<p>This isn't my story, but I'm just curious.
If you have 2400 SAT score, 800 on 3 subject tests, 4.0 unweighted gpa, and top class rank, but no extracurricular, where would you go most likely?
What would this person's chances be for ivies?</p>
<p>0% chance. No question about it.</p>
<p>I think depending on the essay, that person might get into one of the ivies. It’s really hard not to have any ECs. Sure, you might not be in any clubs, but to not have any hobbies or passions? That’s pretty hard to do. </p>
<p>Anyways, if his essays characterize him as a sophisticated person with a unique outlook on life, that perhaps may not have participated in clubs for personal reasons but has interests that can’t be described well on paper, then he may be accepted. But if his essay is generic and he seems to be nothing more than a bookworm introvert, then he’ll probably get rejected at all of the ivies.</p>
<p>davidoga, dd1993, thank you for your replies (:
yeah that’s what I figured XD
I lived in another country (I was born there) for more than half my life, and my country is focused on being smart and having good grades rather than activities.
It’s interesting for me that u.s. looks at the character and passions.</p>
<p>oh, and another quick question:</p>
<p>what happens if a person has been dedicated to something for like 10 years, but didn’t enter a lot of competitions?
I’ve been playing violin for about 9 years, but I’ve only won something once, and all I’ve been doing are orchestras and community service involving music.</p>
<p>dd1993,</p>
<p>Having an outlook on life is not a substitute for an EC. As you said, Ivies are not interested in bookworms. Also, you cannot express a passion if you have nothing to back it up. For all adcoms know, that person could be lying.</p>
<p>^ No it’s not a substitute, but if you have circumstances that resulted in an absence of direct ECs, you can still potentially show that you have passions in other areas. As for lying, sure one could be lying, but one could also lie about their ECs also.</p>
<p>That’s a good point about the special circumstances. Lying about ECs is different because there are ways that colleges can find out the truth. But how do you confirm that somone and ask them about there outlook on life, and does that really matter? After all, it shows not commintment or hardwork?</p>
<p>I’m not saying one could easily get away with not having ECs by writing a good essay. If you don’t have any ECs, you are severely handicapped in the admissions process for the top schools. </p>
<p>However, if you have no ECs, you either</p>
<p>1) are an introverted bookworm who only studies or plays video games
2) have some sort of special circumstance or are motivated but simply didn’t find the opportunities to show it. </p>
<p>If you are option 1, you will probably get rejected by all the ivies, no doubt. You can’t “compensate” for that with an essay. </p>
<p>But if you are option 2, an essay will be another outlet for you do demonstrate your passions and abilities. Not everybody joins 5 clubs in 9th grade and becomes president of all 5 by junior year and wins 10 national awards by senior year. There might be a person that didn’t find interest in his school clubs- he could be an extremely bright and lively individual, but perhaps didn’t know about science competitions, research opportunities, etc. If he can demonstrate via the essay that he can still contribute to the college community, I don’t see why he would be barred from consideration.</p>
<p>Makes sense, agreed.</p>
<p>Whoa. During my absense, a conversation was going on.
I read both of your replies, and I found some really good remarks. (:
Thank you.</p>
<p>I honestly can’t see anyone in America with that motivation in school going through all of high school with NO clubs, extracurriculars, ect. unless there was a special family circumstance. I mean, even if a student studies a lot there are always lunchtime clubs, clubs for academic competitions that can be self-studied, ect.</p>
<p>I personally feel like colleges place far too much emphasis on extracurriculars. I’m tired of feeling like schools are going to judge me because I a) joined too many clubs in different areas and look like I’m just doing it for college (strange as it may seem, it IS possible for a good student to not enter ninth grade decided about my interests, passions, and careers and to explore many different options before choosing the right ones) or b) Don’t have enough ECs. Depends on who I talk to.</p>
<p>Yeah this is why America sucks you may be smart as hell, but colleges are looking for more than that. Anyways by all means apply to easier ives if there is anything like that haha and the UC Berkeley’s and the UCLA’s, you might have a chance.</p>
<p>Ahaha yes, I agree.
I’ve heard this all the time: “Colleges look for people that can change the world in some way.”
I guess <em>just</em> being super smart won’t do anything when it comes to that. xP</p>