<p>Searching through the 'College Chances' forum is completely and utterly deflating. Your scores aren't impressive enough, your ecs are weak, your gpa needs to be about .5 points higher and hell, might as well crumple up your college application draft and fill out an application for your local Burger King instead. Now tell me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this seem a little harsh? I've seen tons of these threads and thought 'wow, they probably have a pretty good shot'. Everyone above my comment however, thoroughly ripped this poor person to shreds. If schools truly went off of the chances provided on CC, I'm afraid we'd all be living with our parents the rest of our lives.</p>
<p>I also find it hard to believe that all of these ecs are completely true. We all stretch our accomplishments, there's no question about it. We all want to seem like the most outstanding applicant, right? Do we really have to be so cut-throat about it? I can almost guarantee you did not run your own business, maintain a perfect gpa, support your entire family by working 5 jobs, founded an organization that saves 5 million puppies a year and write a best selling cook book in the four years you've been at high school. If I believe these aren't true, what makes you think colleges do?</p>
<p>I really agree with you. Sometimes they’re helpful, but most of the time they’re unhelpful, discouraging and give false hope. Like somebody will post “3.5 GPA, 2100 SAT, 4’s on AP Exams. Chances for HYPMS?” or something along the lines of that, and a lot people will say something like: “GPA/SAT too low, definitely not getting into Harvard with that…” I’m not sure about all of these pretentious trolls on CC, but those are good scores! And look good to virtually any scores. And admissions are so unpredictable these days. They let in a variety of people. </p>
<p>But I especially hate when people say something like: “You have a 3.7 GPA, 2000 on you SAT, which is pretty low, but you’ll probably get in since you’re an URM.” Nothing grinds my gears more than that.</p>
<p>And really, I know it’s for help and reassurance, but why I you getting advice from a bunch of rando’s on the internet? I’m not gonna rely on getting sufficient information from some person who acts like they know everything about college admissions and Elite or Ivy League schools when they’re either still in high school or go to Westen Wyoming Community College.</p>
<p>For the most part, chances threads are not that helpful. But the reality is that someone with a 3.5 GPA, 2000 SAT, and average ECs and essays most likely WON’T get into HYPSM. It is too competitive and there are too many qualified people out there. Of course people don’t have to be mean or negative, but there’s nothing wrong with being realistic. What really bugs me is when people say “Well, you have a shot, but it’s totally random whether or not you get in,” or something similar. Why bother posting if that’s your answer?</p>
<p>The truth is that many people don’t realize how competitive top schools are. Someone could be a valedictorian with a perfect SAT, and they probably still won’t get in unless they have something “extra” (amazing essays, unique EC, special talent, etc.)</p>
<p>Exactly, we all know high reach schools aren’t guaranteed for anyone–hence the term high reach. My biggest issue is with people who tell other applicants (who have competitive credentials as any other Ivy League applicant) that they have zero chance. It’s a toss up, of course, it’s extremely competitive. However, these people don’t know your true chances either. Even if they are accepted students or alumni, every applicant is different. Instead of giving advice or helpful tips, I see most commenters just completely tearing me down telling them they have no chance. I don’t think that’s what this website should be about.</p>