer melodramatic speeches, yarrrrr...</p>
<p>Wish I had that kind o' drive, m'dear. :p</p>
<p>But jeez, lighten up a bit, will ya? Driven much? There's more to life than HYP, and HYP is not the be-all of success.</p>
<p>Sounds like your idea of achievement is getting into a brand-name college. I say expand your horizons.</p>
<p>Hey, that's the spirit! =)</p>
<p>But, there are lots and lots of other great colleges, too. Maybe you won't get into Harvard, Stanford, or Princeton, but a diligent and talented person like you will be happy wherever you end up!</p>
<p>
[quote]
Wouldn't that seem cliche? I perceive writing an essay about mean, obstructing parents as extremely pathetic and almost narcisstic.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It seemed to be more about yourself than your parents, you only mentioned them twice. Emotional involvement make good essays I say.</p>
<p>Good for you! And go ahead and be wooed--HYP isn't everything. =P</p>
<p>um,
...huh?</p>
<p>I never said SHP were everything, and to clarify: No, my idea of achievement is not confined to gaining admission into a brand name college. I'd be happy to attend the University of Texas at Austin, but I do believe that it's worth a try to aim for something that you've dreamed about since you were ten years old. </p>
<p>And wouldn't you say that prestige is definitely conducive to a productive political career? I'd say so. </p>
<p>From what I've seen, not many people who aim for HYP and such get frowned upon here. They're more likely to be encouraged than disparaged...</p>
<p>good luck.. i understand your ambitions but htought i should point this out if you would like to be a politician:</p>
<p>the mass of american voters (mid-lower mid class blue collar working american) are intimidated by ivy league degrees. many hold suspicions, prejudices, and even some jealously towards them. the reason many politicians are ivy grads is because they were well-connected and well-bred and raised by long-time political families (ahem..bush), and not necessarily because of merit or preparation. now, as you stated, you're lower-mid class, so (as far as i can tell from what you've posted), you're not a member of the good ol' boy network, which is prob responsible for the huge amount of ivy politicians.</p>
<p>so in realistic terms (and setting childhood hopes aside), i would actually suggest aiming for UT Austin..and then talk like a cowboy for the pres debate and remind people that you're just like them... that's how you get elected.</p>
<p>oh.. watch Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.</p>
<p>Y' wanna be a politician? Tread lightly.</p>
<p>Your first post may be common to CC, but I saw it as exuding pretentiousness, and I'm fairly sure I wouldn't be the only one in a more representative (of the world) pool of posters. It's nice that you are motivated, ambitious, and self-assured, but the list of credentials and the overall tone is rather snobby, as if to assert your particular worth over the 416 other people, everyone not as accomplished as you, and for that matter, everyone who is privileged (no financial problems).</p>
<p>Perhaps I'm merely over-sensitive, but your post was too driven, and I'll wager that for most people (CC not being representative of the general public), you'll seem a bit egotistical, self-centered (ungrateful attitude towards your parents), and harsh.</p>
<p>A good many well-qualified candidates have shot themselves in the foot with that kind of rhetoric, like Al Gore. Gotta get people to relate to you, and never make it seem like you are boa****l.</p>
<p>prescitedentity, i agree.. i was about to say something similar but then figured it woudn't help, but now i see that it may.</p>
<ol>
<li> you are a wannabe. you do NOT attend harvard or any other college for that matter. as of now, you are the same as every other APPLICANT who shall sacrifice his or her pride to be judged by the red pen of an adcom. you are a hopeful, no matter how qualified you assume you are in comparison to your competitors.</li>
<li>you are especially hopeful in terms of career aspirations. again, please watch Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.. the film itself is very hopeful, but it portays some stuff i think you're missing out on. most politicians today have been born into it, even if their campaigns depict otherwise. some who are very charismatic/have tackled overwhelming odds (theres one lady who is running after losing her leg in iraq or something) win their way w/ the public, but it's not tooo common. but hey, pursue whatever you want. carter and clinton managed.. but again! they had special circumstances. they had amazing ways w. the public, and clinton was a rhodes scholar/in my personal bipartisian opinion, a true genius.</li>
<li>from what you posted, you seem like a typical candidate. i know you're new to this (who isn't), but maybe you should look around CC and look at the chances thread to enlighten yourself about the competitiveness of college today... espppp. hyp.</li>
</ol>
<p>Mmm, yes, TO does sound like the many HYP hopefuls out there, now that I think about it.</p>
<p>Why was b o a s t f u l censored? :confused:</p>
<p>I think 's t f u' was taken to be an acronym for a rather nasty expression.</p>
<p>You're disappointed and insulted by the kind of college mail you're getting? Being so driven, you should know better. College mail doesn't mean anything. Getting mail from HPS doesn't mean that you'll have a better chance of being accepted. Hey, I got no mail from my dream college but was accepted ED.</p>
<p>It's fine to shoot for HPS. People should set goals for themselves. Maybe you'll reach yours, or maybe you won't. But you sound like you're entitled to attend those schools. There's nothing wrong with your parents telling you to be realistic. It's not that they don't support your goals; they're recognizing that not everyone realizes their goals, especially in college admissions when so many people aim for the elite and so few get in.</p>
<p>Relax. You have drive and ambition and what sounds like an impressive list of ECs. Assuming that your grades and standardized test scores are good, you have a shot at HPS...like thousands of other applicants. You can be hopeful, but you should be realistic.</p>
<p>A lot of stores make really good clothes but only certain lines such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie, and J. Crew get the prestige among preppy kids.</p>
<p>Same with college. A lot of schools may give you a really good education but they don't give the prestige that HYPSM does. Superficial, yet true.</p>