<p>From a college admissions blog, but very relevant to BS process, IMO:</p>
<p>FYI, the bulk of the post is an excerpt from an older CC thread.</p>
<p>Here’s a great snippet (that is echoed here on the BS sub-forum year after year):
“More often than not, what society deems ‘the best’ is not actually the best for most.”</p>
<p>The thought that stood out the most to me from Mr.Jone’s blog was:</p>
<p>“The machine is fed from all sides. USNWR, the media in general, the GC’s, the parents, the colleges and universities, the high-priced independent counselors, the test prep people…”</p>
<p>Ain’t that the truth. And trying to protect our children from that machine is getting more difficult every year. It’s a monolithic billion dollar industry that just keep gaining speed and traction. </p>
<p>I love this article. I’m going to consider more “Hidden Gem” schools, and see if I like them.</p>
<p>@boardinghopes: Broadening your set of schools to consider is only one of the messages I get out of this piece. Another is “there is no formula, so stop trying to ‘check off the boxes just for the sake of doing so’”.</p>
<p>It’s like when people come on this forum and ask “What sorts of ECs should I be doing to look appealing to BS?” What they are asking, in essence, is how they can game the system. Instead of doing the things that truly interest them.</p>
<p>Or people who stress about getting 99th percentile scores, when they are already “in the ballpark”.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that I’m not trying to talk people into NOT applying to the “brand name” schools. Just trying to get people to truly consider if those are the only schools that are “worth” applying to/attending.</p>
<p>@SevenDad I think that comment is just as great as the article! I feel like everyone on college confidential should read this. I hate when people ask what EC’s they should do. It’s more important to be passionate about Photography Club or whatever, rather than being in Math Olympiad or Model UN and hating it. Not that people can’t love Math Olympiad and Model UN, but you should do what you love, and not what people think you should do.</p>