<p>how much are SATS / ACTS/ good stats over-emphasized on CC?</p>
<p>how much is everything overemphasized here?</p>
<p>do you just feel depressed when looking at CC and then wish that your stats were that amazing?</p>
<p>Sometimes I look at poster's list of activities/hours/positions and I don't know how in the world they can do that much, even without sleep.</p>
<p>Unless they're Hermione Granger with a time-turner, I don't think it's possible.</p>
<p>That's the thing that blows me away the most. Even though everyone on this website has SAT scores above 2100 and is valedictorian in their school, that's still in the realm of possiblity. However, when I see a whole slew of people with a job, presidency of three clubs, participation in two or three other clubs, and 500 hours of service, in addition to two or three hours of homework a night, I just don't see how they do it. These people must be able to teleport back and forth between different activities and survive on two hours of sleep.</p>
<p>I have become skeptical about how much time kids actually put into all these clubs they list. I've recently taken over the position of advisor for a local community youth group, and was dismayed to find out how little the officers were actually doing. The former advisor basically did everything that the officers were supposed to be doing, while most of them hardly showed up for the meetings. These kids got to list this impressive sounding EC for essentially doing nothing. Needless to say, I've changed all that, but it sure makes me wonder about the worth of some of those officer positions kids list.</p>
<p>Hahaha I totally agree! I'm a freshman in college this year who used this site last year to help me when I was applying. I actually think it did the opposite of help and it made me feel stupider. I don't really see the point of embellishing scores on here because it's totally anonymous and isn't the point of getting chanced to get a somewhat accurate answer? Bumping up your SAT score by 50 points on a college discussion board isn't going to get you anywhere unless you bump them up when you actually take the test. Just a thought though : )</p>
<p>I know exactly what you mean. It's very discouraging to come onto CC and scroll through a seemingly endless list of threads posted by people with 2400 SAT scores. Is it that people exaggerate their scores, or does CC just naturally draw an ultra-high achieving group of applicants?</p>
<p>I do agree with Matt....every year the news make a deal out of the kid who got a 2400, but it seems that the media must be wrong and that there are a ton of them out there.</p>
<p>IMHO, I think a lot of people who are on CC are more plugged in and want to see the competition</p>
<p>Being on CC helped me understand the level of competition at the top.
It also helped me get a sense of my priorities and what was required to
do well while having a great time ;) </p>
<p>I come from a public HS situated rurally. If you are at my school
every year you will hear about 15-20 students (a large %) going to
the top schools. Later through occasional news releases or friends you
come to know how good these seniors were at national and international
levels. My school is a friendly place. So no one is doing an "in your face
-- I am the tops" kind of jig. This silence can be more nerve racking than
people on CC posting their stats that you can analyze and understand at
your own pace. What at the onset may look like a gadzillion activities are
usually structured around a few key ones at a national level. for example
a national chess champion could just as easily play for the School chess
club and do community service by teaching chess at the local community
center? translates to: National Champ, Table X Varsity team Player, Founder
Chess Camp for the Community and possibly officer Y at the Chess club</p>
<p>It all boils down to you being able to
Plan way ahead.
1. Make out a giant calendar for the whole academic year
2. Mark out your weekends and key weekdays when you might attend known
annual contests (Chess/Tennis/Olympiads/etc.) or school activities.
3. Talk to fellow students in the next year to understand
the work load for the upcoming year.
4. Plan your summers (including research/athletics and competitions)
5. Do not engage in activities for the sake of building your resume
(if you feel down you are not going to do much of anything...so try
not to engage in resume building stuff)
6. Plan your breaks carefully and also assume you will be sick for X days
this year
7. know when to give up and when not to give up on getting to the
next level (State/regional/national/international) in an activity in
terms of expended effort and what it will cost you on other activities</p>
<p>* Ohh and....I believe the stats are not overblown at all. If anything people
are not posting all their achievements for fear that unique recognitions
will lead to their identity being easily revealed. How many Intel STS
winners are Siemens winners as well? If you win the State of XX Music
award you obviously live in XX. ...etc... *</p>
<p>It is true that CCers are often highly motivated and have great stats. Ones who are unmotivated and underachieving would not come to CC. Some people around me call me geek or nerd because I spend my extra time on here.
However, some people do exaggerate their stats to gain their chances because they do not want to seem less competitive, even on-line (some posts are ridiculously obvious)</p>
<p>I have to say that I am really glad that I did not find this site until I already applied. I didn't realize the stats stuff until I was already admitted ed. If I had looked on here before that, I would have figured that I would end up at state college...... ...</p>
<p>Hey some state colleges are as hard to get into as some privates...UNC Chapel Hill comes to mind...</p>
<p>This site makes me feel like a complete idiot. I see boards like "Chance me with below average sat score." I go to see what their actually SAT score is and it's like a 2050... If that's below average, I'm scared to hear what I am considered :P</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the vast majority of high school students meet the criteria for admission to many fine colleges and universities -- there are several thousand to choose from. The "top twenty" haven't cornered the market on getting a stellar undergraduate education and they never will. What's disturbing about the views of so many on CC is that only HYP will do, and that's just nonsense.</p>
<p>wdrmhbs: I feel totally the same way about CC GPAs. My UW GPA last year was ~3.6. This semester it was a 2.9. I feel like I should start flagellating myself for shaming myself, my family, and all of my ancestors.</p>
<p>I have heard from many cc people who found the site after acceptance and have stated the same thing. Remember it is the whole package, your essay and recs could throw you over the top. Your Ec's might be the factor. You also can't compare someone's SAT, some kids take both and do much better ACT wise. Listen to your gc, they are paid to help you instead of us strangers...this why I always say go and look at the Stat Profiles (left side link under discussion)...but that brings it back to how many people inflate their scores...I have seen someone who has had scores in the 500's and the 600's for M on the same day, but just different posts</p>
<p>ANyonone who can put flagellating in a sentence will do just fine! Why did you get a 2.9...AP/honors overload or senioritis?</p>
<p>All APs, senioritis, and starting work.</p>
<p>I'm still in the top 10% of my class though (only moved down 2 ranks... huzzah senioritis), so I think I'm fine.</p>
<p>Get it back up, because your college will want your final transcript. What do you mean by 2 ranks?</p>
<p>I mean I'm now 29/310-ish instead of 27/310-ish.</p>
<p>=/</p>
<p>Impossible.....</p>