<p>Touche ;)…</p>
<p>i agree with phishfan - i think most people are aware of the low standards needed to be “average” nationally.</p>
<p>however, it can be a hit to some people’s self-esteem (mine too admittedly) if ‘average’ is used by someone who knows they are far above the norm, so I’d discourage using the word.</p>
<p>CC’ers just like being modest.</p>
<p>I totally agree with this post. This “average” lie is the thing I hate the most about CC. because really, name an actual average student who is applying to yale…none. Because the real average students on this website would never post something like that. We tend to keep quiet…</p>
<p>Also, some one stated above that 1700-1800 is average for actual college bound students. Well, I don’t know who you know, but for most kids in my private school, 1800 would be amazing.</p>
<p>BUT the average high school student doesn’t go to college…only about 20% of HS grads actually go onto higher education</p>
<p>To all of you who are arguing against the OP’s thesis: sorry, he’s pretty much right.</p>
<p>Even amongst college-bound seniors, the vast majority of people on this site are well above the average. I don’t think most of the young people on this site really have a firm grasp of how “not average” they are, though. It’s okay, though. They’ll go to college and probably feel “average.” Then they’ll go to grad school, and odds are that they’ll either feel “average” or “dumb.” </p>
<p>Then they’ll join the workforce and they’ll realize how little it really matters because your boss will either be Lumberg or the Pointy-Haired Boss and all of it will have been for naught. But at least they’ll feel smarter-than-average by then.</p>
<p>Even if you say that the “average” is subpar for a community like this, it’s still ridiculous to state that a 3.8GPA, 2100 and 5’s on like Six AP’s are “average” - those are the kinds of things the Op was referring to, I believe.</p>
<p>It’s a matter of semantics - “average” doesn’t have to mean average nationally, perhaps it can mean “average” in the context of one’s school, group of friends, or own deluded mindset ;)</p>
<p>I’ve never done a “chance me” thread or the like but in terms of “average,” it could easily mean average applicant to that specific college. If it’s an Ivy, everyone pretty much who applies has similar stats so in that capacity, it is rather average.</p>
<p>This thread is pretty lame. I’m not gonna lie. It comes across as very emo. </p>
<p>Two points: </p>
<p>First, you obviously shouldn’t compare your statistics to the national average. Everyone grows up in a different environment, with different advantages. If you’re going to a public school, then the best way to deem whether your statistics are average or above or below is likely to compare it with the average of your school. The reason for this is, of course, because the people in your public school have probably had the same advantages as you. With a private school it’s a little different… there can be a lot more diversity there.</p>
<p>Second, it doesn’t make sense to translate “average scores” into “average human being” in the first place. It’s just silly. It makes no sense. There are a ton of of people with high grades and SATs who are just total dunces. </p>
<p>What’s important to notice here is that the angst and prejudice displayed in this thread are indicative of a grassroots movement toward defining a new upper class. The angst is the motive, the prejudice the means. People think that the OP served a good purpose by lifting the haunting concerns of mediocrity off the minds of his fellow posters. On the contrary, he (or ‘she’, but let’s assume ‘he’) only elevated the “community average” by alienating the far more numerous “national average”. If this were not such an esoteric community, relative to the national population, then the OP would have received a majority disapproval rather than a unanimous applause. When approbation becomes self-approbation it is important to question the plausibility of the bias.</p>
<p>I’m not exactly sure as to how this thread is “emo”; personally, I wouldn’t call it emotionally intense. I suppose that’s your prerogative. :-)</p>
<p>I’d just like to address a few statements you make:
“First, you obviously shouldn’t compare your statistics to the national average.”
And instead, we should compare your statistics to a group of elite students whose SAT scores often rank in the 90th percentile? Does that get us any further? I imagine it would lead to anxiety and feelings of low self esteem for the 95 percent of those who AREN'T in the SAT's little circle of achievers. As for the national average: why shouldn't we? Those kids are college-bound, too, even if they might be looking at different schools. Why should "we" be set apart from "them?" </p>
<p>"Second, it doesn't make sense to translate "average scores" into "average human being" in the first place. It's just silly. It makes no sense. There are a ton of of people with high grades and SATs who are just total dunces."
Well, I completely agree with you here. My problem is with those whose SAT scores are well above-average, yet STILL see themselves as underachieving and not academically competitive. The average student, you see, will get an SAT score in the 50th percentile and consider themselves underachievers because of it; the average College Confidential poster will get a SAT score in the 80th percentile and still consider themselves underachievers. </p>
<p>“What’s important to notice here is that the angst and prejudice displayed in this thread are indicative of a grassroots movement toward defining a new upper class…”
I did have to giggle at this. To start, I fail to see how my original post was angst-ridden (or emo); I was simply taking issue with those whose angst-ridden topics belie their impressive academic credentials.
My biggest issue with this post, I suppose, is that I'm doing the exact opposite of what you imply. By comparing themselves only to one another, College Confidential posters have managed to separate themselves into their own "upper class." This class's standards are defined by the near-perfect applicants who post insane credentials in their "What are my chances" threads.
By reminding everyone that this board has an unusual number of Harvard, Yale, Stanford and Princeton applicants, I'm REMOVING barriers between "classes." I'm reminding people that they should consider themselves within the context of ALL applicants, not just a select few. By my standards, that message is tearing down class distinction, not contributing to it. </p>
<p>"He only elevated the "community average" by alienating the far more numerous "national average"."
Please explain how my posting the national average alienates the national average. Indeed, mine was the first topic that I've seen so far that actually mentions the national average at all.</p>
<p>Feel free to respond. I'm in the mood for a thought-out discussion. :-)</p><p>I know a 31 act and 3.92 gpa isn’t average elsewhere, but it is average here.</p>
<p>Average at my school is a 1500 SAT and anything above a 1700 is considered REALLY good. So to people who say the average for college bound seniors is between a 1700-1800, I’d have to disagree with that. Most of the kids at my school are college bound and end up going to state schools (and there’s nothing wrong with that), like Bloom, Kutztown, East Stroudsbug, etc. Their SAT’s range from about a 1400-1600. That is average where I live even for the college bound.</p>
<p>the average at my school is like a 1300(all three sections)</p>
<p>“I know a 31 act and 3.92 gpa isn’t average elsewhere, but it is average here.”</p>
<p>That’s a downer. Though probably the truth among the people who post.</p>
<p>i know when i first read this site i was like “:(”</p>
<p>Nice post.</p>
<p>In my experience here I’ve encountered a lot of threads titled somewhat like this:</p>
<p>“Chance xxxxx with terrible SATs or ACTs.”</p>
<p>I click on the thread and find that they have a 30 or 31 ACT or a 2000/2050 SAT. I don’t think anyone would call a 30 or 2000 terrible. Not even the people on this site. Plus that can’t make people who score lower than that feel well. Most of the people who post on CC may be top tier students, but the fact is that a lot of kids who aren’t as qualified do come here and read these threads. The people who post aren’t the only ones who come here.</p>
<p>I never refer to myself as average. However, compared with what people think they can do, they can consider their SAT or ACT scores low and not a true representation of their skills. I personally think my essay-writing skills deserve higher than a 9/12, but oh well. The colleges I’m applying to will see that in my college essays.</p>
<p>THANK YOU. surrrrrrsly</p>
<p>I think 27+ ACT is very good. I’ll even consider 25+ 
</p>
<p>yeah i got a freaking 6/12 on my ACT essay. ofc i didnt realize it mattered that much so i just wrote a short essay. they told me the only thing wrong with it was the length, but that i still covered the subject matter</p>
<p>that kind of gutted me tbh</p>
<p>people who say that they are mediocre or average students are probably talking about themselves relative to the competitive colleges that they are applying to…</p>
<p>not gonna lie, that annoys the hell out of me too…but a 3.8-ish for someone applying to carnegie-mellon, for example, is average relative to those students…</p>