<p>No, this is not a gimmick to get anyone to actually give me their opinion on my chances of being accepted to my particular universities. I just want to know the possible rationale for asking random strangers who are not admissions counselors to guess what your chances are. Even current college students who attend the university are not positive as to exactly why they got in. To me, the surest way of knowing is to look at the school profile and see how well they match.</p>
<p>Similarly, what is the logic behind a "chance me and I'll chance you back"? By asking someone else to chance you, you are conceding you do not trust your own judgment as to your abilities. If that is the case why would anyone want you to chance them?</p>
<p>I say send them in and let the powers that be, be.</p>
<p>Basically the same as Spruce now lol. But when I first started my thread, it was basically asking people who at least know more about admissions than I do, and so they could give me their opinions on my stats and whatnot. By doing that, I got a better idea at how to read profiles, and started chancing people proficiently. I feel that they help, but after a certain point just become a confidence booster for most people.</p>
<p>I always look at "chance me" as really asking: "how do my qualifications match up to my list of schools?" I think that's a sensible question to ask, and often even complete strangers have some interesting insights, especially about other schools that might fit on the list. Also, I think some of these threads probably help students understand how to present themselves better.</p>
<p>So my junior year I took some AP tests right? And you get a free report sent somewhere, but I didn't have the slightest idea where to send them. So I honest to goodness sent them to the University of Guam. I thought it was too funny that they were in the little AP booklet. (They didn't get back to me)</p>
<p>ANYWAYS... I guess I just don't feel anyone except for your specific admissions counselor can accurately chance you. I am empathetic towards people who are nervous and want reassurance. I detest people that go onto an anonymous internet site to boast their worldly accomplishments. At any rate, I too am nervous about my applications, but I have sent them all out and no longer have control over it. In the words of the Beatles "Let it Be".</p>
<p>Chance threads help nervous juniors and seniors see how they compare to other applicants, to the schools they are applying to.... People who have applied to colleges, should be better able to "judge" your applicantion then yourself, because most high school juniors and seniors haven't had as much experience with colleges....</p>
<p>Okay ftx,
I understand that, but don't colleges post their freshman profiles? Also, why would anyone feel comfortable chancing someone else if they are asking for chances?</p>
<p>I agree with i-ask-you-tell. This site can be good for getting a basic idea of what kind of caliber students are applying to certain schools, and to thereafter determine whether or not it's worthwhile to apply yourself; however, it is entirely naive and paranoid to hang on every word and every opinion given regarding admissions here. Everything here is coming not from admissions officers, but from students, most of whom are frantic high school seniors who think their lives will all but be over if they don't end up at an Ivy League school. Please, when you go to a college's website, actually read what they have to say and take it to heart. There is no specific formula for getting into a school. The admissions teams have the daunting task of trying to create a well-rounded student body while ensuring student quality. Moreover, "chancing" your statistics is no better than asking your best buddy if you think you're going to get "Prestigious" University.</p>
<p>Even if you get into your "dream school", before attending, ask yourself if it's your dream school for the right reason - because you want to spend the next four years of your life there - and not because of the name. The significance of a name fades away after a month or so of being there, if not much earlier, while the experience is what you have for the rest of your life.</p>
<p>*This is all coming from an Ivy League reject. Yeah, the world didn't end. I got over it. And guess what? Now I'm happier than I ever would have been at Brown or Cornell. What's important is not where you go, but what you do with it.</p>
<p>You need to realize that your question has already been asked before.</p>
<p>To summarize the reasons why people ask:</p>
<p>(1) while the average response may not be helpful, there are many "experienced, knowledgeable" posters who can give good "chances"</p>
<p>(2) some people just want reassurance, even though they know whether they are going to be accepted (or rejected) at a particular school</p>
<p>(3) Some students know want to know where they need to improve their application, and getting feedback helps, and</p>
<p>(4) some students need to convince their parents or peers that applying to a particular school is worth the time and money (or not)--and having responses on CC helps them with evidence that their efforts will not (or will be) wasted ones.</p>
<p>P.S. Also, a lot of students posting in "What are my chances?" don't even ask for chances;--they ask for people to suggest schools that are matches/slight reaches/safeties for them--in other words, they use the forum to narrow down their choice of schools.</p>
<p>Calcruzer,
I apologize for posting something that had already been posted. It should be common courtesy to search the forum first before posting something. But, I stand fairly resolute on my opinion with regards to chance threads. As I already said I have empathy for those who are unsure. I'm as unsure as anyone. The only thing I would feel would be a good indicator is the school freshman profile. But, there are plenty of flaws with those too.
I suppose I had not considered your fourth point, and it does make some sense.</p>
<p>exactly, i-ask-you-tell. The main problem with chance threads is that a solid 95% of them are asking for chances at Ivy League schools. perfect scores and grades don't promise admission at that kind of level, as at most tier 1 schools as well. </p>
<p>and Calcruzer, I have to disagree with you in one way. This site is not full of "experienced knowledgeable" posters. Going through the admissions process does not mean you're an expert in chancing people. As a current college student, I enjoy giving people advice on how to improve their applications and selecting/eliminating schools from their list of 20+ schools. I'll accept the fact that I have responded to some chance threads, mainly not because I'm adamant in my belief that someone with perfect grades can get into Harvard, but because I want to give some comfort and reassurance to the poor, neurotic seniors who are so nervous about this whole process that they think consolation from complete, anonymous strangers will help them. </p>
<p>I still have no real knowledge as to why I was accepted and rejected from the schools I applied to. I will never know. Only the admissions teams know. But I do feel that I can use my experience in the admissions process and in my college experience thus far to reassure people that their lives won't end if they don't go to Harvard.</p>
<p>But again, the main problem is that I honestly think people are taking what people say as more than anonymous opinion. They think that if enough people here say they are qualified enough, they're going to get in. And then they're absolutely devastated when they receive a small envelope from their top choice school.</p>
<p>I was not saying that there are a lot of "experienced, knowledgeable" posters--just that there are some--and getting these people to respond helps. For example, I know that there are about 5 active people on here who are experts for the UCs, about 2 for Michigan, 1 for Tufts, 2 for Wesleyan, 1 for Georgetown, 3 for USC (the one in California), 4 for the Chicago and Northwestern campuses, about 3 for Duke and 2 for MIT and about 4 for the Ivies (the most difficult to judge).</p>
<p>Also, I didn't mind "I-ask-you-tell" posting on the subject again--I was just letting this person know that the topic has been raised previously--and that if "I-ask-you-tell" wanted more feedback, he/she could refer to the other threads on the subject.</p>
<p>P.S. I do agree with you that most people on here are inexperienced and overrate people's chances on the Ivies. Interestingly enough, if you go back about 2-3 years, most of the people on here were still inexperienced, but they tended to underrate people's chances at that time. Why the change--I have no idea.</p>