<p>Congrats on your acceptance pagEL60</p>
<p>So I have just one question for you. :) Since your numbers were low for those schools--but you still got in--what do you think set you apart? What was your "magic quality"?</p>
<p>^^ Did you see?:</p>
<p>"Congressional Page in US House of Representatives (1 semester, and summer)"</p>
<p>Do you know how your classmates who ranked 1-6 did? (in terms of college admissions)</p>
<p>I come from a bad high school, so the other rank 1-6 didn't even apply to any top schools. Rank 1 person is going to a local private Catholic college, the other top 6 people are going to UC Berkeley or Davis, or LA. Rank 2 (my brother) is going to Yale or Stanford, along with me!</p>
<p>Anyways, what set me apart? I think my ability to get good grades, score high on the SAT, take the hardest classes at my school, etc. while coming from a immigrant family who makes less than 20k a year. My first language wasn't English and I was born in Vietnam, but I managed a 740 on CR, 740 on writing with 12 on essay, 760 on Lit, and my brother managed a 800 on CR. In a way, we complimented each other's application. I pursued my passions, including the piano for over 10 years and gained honors and recognitions in it, served as a Congressional page in Congress, and even was honored to be asked to serve for two extra sessions, taught martial arts in my community, along with other things. </p>
<p>I think Yale and Stanford saw that with my background, I was able to do just as well as anyone with a good background with money, and thought that if I could do it in the slums, how well would I do if I was given the opportunity to study at a world-class institution? </p>
<p>My advice is to show that you took advantage of all the opportunities you were given, and do it for yourself, not for college.</p>
<p>Congrats! Did you send in any extra recommendations other than those from your college counselor and your teachers?</p>
<p>Thanks, Goblue81! I didn't send in any extra recommendations though, because I didn't feel them necessary.</p>
<p>Don't make things up kido!</p>