<p>My younger sister (who's a junior in HS) thought it would be a great idea for me to help some people out on here.</p>
<p>A little bit about me, I was a unmotivated smart kid in high school. Straight A's but would get saturday schools for frequently skipping class. Fast forward a bit, graduated with a B.S. and currently in a "top" MBA school. </p>
<p>I am here to help you with certain questions regarding admissions strategy. I am not here to answer basic questions! The reason why certain people with sub-par applications (SAT scores, GPA, extracurricular's) etc are accepted to top schools is due to a few factors that are a little difficult to explain. I have worked closely with admissions directors for MBA school and am great friends with an admissions director at Cornell.</p>
<p>I skimmed through these forums and generally, all I see is the focus on grades/SAT etc. But you have to bring in the "it" factor. Something that makes YOU stand out and I am here to help YOU with that!</p>
<p>Question 1: Do I have to send in my high school transcript before the application deadline, or do the schools take SAT Scores / Transcripts after the deadline? Also, if this is the case, should I send in my transcript before I send in my application?</p>
<p>Question 2: Does applying for Summer B strengthen chances of admission, and if I applied for Fall would they defer me to Summer B if I wasn’t able to get in for the Fall? (Specially thinking of UF)</p>
<p>Question 3: One of the schools I am applying to, FSU, has two deadlines, one of them being on October 15th. I am currently working on the application, and it asks for my SAT scores. I have taken the SAT once and got an 1850 - I also took it about a week ago and got what I estimate will be a 2050-2150. Should I just put my old, worse SAT scores into the application and send it out by the 15th, or miss the deadline and send in my application afterwards with my better SAT scores? </p>
<p>TL;DR: Do I have to send in my transcripts by application deadlines? Does applying for Summer B strengthen my chances of admission? Does missing the first out of two deadlines for a school application process damage my chances?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Send everything in before. Just in case your file gets read immediately, you need to make sure all of your materials is there.</p></li>
<li><p>I have no idea on this lol</p></li>
<li><p>Yes write in your old worse SAT score, the school will receive the official documents and they base their decision of that rather than the score you filled in.
Say if you estimated your score is 2100 and you score 1900. It will make you look like an un-ethical applicant. And that’s the worst position to be in.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I am a senior applying for college. I’ve had straight A’s my whole entire high school career, but junior year, I had a “falling out” after one of my best friends passed away. I Received B’s in Ap Chem, bio, bc calc, and I got A-'s in Ap psych. Basically, I received no A’s in ap classes except for ap us history. My second semester grades are drastically better than my first semester grades. People on CC tell me that the colleges will forgive me. However, I am not so naive as to think that bad grades in college classes during the most important year of my high school career won’t hurt me, with or without an excuse. How much will it hurt my chances? My dream school is Uchicago, I have a 2400 SAT, and I believe that my extracurriculars are above par even for people on CC. My senior grades all look really good right now, and I should receive straight A’s if not straight A+'s for 1st semester. My current grades with the bad junior year put me at about 18% of my high school class of about 450. However, I have some middle school grades that weigh me down, and without those grades, I would be in the top 5%. I have done everything I can to improve all aspects of my application, but my gpa and class rank seems to be the Achilles heel. My GC offered to write in the LOR of my extraneous situation. I am applying to most of my schools early action, including Uchicago, MIT, Georgetown, etc. Do you have any insight/suggestions for me? Please be frank.</p>
<p>Now that I’ve asked the questions about my grades… How would you suggest bringing out one’s character in the essays? I have a lot of passions, and I am generally regarded as a good writer, but I’m having a hard time projecting my thoughts into the essay. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>You have a really good shot. I am sure admissions directors would practically glance of the B’s, as long as your later grades are better. </p>
<p>"How would you suggest bringing out one’s character in the essays? " This is what I am really good at. It’s difficult to explain but it has to stand out, something that demonstrates all the aspects they are looking for. I do no recommend writing a story like essay as some people do but rather one that shows your past, present, future and directly targets the universities values.</p>
<p>For example, when I was talking to the head admissions director at UCLA MBA, he explained how they reject top applicants with GMAT scores of 770+ all the time (top 0.1%). The top schools are looking for leaders of tomorrow. You must demonstrate this in the way you position yourself in the essay. You must also bring value to their school. Most students try to “suck” value, as in “what can the school do for me, or why do I want to attend this school.” Instead, try thinking, “what could I bring to this school that would make it better.”</p>
<p>These types of essays stand out. Lastly, make sure to visit the campus, especially out of the way schools like Cornell and talk to admissions directions. They actually do remember you and bring out something about your visit in your essay. It does boost chances :)</p>
<p>Just quickly, what schools are you targeting? Major?</p>
<p>It really comes down your essay/personal statement positioning. Being the president helps but you must explain your role as a leader. Must differentiate between management and leadership.</p>
<p>What about intellectual curiosity? Goals in life? Entrepreneurial spirit?There’s just so much basis behind this that it would require to sit down for a few hours. But I hope this can spark some ideas.</p>
<p>The purpose of College Confidential is to ask and answer these sorts of questions. RichardSmart is more than welcome to respond to questions on any thread. A consolidated thread by one poster is unnecessary and unwarranted.</p>