<p>PARTI</p>
<p>After going through the process as a slightly overconfident student, I think its helpful to look back upon my journey. At times, I feel many on this site lose sight of reality and perspective, especially with all the chances thread and focus on stats. I was that way when I found this site; I dont think I am as much anymore. I still cant tell if I have a more positive or more negative outlook on the process after going through it. I guess you could say this is my way of giving back for the help I received. I did receive lots of help in many different ways from CC and its members. If anything, this site showed me to believe anything is possible, but also at times I saw the heartbreak accompanied with striving so high. Ive written about my senior year of high school. Well, some of it. There was just so much. I try to focus on standardized testing, picking schools, and just the whole process in general and how I view it now. I hope that you realize I could go on and on, so some things probably need clarification. Basically, the end of this (if you want to skip the story/background) details how I feel now looking back. I hope someone can learn something or that discussions can ensue to teach.</p>
<p>I remember when I first found this site over Thanksgiving weekend. I had already picked which colleges I would be applying to: EA to Georgetown, University of Oregon, and University of Oregon Honors. I would apply interim decision to Rice and RD to USC, Penn (Wharton), Stanford, Duke, Dartmouth, and Claremont Mckenna. I was looking to study economics or business, with some interest in international relations. I had visited Georgetown and loved the surrounding area and what the school had to offer, but I couldnt stand the campus. Maybe I was a bit spoiled after visiting Dukes beautiful, open campus. I had also visited CMC, USC, and Rice. When I found CC, my college ranking was:</p>
<li> Stanford</li>
<li> Duke</li>
<li> Penn (wildcard with Wharton)</li>
<li> Dartmouth</li>
<li> Rice</li>
<li> Georgetown</li>
<li> USC</li>
<li> CMC</li>
<li> U of O/ Honors</li>
</ol>
<p>With my stats and ecs, I felt I had a solid chance at any school in the nation. I had a 4.0 uw, and I was in Full IB. Weighted, I was around 8th out of 330 students in a public high school. I think/know my recommendations were stellar, although not all best Ive ever seen. I had been on my schools constitution team as a sophomore and narrowly missed going to nationals. I was Sophomore class president and I had been Junior and Senior class representative. I was in a community service club. I had completed two study abroad trips to Spain and Costa Rica. I had held an internship usually only for college students. I ran cross country and swam. I was involved (other things not mentioned), but I didnt have one activity I was great at or had really done a lot with. I also only had a few decent awards. I figured I still would have a great shot judging by the performance of previous years students similar to me from my school. They had gone to Stanford, some ivies, Duke, USC, etc. Judging by our TCCiNaviance charts, I was looking strong. I didnt need to be perfect because of the relationship of my school with colleges. However, I had had to work extremely hard to get my SATs to reflect what I felt was my potential and would possibly hinder my chances. I wasnt overly occupied with SAT scores. I just knew I wanted competitive scores and more importantly, do my best.</p>
<p>Junior year I scored a 175 on the psat. It was a major wakeup call when I saw others who had done much better. I wasnt used to not doing great on a test, especially one that would later matter. I studied some from the blue book and took some practice tests. The June of my junior year of school, I scored a 1970 or a 1370 on the old scale. I was happy with the progress I had made, but knew I could do much better, especially after hearing my classmates scores. I took the ACT with little practice that June and managed a 29 (which I thought was competitive for any school). Over the summer, I took several more practice tests. In November, I score a 2160 or 1390. I didnt study for the writing, my score just went up. I also took the ACT and scored a 31 with a 35 in math. By now, I had studied for the SAT IIs and taken them each twice, finishing with 740 Math Level 2, 710 Math Level 1, 710 Spanish, and 660 in USH (which I had not taken in a class since we have IB, not AP).</p>
<p>I wish I had realized how tough admissions would be to top colleges. I hadnt even thought about college until my psat scores came back. I had done everything I had done because I wanted to, not to get into college. I just did what I did. Looking back, I probably would have made a few different choices if I had been thinking about admission into college. I would have gotten my pilots license that I really want to get. I love aviation and wrote about that in my essay. I felt it was very well-written, but looking back, I had nothing to substantiate my passion, except internally. I might have taken journalism, with college admissions being the tipping point to push me to actually do it. However, I didnt do these things. I do however hope to do them in college.</p>
<p>I posted a chances thread on CC and got mixed reactions. I received my deferral from Georgetown, along with my acceptance to U of O honors. Those who had done EA or ED from my school had not faired as well as expected. I decided to take the SAT again for the third time. I studied some vocab and took some more practice tests. I ended up scoring a 2240 (2270 composite) or a 1500. Finally I had the scores I felt accurately reflected my testing ability. Moreover, I returned home in January from testing to find an acceptance from USC. I was to be interviewed for the Presidential Half-tuition scholarship. I was excited because I felt more confident now as many on CC said I had to be perfect for a scholarship, and USC didnt even have my new SAT scores. I also had liked USC a lot during my visit. I had considered USC my backup school, although many of my friends thought that was foolish (I had my state school anyway).</p>
<p>I earned straight as first semester, although it was stressful with college apps, testing, and my IB extended essay. Soon enough, I received an acceptance from Rice. I think I took it for granted as I figured Id probably get in. I now feel extremely lucky and proud to have been accepted to a great school like Rice. </p>
<p>I interviewed at USC and was awarded the half-tuition scholarship. I had loved what the school had to offer. I loved how they catered to me and continued to for the months to come. I just didnt know if I could see myself there. I figured I wouldnt have to make the choice. Money hadnt really been an issue (more as a family we decided money wouldnt influence much), but the scholarship was extremely helpful and powerful. Not to mention I was into USCs honors program and several special programs. I knew Id be set, but after my overnight visit, I felt USC lacked the intellectual nature that Rice and other schools had possessed. Of course there were other things too.</p>
<p>Before spring break, I learned of my wait listing at CMC. I was happy because I did not want to go there and knew it was very competitive, but felt snubbed I didnt get in. I was now the highest stat person from my school to not get in. It made me a bit nervous for April 1st.</p>
<p>I spent spring break in Mexico and returned on April 1st, after all my decisions had been mailed or posted. I came home to a rejection from Dartmouth, Penn, and Stanford. I was waitlisted at Georgetown and Duke. I expected Penn, but was a bit surprised about Dartmouth. I just felt I had an amazing interview and that I had a great app for them. I was even hoping for a likely. I was naïve and shouldnt have expected that much. After all, I knew there were so many more students more talented than me who had been rejected or had been admitted. I was upset. Everything had fallen apart in my mind. How could Georgetown not take me? At least Duke waitlisted me. I felt Georgetown snubbed my school, which is one thing that I learned through this process:</p>
<p>High school college relationships do matter. No one had gone to Georgetown from my school in years. No one with a reasonable chance had applied. Three of us applied this year with stats that shouldve helped at least one of us gain admission. For example, the other two were admitted to Wash U, CMC, Washington & Lee, etc, which I consider similar caliber to Georgetown. Instead we were all deferred and then waitlisted. In the end, none of us wanted to go. I am not blaming our wait listing on the relationship with the school, but I do think it played a factor.</p>
<p>I went back to school on Monday discouraged. I had decided on USC over Rice because of all the opportunities they had given me. They had courted me so much and it had worked. Im really amazed by USC. I was contacted by the Dean of the Accounting School, as well as received a personal letter from a CEO of a company. Rice had done nothing.</p>
<p>At school, I learned how others had faired. Most didnt fair to well, but there were a few who had done very well. We had done better than the year before, but not by much. I realized quickly I had been to close-minded the whole process. Those who had done well had something special that I didnt have: legacy or something else. For instance, I realized my friends brilliance. She was the smartest girl in my grade and interested in engineering. She had applied to mostly top liberal arts schools for engineering and received many acceptances. She will happily be attending Brown after having many choices to select from. I wonder what wouldve happened if she had applied to more non-liberal arts colleges as well as how I wouldve faired a more liberal arts colleges.</p>