<p>hey im just an average kid who has a pretty good, but not great, gpa, and pretty good ECs but no real awards or leadership positions and no real potential to get either. my SAT currently is 2120 (720m 700v 700w). do i have any chance at schools like duke or georgetown, especially if i boost my SATs (id also like info on the best way to study to improve SATs). ive been reading these forums and it seems like i have no chance anymore, its very depressing. any advice?</p>
<p>Are you doing any sports?</p>
<p>its ok dont worry too much about it...worrying can only do harm. just apply and hope for the best</p>
<p>i play two sports but im not goood at either of them</p>
<p>??????????</p>
<p>start something you're passionate about</p>
<p>We can't really judge you based on what you have given us. You said you have "pretty good ECs." Could you be more specific?</p>
<p>well im involved in several clubs, i do a lot of community service, and i work with a non-profit organization but in none of it do i have a leadership role or any ability at this point to really get one in time. </p>
<p>i dont need a yes or no answer. im just wondering whether or not leadership and awards are must haves</p>
<p>Nothing is a must have except oxygen, water, and shelter.</p>
<p>And according to that logic, you don't necessarily need leadership/awards--although I imagine they woudl help.</p>
<p>^ That is so true. Maybe some food as well.</p>
<p>if you are just "average" with average stats, then i dont think duke is a match</p>
<p>Mr. Moose,</p>
<p>You don't need leadership or awards to simply have a chance. I know this is purely anecdotal, but I recently got accepted to Cornell engineering as a non-legacy white male from the mid-Atlantic with 760m/730v/720w and a 3.53 UW GPA (large suburban public), and my only ECs were 3 years of varsity golf (we were county champions all 3 years, but I wasn't one of the best on my team and am not going to play in college) and Ski Club (something most people would hardly count as an EC).</p>
<p>After seeing all the kids here who spent 3 years in Bangladesh living in a hut and teaching underprivileged orphans how to read all-the-while self-studying for 19 AP exams, I didn't think I stood much of a chance either...so don't lose hope or think you can't get in simply because of that. By most people's standards on here, I had mediocre ECs and really no leadership positions, along with a "below-average" GPA and only average SAT scores. **** that. There is so much more to an applicant than their scores and superficial volunteer work and leadership positions - you just need to make those other aspects clear in your essays and throughout your application overall.</p>
<p>to above posters...im not looking for these schools as matches, i jsut wanna know if i have any chance</p>
<p>and live, thanks soo much. thats really reassuring. i guess this site does skew my view a lot</p>
<p>live-, you are an inspiration to all of us "below-average gpa'ers"</p>
<p>thank you! i needed that.</p>
<p>"3 years in Bangladesh living in a hut and teaching underprivileged orphans how to read all-the-while self-studying for 19 AP exams"</p>
<p>hahahaha, CC in 24 words, bravo</p>
<p>As for awards and leadership I was rather lacking as well. I found it rather frustrating that I could start Algebra in 5th grade and finish math with an A in Stanford AP Calc in 10th grade and never get a SINGLE math award.</p>
<p>In addition, I didn't get really any other special awards because I didn't fit in with the rest of my graduating class (I graduated a year early) so I guess wasn't considered for anything. My school has an attitude of let's reward the less impressive kids to boost their confidence at the cost of the more impressive kids.</p>
<p>I think most (within-highschool) leadership positions and most (within-highschool) awards are really too subjective to be considered seriously. Why? Because, personally I think a lot of leadership positions don't require much more than a few phone calls and leading a meeting in addition to being a normal member; awards I talked about earlier.</p>
<p>As for what colleges think I really have no idea...</p>
<p>Anyway, maybe that's not what you were looking for, but anyways:
Most of the kids on this forum fill a certain niche of the college-bound class. Kids here tend to be the type to get in based on academic stats. I don't really know how to explain it other than, don't worry about it, you're not competing with everyone here, if you're not an academic superstar (say "average"), you still have a pretty good chance of getting in based on something not academic (which is up to you to invent).</p>
<p>Edit: What grade are you in? Even if you're a Jr you still have a lot of time to do something crazy</p>
<p>im a junior...but i dont know what else i can do</p>