Seeking Brown students that would be labeled AVERAGE by the PERFECT Applicant

Colleges & Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<h2>This was a story I found from the book “Get Into Any College Secrets of Harvard Students” By Gen S. Tanabe and Kelly Y. Tanabe.</h2>

<p>“Story From Real Life: You Can Be Normal & Still Get Into Harvard”</p>

<p>“Eugene’s experience demonstrates that you don’t have to be an academic or athletic superstar to get into a great school. Both your accomplishments and your approach to admissions are important. Success requires effort and a thoughtful approach.”
-Gen and Kelly </p>

<p>“I am living proof that you don’t have to be a superstar to get into Harvard. Although I went to a competitive high school, I was far from being an outstnding student. Unlike my friends who had perfect 4.0s, my report card was littered with “B’s.” I did get “A’s,” but still my transcript was nothing to get excited about. I got average SAT scores. They weren’t terrible, but they weren’t great either. I was a member of a few groups although my highest position was secretary for my school’s public service club. I have to admit that when I filled out my college application even I was shocked at how “average” I was on paper.”</p>

<p>“My only chance I felt was to work really hard on the essay and hopefully get good teacher evaluations. I don’t know what my teacher’s wrote, but it must not have been that bad. I was the kind of student who always tried hard. I also spent a lot of time on my essay and must have written and rewritten it a dozen or more times. But still nobody ever imagined that I would get into Harvard.”</p>

<p>“Was everyone shocked when April came. Even I was stunned when I opened the acceptance letter. In fact, soon after I arrived at Harvard my roommates and I had a late discussion about how we got in. We began comparing SATs, grades, and anything else to see why we were chosen. When I told them what I had gotten, they couldn’t help but tease, “How in the world did you get in?””</p>

<p>“It was pretty obviois that it was not my grades, scores, or activities that got me in. I think I owe it mostly to my essay and evaluations. My point is not that admissions is arbitrary (I think the opposite is true), but I hope all of you who are thinking about applying to Harvard will not be discouraged just because other have better grades, higer scores, or are more active in clubs or sports. As I found out, it’s not a prerequiste for you to be school president, valedictorian, and football team captain all at the same time to get into Harvard.”</p>

<p>“Harvard does take normal people too. At first I was embarrassed at how low my scores were in comparison to my roommates. But now I freely admit my “averageness.” And Harvard must know a little about success since I have consistently gotten better grades than my roommates who, based on their high school records, are far more outstanding than I.” </p>

<h2>-Eugene, who is at Harvard and is still normal</h2>

<p>The reason why I put up this thread is because I am seeking to find people who like Eugene would be considered by many people as average, but they still get accepted to a competitive Ivy League School. I would apreciate deeply if those people would be willing to give the following stats about themselves, since college confidential mostly has students with perfect or near perfect students applying to the ivy league colleges. I am sure many College Confidential members would benefit from this thread.</p>

<p>SAT I:
[ *] SAT IIs:
[ *] GPA:
[ *] Rank:
[ *] Other stats:
[ /list][ b]Subjective:[ /b][ list]
[ *] Essays:
[ *] Teacher Recs:
[ *] Counselor Rec:
[ *] Hook (if any):
[ /list][ b]Location/Person:[ /b][ list]
[ *] State or Country:
[ *] School Type:
[ *] Ethnicity:
[ *] Gender:
[ *] Extracurricular Activities:
[ *] Leadership Positions:
[ *] Volunteer Activities:
[ *] Total # of hours volunteering:
[ *] Teams:
[ *] Number of years or season played in the teams:
[ *] Perceived Strengths/Weaknesses:
[ *] Why you think you were accepted:
[ /list][ b]Other Factors:[ /b]
[ b]General Comments
[ *] Advice</p>

2

<p>Hmm, that article seems a little sketchy... someone got into Harvard and didn't know that the plural of the word "teacher" doesn't have an apostrophe?</p>

<p>Even so, if it's true, this kid probably had fantastic recs, or isn't mentioning something about how incredibly wealthy his family is, or his URM status, or underrepresented geographical region status, or something like that. I could be wrong but I can't help but guess that this guy's either underrating himself (does "littered with B's" mean a 3.8 or a 3.3? does an "average" SAT score actually mean 1000, or did he get a 1400?) or not giving us the full picture.</p>

3

<p>I agree with ILoveBrown.</p>

<p>My transcript is littered with B's... I still have a 3.8 uw.</p>

4

<p>3.89 gpa uw
Rank 5-10%
2170 sat
senior class president
editor-in-chief
cum laude
Total # Aps taken through senior year: 8
AP Scores (even though brown doesnt check, just want to show you how avg i am) Euro 4, Calc BC 3, Span 3, Chem 1
white
male
golf 2 years, baseball 4 all jv
50-60 hrs
IL
$$$</p>

5

<p>Haha... that's not "average" by any means. You were obviously a solid applicant. Other than your AP scores, you look mighty strong.</p>

6

<p>haha oh WAIT i didnt get INTO brown, im just a junior! guess i misread your post!</p>

<p>-just more proof, im an average idiot ;-)</p>

7

<p>Are you sure Brown doesn't look at AP scores? They ask for them on the application.</p>

8

<p>Brown definitely does look at AP scores.</p>

9

<p>well i was just at their info session and then had an interview with their associate director of admissions (my dad set it up somehow, we really hit it off and she said that shed write a letter of recommendation into my profile) --- and she said that since brown has that open curriculum or whatever, they dont check ap scores in the application....im sure if you have good scores its helpful to send them in, but all i was trying to say was that they seem a lot less important at brown than at some other schools.</p>

10

<p>"haha oh WAIT i didnt get INTO brown, im just a junior! guess i misread your post!</p>

<p>-just more proof, im an average idiot ;-)"</p>

<p>LOLOL adidas that is hilarious. sorry to laugh at you :) but it is</p>

11

<p>hahaha no problem im glad it was funny...i had a good laugh myself because i started thinking about it after i posted and i was all like, "yeah i dont think that was actually what he was looking for"</p>

<p>anyways, it felt good when that guy was like "thats not average at all" YAY</p>

12

<p>You're not admitted yet, and I'm not a guy... confusion all around! I'm glad I made you feel better, though. :)</p>

13

<p>oh haha yeah please dont misinterpret my YAY to mean "im so glad im IN" im just glad you werent like "there must have been some kind of mistake in the admissions office"</p>

<p>anyways im sorry i thought you were a guy</p>

<p>maybe once im admitted to brown you can come over and study in my dormroom...if you know what i mean ;-)</p>

14

<p>Haha, 's all good.</p>

<p>Anyway, I'm happy to come and study or hang out with you if you end up here, but with any luck I'll still be with my lovely UChicago boyfriend, so you'll have to get the "if you know what I mean ;-)" stuff from someone else.</p>

15

<p>long distance relationships never work out hehe =P</p>

16

<p>2 years and going strong... thanks for the encouragement though. :)</p>

17

<p>lol @ the pick up a Brown-girl game</p>

<p>I think I consider myself average in comparison to the other applicants out there. Brown is my #1 school and I'm only posting this for the sake of being an average student.</p>

<p>SAT I: 1930 - 600 M 610 V 720 W (12 essay)
*I took that test w.o preparation. (Yes, dumb I know; I overestimated my capabilities) I hope to score in the low to mid 700's next time around
[ *] SAT IIs: Math 1 - 730 Lit - 650 Spanish - 610
[ *] GPA: 4.688 weighted
[ *] Rank: not given but probably top 5%
[ *] Other stats:..I guess I'll attach my resume at the end
[ /list][ b]Subjective:[ /b][ list]
[ *] Essays: I'm a good writer and they are original and personal
[ *] Teacher Recs: should be very good
[ *] Counselor Rec: should be good
[ *] Hook (if any): Aunt and Uncle Alumni and I'm a possible football recruit
[ /list][ b]Location/Person:[ /b][ list]
[ *] State or Country: NJ
[ *] School Type: Private Parochial
[ *] Ethnicity: Hispanic (Cuban and Puerto Rican)
[ *] Gender: M
[ *] Perceived Strengths/Weaknesses: Weaknesses- Standardized test scores Strengths - transcript, personality and essays
[ *] Extracurricular Activities: ..see resume
[ *] Leadership Positions: ..see resume
[ *] Volunteer Activities: alright I guess I'll stop answering and put it in here</p>

<p>Resume -
Education:<br>
Saint John Vianney High School
Expected Graduation – June 2007
GPA – 4.688 (4.0 scale)
Congressional Student Leadership Conference
(“CSLC”) in Law – Summer 2006
Sponsored by LeadAmerica; held at Johns Hopkins University</p>

<p>Honors and Awards:
President of National Honor Society (2006-’07)
Junior Class Vice President (2005-’06)
Sophomore Class Vice President (2004-’05)
Freshman Class Representative (2003-’04)
School restricts students to one leadership office per year</p>

<p>Permanent Honor Roll of Distinction (2005)
Permanent Honor Roll (2004, ’06)
Permanent – Year-long</p>

<p>Highest Honors for 10 out of 12 marking periods
Honors for remaining 2 marking periods</p>

<p>Highest Academic Achievement in Biology (2004)
Highest Academic Achievement in English (2006)
Highest Academic Achievement in Spanish (2006)
Highest Academic Achievement in PE/Health (2006)
Highest Academic Achievement award
presented to the top student in subject area</p>

<p>Dwight D. Eisenhower Leadership Award
West Point Society of New Jersey Ethics Conference
Leadership award and invitation to conference
presented to the student who demonstrates the
most outstanding character, leadership and ethics</p>

<p>Member of National Honor Society (2004-’07)
Member of National Spanish Honor Society (2006-’07)</p>

<p>Recognition as top sophomore Chemistry student</p>

<p>Gold and White Award (2004, ’05)
Awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding knowledge, character and involvement at Saint John Vianney High School</p>

<p>Weightlifting Class Champion (2005)
Outstanding Junior Athlete (2006)</p>

<p>Walk-a-thon Top Fundraiser (2004-‘06)</p>

<p>Perfect Attendance (2003-’04)</p>

<p>CSLC in Law Award for Outstanding Attorney
CSLC in Law Award for Outstanding Witness
CSLC in Law MVP in Mock Trial</p>

<p>Invitation to New Jersey Governor’s School of Sciences
Invitation to New Jersey Governor’s School of Engineering
Invitation to New Jersey Governor’s School of Arts for Creative Writing
Invitees are recognized by high school as top
students in their respective subject areas</p>

<p>Extra Curricular Activities:</p>

<p>Freshman Football – 2003
Varsity Football – 2004-’06
- Co-Captain – 2006
As a member of the SJV Football team, I displayed the highest level of work ethic and motivated the younger players as well as the older players at times. I have
been a starter on offense, defense and special
teams for three years on the varsity level.</p>

<p>Freshman and JV Basketball – 2003-‘05
- Helped run Middle School Basketball Tournament
as member of SJV Basketball Team
Playing basketball at SJV taught me the value of hard work, responsibility and self-discipline. My experiences in the gym carried over into my academic, social and personal life. As a result of this exposure, I plan to remain a part of the team by assisting the coaching staff in the upcoming season.</p>

<p>(cont’d)</p>

<p>Freshman and JV Baseball – 2004-‘05
Varsity Baseball – 2006
Baseball at Saint John Vianney fostered the values of dedication and commitment. Experiences on and off
the field with the SJV baseball team have added to
the collection of values I have gained from
athletics at Saint John Vianney High School.</p>

<p>Travel baseball team – 12 seasons
(Spring 2003 – Fall 2006)
I was MVP and overall team leader in runs batted in, batting average, home runs and on-base percentage. Playing for the Garden State Knights, I learned the importance of team bonding and camaraderie over the focus on winning.</p>

<p>Runner at major auction for local grammar school and parish (2006)</p>

<p>Powder Puff Football Game Coach (2005)</p>

<p>Usher at Junior Ring Ceremony (2004)
Usher at Baccalaureate Mass (2006)</p>

<p>Member of Key Club (2003-’07)
Service Projects include:
Bake Sales – Charity Clothing Drives –
Head Start Foundation Halloween Party</p>

<p>Homecoming Executive Board (2003-’06)
Homecoming Float Presentation/Construction (2003-’06)</p>

<p>Dance (1991-present)
-Acrobatics/Jazz/Tap (1991-1997)
-Competitive and Advanced Tap (1998-present)
- Regional and National Dance Title Winner
The study of dance has been an important part of my life for the past 14 years and has encouraged my sense of self-confidence. In adolescence, a negative connotation is often associated with male dancers, but my experience with dance has strengthened my knowledge of my own capabilities. More importantly, I have learned to continue to pursue my true desires despite criticism from my peers.</p>

<p>Community Service:</p>

<p>Organized and led Honduras Service Project (2006)
I worked with another junior student at SJV to organize and advertise a month-long donation period of various necessities such as vitamins, soap and clothing that ended with a delivery to the people of Honduras for the Easter season.</p>

<p>Year-long NHS Tutoring Project (2005-’06)
The NHS at SJV offers tutoring services for day and week-long sessions, but beginning in the fall of 2006, I took on a student struggling in Geometry and tutored him for the rest of the year, helping him improve his grades.</p>

<p>Maintained baseball fields for high
school and travel baseball teams (2003-’06)</p>

<p>Operation Gratitude (2005)
I collected, inventoried and assembled care packages
with my family and travel baseball team for the
United States soldiers serving in Iraq. </p>

<p>Co-taught boys’ dance class / Private dance tutor (2004)</p>

<p>St. Peter’s Children’s Hospital Santa Visit (2005)
In the week before the Christmas of 2005, my travel baseball team and I shopped for, sorted and wrapped presents for the children spending the holiday in a hospital bed. I learned a great deal from this experience, because I had never seen children hospitalized before. Despite the fact that these fragile children were in such painful states, the smiles that appeared on their faces when they saw a gift for them in my hands transcended the hardships of even the most fatal disease. Although the children were mesmerized by the colorful packaging and initial surprise of my presence, they shared with me an intangible gift; for that day, their conditions became invisible to me, and I saw only gracious and deserving children. I walked away from St. Peter’s Children’s Hospital not only feeling accomplished, but I also felt the satisfaction of making a difference in another life. </p>

<p>Travel:
Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Bahamas (2000)
In Jamaica I learned of the poverty that exists in other countries. As I disembarked the luxurious cruise liner I spent days on, I entered a different reality than the one that existed on the perfect and pristine ship. As I approached a grocery store, I saw an elderly woman huddled on the ground in a corner with an eye missing and an empty can in her hand. Just at the sight of this emaciated human being, I became aware of an alternate existence of mankind. At that point, I began to understand the need to be conscious of the reckless consumption of our possessions, for others might never see in their lives what some people throw away in a year.</p>

<p>Interests:
• football, baseball and basketball
• tap dance
• spending time with friends and family
• relaxing at the beach
• reading (especially Hemingway and Dan Brown)
• creative writing
• music and action movies
• TV courtroom dramas
• cars
• sports documentaries
• video games</p>

18

<p>Great resume. I have one gripe, though - Hemingway and Dan Brown? Two completely different leagues. :P</p>

19

<p>Lol. Of course Hemingway is a classic, his style is inimitable. But I am really intrigued by Dan Brown's style. I feel like if he can get away from these conspiracy theories, he could be an excellent novelist</p>

20

<p>alvy cmon, who the **** is going to read all that ****</p>