Truth about EC's, SAT etc...

Applying to College
1

<p>Read this thread carefully. This is very important stuff that not a lot of people realizes. This does not come solely from personal experience. This comes from analyzing lots of decisions received by many around me.</p>

<p>First, let me make myself incredibly clear: They are all BS.
Excuse me for my language, but please let me explain. And for you juniors/sophomores lurking around the forum, PAY ATTENTION.</p>

<p>I was rejected from CalTech, MIT, Cornell, and Cooper Union. I thought that I had a descent shot at all of them, and I was sure that I would get into Copper Union at the very least. I didn't. Now the most logical step is to say that my application was not impressive enough.</p>

<p>My math stuff was my primary EC:
1. My AMC/AIME scores. I will be an engineering major, so math is obviously very important. I made it to AIME with score of 136 on AMC10 my sophomore year, then skipped one year. I took AMC again 12th grade and also made it to AIME but that wasn't in my app so we will skip it.
2. County Math team: My junior year, I beat kids who got in to MIT, Princeton etc. You get the picture
3. College classes: After taking AP Calc, I took Calc IV at local state college and got A- on it</p>

<p>I also do theater stuff. Did 4 shows, got male lead once. I play the french horn, and I was part of the marching band that won a state title.</p>

<p>My SATI super score was 2160. 800M, 690CR, 670W. I took 2 SATII's. 800 on Math II, 790 on chem. I got 5 on AP Calc BC and Physics C mechanics, and a 3 on english language.</p>

<p>Now, at this point, you might be saying, "so what? lots of kids like you get rejected. Get over it". </p>

<p>The one thing I was weak at was my school grades. At the end of 11th grade, my unweighted average was 90. My sophomore year, I got 80's in all classes except math, gym, and band. I got 75 in english that year. I worked my way up but it still wasn't good enough I guess.</p>

<p>But heres the shocker: my friend's acceptance letters. The salutatorian of my school had SAT score in the 1900's, played soccer for 4 years, and that was basically all he had. He got waitlisted at MIT, even though he never called the guy for an interview. He was accepted to Cornell, and got huge sum of money from Johns Hopkins. And I used to help him do physics last year.</p>

<p>Another one of my friends(my ex actually), submitted the common app to Johns Hopkins but didn't finish the supplement. She got waitlisted. She was rank 3.</p>

<p>My best friend is the valedictorian. He played tennis for 3 or 4 years, and nothing else spectacular. He got 1900's on his SAT. He got into Cooper Union.</p>

<p>You see, all the fuss about EC's and SAT's and all the other stuff are meaningless. <b>It all starts with getting good grades in school.</b> I know you already knew that but <b>if you think for a second that good SAT scores will somehow make up for your grades, you could not be more mistaken</b>. So don't worry about what EC is good, or about not getting 50 more points on the SAT's. College admission is quite simple: do good in school, and you will go to a good college. Nothing more to it.</p>

<p>As for me, I will be appealing the decisions. Wish me luck.</p>

2

<p>That's not necessarily true. My EC's were pretty mediocre, but my stats were excellent. Still got rejected.</p>

<p>I think the whole admissions process is kind of random. You have to be EXTREMELY well-rounded, as in, you don't have a life anymore.</p>

3

<p>i think it totally depends on the strength of your highschool and your rank...you might have a 4.0, but if 30% of your class (my friend goes to a school like this) and your school is losing state certification, it's worthless</p>

<p>however, if you get let's say a 92 at a reputable school, even if just in your area, you have a better chance</p>

4

<p>Basically: Just own EC's, SAT's Grades, and everything, and you'll have a decent chance. The super-nationally-famous-whatever 4.0 2400 lovable person usually gets into one or two ivies.</p>

5

<p>My ECs were great and so was my GPA/classes but my test scores were subpar. My decisions still came in great. It does start with academic rigor at your high school, though. Schools say that too. They want to make sure you can handle it academically.</p>

<p>Anon is right, too. They put you in the context of your school. My school barely had any APs but is a very difficul and competitive school. Definitely helped a lot of my friends out and myself.</p>

6

<p>I guess they look at your scores and grades first before even considering your EC's</p>

7

<p>"I was rejected from CalTech, MIT, Cornell, and Cooper Union. I thought that I had a descent shot at all of them, and I was sure that I would get into Copper Union at the very least. I didn't. Now the most logical step is to say that my application was not impressive enough"</p>

<p>All of those, including Cooper Union (which is virtually free) are reach schools no matter how stellar your stats are. They all get an overabundance of outstanding applicants.</p>

8

<p>Well, I had pretty bad ECs and good SATs, and great grades (but everyone has that...). I wrote kickass essays though (and had a good interview/rec), and guess what- I got into an Ivy. </p>

<p>In the end, it's how you present yourself.</p>