<p>As optimistic as I want to be, with my current grades im a somewhat below average applicant. (33 act 4.0 weighted)
I have always been good at writing essays (12 writing on ACT) and I was wondering if the essay can really pump me up.
And yeah, I have fairly weak EC. Just a few sports/clubs with little leadership stuff</p>
<p>Here’s one parent’s thoughts</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/16041585-post18.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/16041585-post18.html</a></p>
<p>What kind of question is this? Of course the essay is important.</p>
<p>At a school like Harvard where 90% of the applicants are qualified to do the work and 50% of the applicants are qualified to do the work at an honors level, an authentic, sincere, memorable essay which radiates “passion” and “character” can often be a major factor underlying an acceptance. Almost all of the HYPS admits I know received letters from various admission officers commenting on how their essays helped them stand out in a pool of similarly qualified applicants. But having said that, good essays can almost never make up for a mediocre academic record.</p>
<p>One of the great things about this forum is to see how any others are sweating out the same crap. I have had so many experiences and then I don’t know what I can write about. Everything I come up with feels lame and done. I keep keeping things in my head that go in and out of my brain at night. I keep hoping that if I just chill and take the time to look around at my life and the people in it, something will settle down as right by July or August. Right now, though, nothing seems right.</p>