My top of the class friend got rejected, so how could I ever have a chance?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

My friend applied to a few top of the line universities(not Ivy League but in the top) with a 4.0 gpa, a perfect ACT, and an excellent SAT score. Yet she was denied by most of these schools. How could I, someone with a pretty good gpa, decent SAT/ACT ever have a chance at a top school? What is she missing if she’s a perfect student grade wise

2

Yes, you have a chance. Sometimes admissions decisions are pretty random. The valedictorian of my D’s graduating class was rejected at her “dream schools” who accepted lower-stats kids from the same school. She didn’t do anything “wrong”, she just didn’t get in. No difference in hooks or legacy or anything… It just happens to some kids and it’s a shame but they move on and do fine. Forget comparisons with your friend, build your own college list based upon your own strengths, priorities and finances.

3

Perfect stat kids are rejected every cycle. It just illustrates how competitive the top schools have become. Have a few reach schools on your list but spend your time focusing more on your match and safeties.

4

Is there a “top school” you are dying to get into for a particular reason. If so, apply. If not, don’t waste your time (and that would be my advice for everyone - even kids with “perfect” scores.) Life is too short.

5

I can’t say what was missing in her application.

You did notice that many people get into top colleges with less than perfect grades and test scores, right? That means your ECs count, teacher/counselor recommendations count, your essays count and the vibe you give out from your essays and from the entire application counts.

Reading through students’ comments on this site, haven’t you come across students whose comments reek with entitlement and arrogance? Or haven’t you come across students who sound genuinely nice?

Just one paragraph can give readers the impression of what kind of person you are. I bet experienced admission committees have keener sense of what kind of student one is through their applications.

I’m not saying your friend is not a nice person but maybe she couldn’t show her personality well through her application.

Try to get good grades, good test scores, but simply try to be a good person and try to create the application that shows your wonderful quality as a person. If you are a good person, your teachers and counselors will see that and it will come through their recommendations also.

6

Could be nothing was missing from her application. There are just not enough spots for all the qualified people who apply to a lot of the so-called “top” schools.

7

Obviously we don’t know the details of your friends, but perfect stats with nothing to differentiate yourself is not a recipe for getting into top schools… there are just too many individuals like that out there. But be a great but less-than-perfect student while also being an accomplished musician or artist, state champion or all-American athlete, a 20+ hours per week wage earner, etc… that’s a different story.

8

  1. There are more very well applicants for the top tier colleges than there are spots available.

  2. There is a lot more to an application than GPA and standardized test scores. Admissions are holistic and will include a review of the letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, essays etc.

  3. Bottom line it is it is always fine to apply to a couple of reach schools (and all top tier colleges must be considered reaches for any unhooked applicant) – just be sure to create an application list that also includes match and safety schools that appear affordable and that you would be excited to attend.

9

Did your friend apply ED to any school ?