RD Applicant Holds Out Hope Despite All Odds

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
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<p>Probably shouldn’t even bother still applying, but here goes nothing!</p>

<p>SAT: 2220 superscore (750 CR, 770 W, 700 M, 11 Essay)
ACT: 32 (28 M, 29 S, 36 R, 35 E, 11 Essay)
SAT II: 710 Lit, 720 US History, still waiting on French
AP: 5 English Lang, 5 US History, 4 French, 4 Environmental Science
GPA: 4.05 W (I attended a non weighted school and then a weighted school, so my GPA is kind of really weird/awful)
Rank: 53/526 - just on the cusp of the 10% mark; I expect this to go up at least 20 when my senior grades kick in at the end of the semester
Senior Year Classes: AP Macro, AP Literature, AP Comp Gov, AP Calc AB, AP Physics: C (2 block class), Advanced Band</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: I moved after sophomore year, so a lot of it isn’t really consistent because of the differences in my two schools. Gay-Straight Alliance all four years (co-president in 10th, founder and president in 11th, president in 12th; initiated an LGBTQ scholarship fund at my school), MUN in 11th and 12th (USG for Personnel and Administration in 12th, Co-organizer at our high school conference; Awarded “Most Promising Member” in 11th), Academic Team 11th and 12th (Regional Champions), Theatre in 9th and 10th (Performed in 6 productions, attended three theatre honor festivals, won school theatre award), Boy Scouts in 9th and 10th (awarded Eagle Scout, patrol leader twice), French National Honor Society in 11th and 12th (president in 12th), National Honor Society in 12th, Student Government Board in 12th (senior representative and public relations director), South Africa Club in 9th and 10th (raised money for ubuntu education fund, traveled to Cape Town and Port Elizabeth on a learning trip), Alto Saxophone since 6th grade, Manager of girl’s lacrosse in 11th and 12th</p>

<p>Awards: National Merit Semifinalist (hopefully to become a finalist), AP Scholar with Honor, DAR Good Citizen’s Award, Honor Roll, Eagle Scout</p>

<p>Recs: Counselor was amazing, first teacher was just as great, second teacher was pretty boring, and had to fix an error in his rec after it was submitted, so that’s really scaring me.</p>

<p>Summer/Programs: High School Diplomats at Princeton University last summer, Theatre festivals both last summer and the summer prior</p>

<p>Essays: Really proud of my Common App (it was about how traveling is my biggest comfort because of how often I’ve moved), supplements are pretty solid</p>

<p>School Type: First school was a small private international school in London, known for being very difficult. Second school is a medium-sized public magnate school in the Northern Virginia area.
Gender: M
Race: White
Hooks: Very international? IDK I tried to play that as much as possible
Negatives: Definitely my GPA, and my SAT IIs
Positives: Lots of ECs, heavily involved even though I’m new to this high school, SAT score is amazing in the context of my school, the only other applicant from my school is much worse than me?</p>

<p>Other: The superintendent of my county called Brown to recommend me personally after I gave a presentation to the school board. Our county is one of the largest in the country, so it’s kind of a big deal, but IDK how much impact it would really have. </p>

<p>Any thoughts? Should I just rescind my app now?</p>

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<p>"Should I just rescind my app now? "</p>

<p>Stop being over dramatic or humblebragging. It’s unbecoming. </p>

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<p>@T26E4 Stop being rude. It’s unbecoming.</p>

<p>I’m actually very scared because, as you are well aware, the competition is brutal for spots at Brown, so this is much less humble bragging than it is actual despair. </p>

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<p>I agree with T26E4. Let’s put your application into perspective.</p>

<p>Your SATs, SAT IIs and AP scores are outstanding. Pat yourself on the back – you have amazing scores that you should be uber proud of. I’m not joking. Seriously. (If you really think your SAT II scores are low, you need a reality check.)</p>

<p>Your GPA is very strong. Your rank is what is weak, but given your educational history (having attending two schools with different weighting systems), I don’t think your rank is relevant. Most important, you seem to have taken a very rigorous course load. </p>

<p>Your ECs seem strong. </p>

<p>You are a strong candidate. That doesn’t mean you’ll get accepted, because it’s tough to get into Brown. The only people with an easy acceptance are recruited athletes and development cases ($$$). Instead of tearing yourself down, recognize your strengths. Most kids would kill to have a resume like yours, and when you talk about despair and rescinding your application – imagine how they feel. </p>

<p>And I’m really responding to you because of everyone else who is reading this and thinking, “If s/he is in despair, I may as well jump off a bridge because my scores, GPA and ECs are even worse.”</p>

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<p>@london2va‌ what is your un-weighted GPA? Are you saying that your school will report your 4.05 GPA on a 5.0 scale? And that rank is based on WGPA? This seems really unfair and is a detail (school transfers with different grading systems) that could be explained by your guidance counselor in their recommendation.</p>

<p>Other than the GPA you seem like a really solid candidate and you have about as good a chance as any other solid candidate. Which is to say pretty low but probably better than most.</p>

<p>FYI I think what I and the other two posters are perceiving as overdramatic are statements like:</p>

<p>“Probably shouldn’t even bother still applying, but here goes nothing!”
“Should I just rescind my app now?”</p>

<p>These types of statements feel like you are asking for validation, not evaluation. And it feels like humblebragging because you are a great candidate and you have a lot to be proud of.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>Maybe this is a development case!</p>

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<p>@fireandrain‌ and @ormdad‌ Thanks for actually being genuine. And truly, I wasn’t trying to be melodramatic or humble brag; I hate people that do that. A lot. I’m honestly just really stressed because, comparing myself to people that I know have been accepted, and to people on CC, my package really is not at all as strong as it could be. </p>

<p>@fenwaypark‌ hahahahaha making jokes about NOVA. So funny. I’ve definitely never heard that before. So. Funny. </p>

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<p>@london2va‌ I think it was your typo fenway was referring to. Admissions humor, lol.</p>

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<p>Stop comparing yourself to people on CC. As I said, people who compare themselves to you are teetering on that bridge. </p>

<p>Recognize that your stats look like the vast majority of kids who are at Brown. </p>

<p>Of course you’re stressed. I understand that this is a very tough time. Try to focus on the other schools on your list (I hope you have a good balance of safeties and matches) and start writing all the other essays for applications. If you haven’t applied to a rolling admission school, consider doing that so you get an acceptance before March. </p>

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<p>Correct. Although now I am thinking the joke may be on me and they really do have magnate schools there! </p>

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<p>.</p>

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<p>You might not get accepted, but rescinding your application would just guarantee you won’t be attending Brown in the fall! You have a pretty fair shot.</p>

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<p>Well, I have no idea about what might happen, but quibbling doesn’t work anyway. We must learn to be judged. Also looking forward to be accepted in RD, but I’ll welcome all possible responds.</p>