So let's face it....

Applying to College
1

<p>Pretty much all applicants applying to the top schools look the same:
With the test prep industry, people are acing the SAT/ACT. (Everyone is getting 700s/800s)
and everyone seems to be at the top of their class with the highest GPA. </p>

<p>So that doesn't distinguish people.
Thats why the college process is so random.
They are putting together a puzzle who they think can excel. </p>

<p>So I think that being a star athlete, or amazing musician really helps.
Everyone has the academic credentials...its just about what makes you stand out. </p>

<p>What do you think?</p>

2

<p>Um… sure?</p>

<p>Not everyone can be a star athlete or an amazing musician.</p>

3

<p>Umm you can stand out in other ways, like winning impressive awards at the national scale (or even international), great public service, science research, etc.
Pretty much anything that makes you stand out in a way that an adult could.</p>

4

<p>that’s why essays are emphasized so much. they come the closest to showing who you really are.</p>

5

<p>And teacher recs will reveal whether you are actually the amazingly helpful, bright kid or the average one or the arrogant one or the…etc.</p>

6

<p>You don’t need to do anything extra on purpose. The unknown secret of college admissions that we often overlook in this madness is that the vast majority of kids who get in don’t have anything PARTICULARLY special or unique. Most are just a bunch of bright, hardworking kids who did the best with what they’ve been given, and get 700s/800s on the SATs, are active in ECs. You don’t have to cure cancer.</p>