<p>Ok so, I'm from a small town, and as I look over this site, it seems clear that there are NOWHERE near as many opportunities for "extra curricular activities" where i live as there are in cities. </p>
<p>I would have happily taken part in many math competitions, youth city counsels, etc, thus dramatically elevating my chances as an applicant, but growing up i had no idea these things even existed. I thought i was doing everything i could to simply get good grades, do as well as i could on standardized tests, do some community service, and dedicate myself to sports.</p>
<p>You could say that with research I probably could have found something to get involved with nationally or whatever, but the fact remains that kids living in cities have a HUGE advantage in that they grow up with these things in close proximity to where they live, and are surrounded by infinitely more diversity and opportunities for extracurricular endeavors.</p>
<p>This is of significant concern to admissions offices everywhere.</p>
<p>The fact that you’re from a rural area in itself means that your opportunities are inherently less diverse. Colleges will take this into account. Your GC will be asked, with their school report, to send a school profile that will give admissions officers a very good idea of the context from which you are applying. This school profile will include basic information about the school, such as number of students, available courses, etc.</p>
<p>I agree that people who live in urban areas (such as myself) are at a huge advantage when it comes to ECs. I’d recommend looking really exhaustively for very meaningful volunteer opportunities in your area that will show that even with the lack of possibilities you tried your best.</p>
<p>Being from a small town or a rural area is a plus when applying to schools like the top ones that want to create student bodies that are diverse in all ways. Colleges like Harvard have a hard time attracting qualified students from places like where you live. Such colleges also consider students’ ECs in light of the opportunities available to the students.</p>
<p>More is expected from students who are in areas with lots of EC opportunities than is expected of students in small and remote areas.</p>
<p>I’d have to say that it may be taken into account, but not as much as it is a disadvantage. At our rural upstate NY school, we have lots of very bright, disappointed children every year-it isn’t their grades or academics-
Looking for opportunities isn’t the same as finding them, Transportation can also be a problem, especially if you don’t drive or have a car.We have enough money to qualify for minimal aid, but not enough to buy our boys a car…</p>
<p>I also will take this opportunity to ask the forum if they think there is much of a place for introverts at the highly selective college of today?</p>
<p>“At our rural upstate NY school, we have lots of very bright, disappointed children every year-it isn’t their grades or academics-”</p>
<p>With the most competitive colleges taking a few as 7% of applicants, there are lots of bright. disappointed students now every spring. It’s not just a problem of students in rural areas. In fact, the chances of high stat students in rural areas getting into top colleges is higher than of high stat students in large urban areas.</p>
<p>Activities that would be considered commonplace in applications to top colleges from students from urban areas – things like being student body president – would make a rural or small town student stand out. Does that mean that the rural/small town student with, for instance, an SGA office and good grades and scores would be guaranteed admission if they have good stats? No.</p>
<p>is there " much of a place for introverts at the highly selective college of today?"</p>
<p>I think there would be more of a place for introverts at highly selective LACs – which pride themselves on the large proportion of their alum who earn doctorates – than at places like HPYS, which take a lot of pride in producing alumni who demonstrate leadership in a variety of fields and locations.</p>