Student A vs. Student B Hypothetically..

<p>Its obvious that both would be accepted. Student A stood out exceptionally with his essay while showing passion.
However, Student B had good essays and a 2400. I think most people on cc forget how crazy of an achievement this is. Both are going to get in so it really doesn't matter.</p>

<p>Well, I was exactly student A, and I did fine myself. Also, I see that an 3.7 isn't a 4.0, but to judge and say that an </p>

<p>A- student with 4-5 hours of ECs a day didn't do well academically </p>

<p>while an A student bookworm with no life did?</p>

<p>Last time I checked, they were both high honor roll at most schools, and by senior year I was a 4.0 student, 3.7 reflects all years and I'd say that wasn't bad and I'm glad my school saw that. Where as the 4.0 bookworm in my class was rejected from the school I'm attending now.</p>

<p>So by CC standards I am mediocre if I was student A? Wow, than what is a B+ student, garbage? Well, then if B+ is garbage than 3.0 students must be future droppouts. I'm sorry, but numerous B+ student are accepted at Ivies, that question has been asked time and time again to admissions, so when I hear CCers say that and A- has no chance... LOL</p>

<p>student B has better chance</p>

<p>How about someone, lets say, who had many clubs, but he\she was the founder and president of them, and devoted a lot of time to them and was very passionate about them?
Would them simply having many clubs turn against them because it may seem like they are doing it simply for the admissions officer? Would it seem like the person was lacking focus in their activities (Ex. Math Club, Science Club, Some-kind-of-artistic-community-service club, and a some other XYZ club? Lets say he\she is passionate and wholeheartedly loves these clubs?) ?</p>

<p>Just a random thought, doesn't specfically mean anyone... :)</p>

<p>:D</p>

<p>^^^ i'd like to know too</p>

<p>I know the answer :)</p>

<p>the MOST important thing is how long you stick to the club.
Even if you are in 10 different clubs, if you've been part of it since freshman and have been contributory to all of them throughout the high schools, Adcoms will LOVE that.</p>

<p>What Adcoms DONT like is: joining a club, staying there for 3, 4 months, and then quitting out of it to join another club, staying there for 3, 4 months also, and the quitting to find another club, and the cycle continues.</p>

<p>When you do this, you could even join 20 different clubs, but it definitely shows you that you were not really in for it for passion or for interest but for the number, and adcoms can DEFINITELY see it.</p>

<p>What I recommend is choose 3, 4 clubs you can REALLY devote yourself for a LOOOOOOONG time, and about 1 or 2 volunteer works which you can also continue for few years. hospital is the most common (and also one of the greatest) volunteering.</p>

<p>IMO, student A's mentioned ECs don't make up for his academics (those are practically my academical stats - haha). The passion better come with national titles/awards. </p>

<p>Now, if student A brings up his SAT, oh, say, 150 points, he has a great chance of being admitted.</p>

<p>But seriously, why should colleges value extracurriculars more than academics? First, it is opinionated and subjective.</p>

<p>Yea, kinda like grades...</p>

<p>I wouldnt say they value ECs more than stats. They just don't depend solely on stats cause that would just create a crazy atmosphere where people would do nothing but study for the SATs in order to get a 2400. You would hate collegeboard even more... neways, I am sure when pursuing a career, getting involved and interactive is usually as much if not more important than just being smart. But yea...it is more subjective. Nethings more subjective than numbers.</p>

<p>It could go either way I think. I don't think one has a clear advantage over the other.</p>

<p>Lol. Are you kidding me people? 2400 > 2050 by a ton. The first guy only has some leadership positions in school clubs. That is his only advantage over the second guy. I don't think just being secretary in NHS and president of Youth Acting for Kids can make up for the 350 point gap or gap in gpa. </p>

<p>Besides, everyone is forgetting the biggest purpose of college. It is not to pursue extracurriculars like volunteering. IT IS TO GET AN EDUCATION. Never forget your own priority #1 and thus I think academics is most important for most poeple. Occasioanlly a college will get some people for sports or music, but that is occasionally.</p>

<p>fastMEd, you are totally clueless...</p>

<p>He's wrong, but he's right... a 2050 won't even touch the schools that 2400 does. Student B lacks the ECs for many top colleges, but he has a much better chance at the ones Student A is considering.</p>

<p>then can you explain to me how the people with a 3.5 GPA with low SAT score gets in to Harvard?</p>

<p>Development Candidate, 7 foot tall and can dunk, son of God, there are a lot of possibilites.</p>

<p>Sorry my OP wasn't clear enough...</p>

<p>Let's say Student A and Student applies to the same selective colleges (HYPS..etc)</p>

<hr>

<p>Student A:</p>

<p>3.7 GPA (5-6 AP's) 2050 SAT </p>

<p>Excellent EC's (Not necessarily winning national awards)
-Sincere Passion for some EC (seen through the essays)
-EC's are focused, NOT laundry listing
-Leadership and intiative within EC's (seen through the recs)</p>

<p>Essay that stands out from the rest of the pool.</p>

<p>At least one of the Recs are excellent, (one of the best in my career..etc bla blabla)</p>

<hr>

<p>Student B:
4.0 GPA (9-10 AP's) 2400 SAT</p>

<p>EC's are moderate
-Involved and has been successful in many clubs, but no apparent focus
-Some leadership roles, but no apparent substance or depth</p>

<p>Essay is solid, but doesn't stand out.</p>

<p>Recs are also solid, but don't reveal much other than the applicant's academics</p>

<hr>

<p>So who do you think will get admitted? (This is assuming they both apply to the same selective college like HYPSM, and assuming both have the same background info such as ethnicity)</p>

<p>I still believe Person A has better chance than B.</p>

<p>Person B. I agree with fastMEd, academics are first and foremost and there's just too much of a difference between a 2400 and 2050. Now maybe if Person A had a 2200 instead he'd have a better chance than Person B. It's not like Person B did absolutely NOTHING, so it's possible that he could get accepted to places like HYPS on academics alone.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Neither.
Student C: 4.0 GPA 2400 SAT, excellent EC's (sincere passion for some EC, leadership, essay that clearly "stands out")

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Bingo. If we are talking about HYPS, just looking through the decisions thread almost everyone who was accepted has a 3.9-4.0 GPA, 2300+ SAT, and excellent ECs.</p>

<p>However, if we MUST do a comparison hypothetically of two rather extreme and subjective candidates (I mean, sincere passion? How sincere? How passionate? What kind of ECs? Depending on so many varying factors it's very tough to say how much of an effect "sincere passion" will have), I would say that neither one has a great shot, but the second one will probably have a slight edge unless the first one turns out something really special.</p>