Whats better a perfect student or a compatent student with great ec's.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>The way im playing the game is like this. I bet that harvard gets rid of a lot of perfect students because they have so many. what i want to do is get reasonably good scores in everything, but have amazing distinctions in other respects. I want to have a lot of EC's. not just the standard stuff, but different things. </p>

<p>Here's what im saying: you have your standard "good" (im thinking superstar) harvard applicant-1550 sat, 760's on sat2s, validictorian. pres of class. Im betting that since harvard gets people with 1600 sat, 800 sat2s and the other too also, they will reject this guy. harvard has enough guys like this to pick and choose.</p>

<p>Then you have my approach 2100 sat (new not old like the ones up there) 32/360 rank (b's at first, but a's later, but to late to save rank im getting straight a's now) havnt taken sat2s but lets say 700's. Im competant, but no where near the top pick right? but lets add in some killar ec's like being a 2nd degree black belt (6 yrs when i apply) a marathon runner (chicago had 20 16yr old finishers min age is 16 i ran at 16yrs 1 wk) Founder of 4 important clubs (wrote consitution/was pres etc.) president of a few other clubs volenteer at mentally challenged center (i was the only high school student to work there in 3 yrs) minority status (over reperesented (indian) though) a couple of awards (ymca teen charecter award for one) the fact that im taking 10 ap tests at the end of the year (more then anyone in my class at my public school) and you got a student who is capable of harvard level work, but also has many other diverse interests. I mean for harvard, top students are a dime a dozen, but how many marathon runners are there? (plus harvard is near boston which has the boston marathon-its a big deal there) all i need to do is get some good recomendations from teachers, write a good essay (about my love of running of course) and some important reccomendations from people out side of my school.</p>

<p>Even so, I know it is still important to have good grades/sat. Its best to have both great ec's and grades. Even though my grades show a progression, they will be the weak point of my essay along with my sats. (im getting a's in all honors/mostly ap classes (probebly my schools most rigorous) but i cant improve my rank because of my bad frosh level work) i wish i had that awesome rank/validictorian satus.so if you do have those things good for you, im just trying to make the best of what i got (haha take that sat writing) </p>

<p>anyone agree? anyone have anyways for me (and everyone) to improve (besides scores/grades-think more ec's)</p>

<p>btw: im sry that was so hard to read</p>

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<p>No idea...</p>

<p>but going from 2100 to 2300 will be a big boost......</p>

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<p>so guys, whats better? overall stats w/ standard run of the mill ec's, or awesome ecs with average stats (grades/sat) </p>

<p>Btw: the correct answer is have both, but if we had to chose, between them which would you go?</p>

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<p>DEfine awesome ECs.....</p>

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<p>I would have to go with awesome ECs, but they have to be stellar enough for the adcoms to justify lowing their mean SAT score. I think you sound like a devoted leader, but for the marathon thing, no offense, but I live close to Boston and it's not that big here. I would advise you to try to bring up your SAT scores.</p>

<p>Also, if you aren't already applying to Princeton, think about this: they don't consider freshman grades. This wouldn't change your class rank but could help your class rank. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>The one who fits with the goals of the college admissions office that year.</p>

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<p>I would go with good EC's, but the EC's you mentioned aren't really....."killer" as you say. They just seem average or slightly better than average to me.</p>

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<p>They probably want someone who can spell "competent" correctly.</p>

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<p>^^^ haha i was just thinking that</p>

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<p>ugg, oh well, i havnt taken the sat, im just basing it of of some kaplan practice tests i took (ill use official ones from now though)</p>

<p>btw: this is the only place i can write without worrying about spelling, but if it bothers you, i can use the same spelling as i do in an english class.</p>

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<p>Yes, killer EC's can certainly make the difference for a student with your stats, and they regularly do. But those aren't killer EC's -- they're good. Harvard sees at least as many kids with EC's at your level as they do kids with stats at your level.</p>

<p>Now, if you operated your own karate school? If you broke 3:00 in the Chicago marathon? If you founded an "important" club like a community service group that serves hundreds of mentally challenged children all over your city? Those would be killer EC's. The competition is just as tough in this sphere as it is in the academic sphere.</p>