<p>^ keep in mind there's self-selection bias too: this is less than 1 in 10 of the brilliant and extraordinary individuals, not just the general student population since most people would realize they have no shot and shouldn't waste the $75</p>
<p>Well the #1 problem that plagues the way most applicants perceive colleges is that they see it as a crapshoot. They think to themselves, well I'm just going to put my stuff down on the common app and do exactly what 30,000 other people are doing, and if I apply to 8 schools, I'll probably end up with 1 or 2 acceptances. It's the see if it sticks approach and it feeds of this repeated statement that there is no order to college admissions and that there is no way to directly improve YOUR chances by thinking and composing your application in a different manner. </p>
<p>If you are a junior, what you need to do is just think about what are some of the traits of highly successful people. Read books, develop a sense of observation that can judge other people's character and potential, think about what the word investment means, and think about if you were a college, how do you identify which students you want to invest in. The conclusions you reach may be wrong; but at least in thinking about these questions and composing your application with some purpose and showcasing some of the traits that are powerful indicators of future leadership and success, you will have a much, much stronger appeal to adcoms. </p>
<p>It's about risk-taking; about trying to catapult yourself above 30k applicants, knowing that maybe your gameplan may be off. But if you don't try to catapult yourself ie compose your app with powerful purpose and unique traits that foreshadow success, then your "chances" are pretty much zero.</p>
<p>Then Nick, what are some things one would be able to catapult themselves with? I've got the grades and course load down just like everybody else applying to HYPS, but I pretty much lack in ECs (there are some but nothing amazing, the usual, secretary of Spanish club and I was a section leader in orchestra among a very few other things) to make me special since I had to take care of my little brother since my parents worked odd shifts and were never home from after school until early in the morning so I couldn't become involved. What can I do? I'm a junior so I basically have the rest of this year+this summer to do something.</p>
<p>Getting into top colleges is easier than people on CC think it is. It's harder than people not on CC think it is.</p>
<p>Honorstudent -- taking care of your younger brother and putting the family needs ahead your own -- there's a potentially winning essay</p>
<p>^ I agree. Many (most?) top colleges see that as a top EC, fwiw.</p>
<p>
[quote]
^ did they have any special hooks like URM or athletic recruitment?
[/quote]
Not really. One was Asian, moved from China when she was little. She never played any sports, didn't have very many ECs. The biggest thing for her was church, every Friday and Sunday. The other two were sisters (parents both went to Cornell, don't know if that means anything) who are Hungarian (like really Hungarian, not "of Hungarian descent." Their mother spoke Hungarian at home as a child) and Chinese. The older sister didn't really do ECs, she just studied constantly and rode her bike everywhere. The younger sister was incredibly passionate about community service and did a ton of that. She used to dance and was very good, but she broke her back, partially because of an accident partially just because of genetics. Her essay was about race. There's a little video about her on Newsweek, but I'd rather not put that on here because it says what HS I go to and it might have been filmed at her house, which is right next to mine.
This is her info actually:
GPA: 4.0 unweighted
SAT/ACT scores: 760 math, 720 critical reading, 800 writing/31 composite
Extracurrics: Community action team, pottery, ballet, piano
Essay: Race
Biggest surprise: Thought senior-year workload would be lighter in recognition of college apps. It wasn't.
Working the wait list: A got two heavyweights, including her principal, to send in recs. She wrote to Harvard saying she was certain she'd go if she got off the list. And she sent updates on awards and scholarships she won after she first applied.
Stress reliever: Talking to sister and dad late at night
Advice to 11th graders: Relax. "I didn't take the sat more than once, nor did I spend my high school career preparing for college in the gross, hype-y kind of way."</p>
<p>ok. oops. now i realized my error. I agree with this -
[quote]
Getting into top colleges is easier than people on CC think it is. It's harder than people not on CC think it is.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>yea, thats what I meant. on CC, people tend to overthink the admissions process. they worry about the smallest details, etc. and even the national ap scholar/rank 1 gpa/varsity athlete/president of 4 clubs is worried that he/she will not get into the school of their choice, be it harvard, or stanford, or mit.
irl, people actually think its easier than it really is. like the people i described in my school. the people with low gpa's, pointless clubs, and obvious things they do just for college. those people apply because they think they can bs everything and get in. but they wont, most of them. i mean, my school only sends 1 to harvard every 2 years or so. and about 5-10 apply every year.</p>
<p>1down, 1 to go and kb09026,
thanks! I sure hope so, I'm at my wit's end worrying about all of my rejections and I'm only a junior! That's why I'm applying to like 12ish schools (maybe more) because I'm so afraid of rejection because I barely do anything!
So you think I can make a compelling essay our of my babysitting experience? I thought about it but I don't know, I also had in mind to write an essay about how I was in a really bad car accident (the car flipped twice) and I was completely okay and how that was a life changing experience. I mean what are the odds I lived without so much as a broken bone when you hear about teens dying all the time and how since I was spared, I want to give back and make a career out of public service. </p>
<p>Which do you think would be better?</p>