<p>"flagrantly hyperbolic"</p>
<p>i guess it is YOU,TimR, and not Seth_Blue, who is using sophisticated words that you dont understand. </p>
<p>You laugh at mistakes that you yourself also make. How ironic.</p>
<p>thanks seth blue and Tim R, hope I didn't cause meyhem.</p>
<p>TimR, your information is faulty. Seth Blue is correct.</p>
<p>By spending your time in a lab, you show that you are:
a. a person that is motivated and impassioned.
b. that you do, in fact, have the intelligence to compete in a competitive environment
c. you are not lazy</p>
<p>However, it depends on what college and programs you are applying to. If you are applying to a college with an acceptance rate of 25% or less, you'd better start planning your summer plans. Make the most of it and definitely dont 'chill' at a beach. However, if CCCC (Cape Cod Community College) is your dream school, have fun at the beach.</p>
<p>abysmal is synonymous with the words awful, terrible, dreadful, appalling to name a few. I just meant you were making up awful nonesense, how is it that i don't understand that word? As for what you called "flagrantly hyperbolic", i'm sorry, that's not exactly exaggeration, it's more like sarcasm. Unfortunately, you're the one pathetically attempting to use big words you don't understand. Next time, you want to stay with your range. Just friendly advice. and please, let's not get into all that babyish nonesense, "he started it." Maturity TimR, look it up and learn.</p>
<p>flagrantly hyperbolic makes perfect sense...and i think you misunderstood me kinnell. everything i've said reinforces exactly what you just posted. i'm saying people should do things like work in a lab, seth is saying you should just do what you enjoy. even the second part of what you wrote is exactly what i've been saying; if you really care about getting into your top school, you have to do that sort of thing to maximize your chances.</p>
<p>reading your comments makes me tired seth. i lack the energy to bicker with a sophomore any longer.</p>
<p>wait hold on. why are you, as a sophomore, posting college advice in the first place?</p>
<p>hehe. really why?</p>
<p>why can't i post advice. interesting, apparently TimR has something against soph's. and the advice kinnell posted isn't exactly what i said, but i can agree with it. btw, glad we agree primitivefuture, haha, he calls what he wrote a hyperbole. what a dumbass.</p>
<p>sigh - go look up hyperbole please. you're obviously confused. i'll actually save you time: "obvious and intentional exaggeration." and in answer to why you can't post advice...because as a sophomore offering advice on the college process is absurd. and kinnell's advice goes against everything you were saying so i don't know what's making you change your tune.</p>
<p>Ok, um..in partly answering the original poster's question: As an intended science/math (otherwise known as engineering) major, I would have to say that I definitely regret not having done summer research, especially with prestigious colleges because they do, in fact, help quite a bit. Of course, the best, in my opinion, is RSI.</p>
<p>However, if you enjoy community service, you could go to different countries and such in helping the people there. I know someone who has a not so outstanding SAT score but went to various countries every year with her youth group and got into a fairly good school. </p>
<p>For music, gosh, that's hard. Especially if you'd like to go to a place like Curtis and you're a pianist. Ouch. But, doing stuff like pre-college would be good..although, I guess that's not a summer program. But music camps and such are great.</p>
<p>Whatever activity you do, I'd say stick to it and show your passion. If you do a little bit of every activity, it really doesn't show much to the colleges. So, choose wisely and good luck!</p>
<p>Hm..reading the above posts, I suppose what I said is really what the arguees have been posting all along. Oh well. I'm just here to reinforce then..</p>
<p>I am a senior from a foreign (but science-emphasis) high school. I got four 800s in SATII MathIIC, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics with weighted GPA 3.94 and SAT M/V 800/490. This year, I am also planning to take AP in CalBC, PhysicsC, Com Sci AB, Biology and Chemistry. I was a finalist in my country's selection program for International Biology Olympiad. I once tried to apply for RSI but my country was not participating (so, I asked a government officer about this so next year some students from my country will be able to participate.). I am a superior member of the biggest talent search program in my country. Believe it: I am rejected by MIT. </p>
<p>No doubt when one of my friends who have the most prestigious scholarship possible and two IBO medals was waitlisted by MIT. I suspect all (or most) the people applied to MIT are just like this. So, also do your best in your essay, and with your counselors and teachers. (if you still like technical institutions) Apply to some less selective ones for your safety and have a creative project on your own (even if you are not in the RSI).</p>
<p>don't do things because you think colleges will like it. don't do research just because it looks great. Do it because you love it. Whatever your passion or interest may be, pursue it with the deepest drive and you will garner many fruits in the end. Trust me, the adcom is highly trained and they can find a lack of sincerity in essays, and if not, your interviewer will. There is definitely something different when talking to someone with a genuine interest in science and scientific research.</p>
<p>I never did research because it look great on resume. i genuinely love doing preliminary studies and I love setting up experiments. See, I didn't do anything ^^^ he did ^^^ but hey, I got into MIT with a 1360. So nothing is impossible. Oh...well....I also got into that program you guys mentioned. RSI. And no, RSI does not guarantee admission into MIT. It's an urban legend.</p>
<p>"how about a job lifeguarding? whats attractive about that for colleges?"</p>
<p>It's not lifeguarding itself, but how you communicate your experience of lifeguarding in a college essay that will interest adcoms. What did you learn about yourself and the world around you during your lifeguarding experience?
How will you take that experience to another level in the college community you are applying to?</p>
<p>No one can tell you what will appeal to someone who reviews your application in every possible situation. We can only give you ideas.</p>
<p>I hope that JHU likes that I did their CTY summer programs for 5 years in a row.</p>
<p>Some people pursue their passions and it works, because they're accepted by the top colleges. There are also people who don't do what they like, and they still get into the top colleges. It works both ways, but I think that in the end it's safe to say that the first group gets much more out of their experiences.</p>
<p>^^^^ precisely.</p>
<p>I never do things because colleges like it since I only find out in my senior year that I want to go to the US for college. Most the stuff I have done for all the time was what people here never do unless they are commanded to. Research opps for high school students in my country are so rare and being a student representative doesn't help getting into colleges here. I did it all for fun.</p>
<p>Anyway, congratulations on your admission to MIT. You like science just the way I do. I love prelim studies and labs most of all.</p>
<p>MIT was my last choice before the interview but my first choice after the interview. T_T!</p>