<p>Before asking what your chances are look at other people's threads; they're almost the same.
-High Scores/Grades
-Typical Mundane ECs
Some very common ones: various honor societies, volunteering, 'research' (well someone else's), student council, various academic clubs, typical work experience, band/orchestra, sports (not recruited), yearbook/newspaper, mentoring/tutoring, founding/joining various BS clubs, debate, mock trial, theater, just about every internship, and eagle scouts</p>
<p>This is a quick list that I compiled (feel free to add), but before asking a bunch of kids what your chances are use some common sense. If you are unable to separate yourself (i.e. winning on national/international level) from a group of kids with similar ECs as those listed above, you are probably not going to get in at one of the top schools because there are simply so many other qualified applicants. Yes, many kids do get in with similar stats, but for every kid that got in, there are plenty of other kids who did not get in with almost the same stats. I guess I'm just saying that there is no need to keep asking a bunch of fellow kids what your chances are when you know very well what they are before asking just by looking for common characteristics of posts. Think how much ADCOMs must appreciate an applicant who is able to separate himself from the EXTREMELY common EC list. Grades and Scores are just qualifications for top schools, it comes down to who you are and what you've done to make yourself unique.</p>
<p>Sorry, but I find this a little hypocritical as you have also made at least 2 chance threads looking like the one that you're criticizing. I understand your point on the issue as many of us here are pretty similar in terms of what we've done. However, I think that if one person is able to be chanced, others should have no reason not to be chanced. Perhaps, they do have something special that they would like to share with the rest of us. Though of course, you've made an extremely valid point that we do need to work harder to distinguish ourselves from our fellow applicants.</p>
<p>1) my threads were not completely homogeneous for two reasons: I have since been recruited for a sport and I have a business with well over $100,000 in sales. Very atypical. I also am a state powerlifting champ....also very, very, very atypical.</p>
<p>I have since realized how foolish chance threads were (or maybe I just got sincerely recruited) but I mainly realized that it is imperative that you define yourself and not fall into the trap of most applicants. I did not mean that chance threads are useless, but rather most applicants have just about the exact same chance with their typical ECs and undefined applications. Rather than searching around by 'stats' it is much more important to define your application, mainly through your essays.</p>
<p>Frutiaspice-If you want to read some of my essays, I know you will agree that I have gotten successfully separated myself. </p>
<p>Basically, I just want you to realize that stats mean next to nothing, they only qualify you. You have to define yourself outside of one of the typical cliche applicants to stand out.</p>
<p>I sincerely believe that your acceptance is based on your ability to stand out postively in the application pool even though you may have similar stats to everyone else, so rather than searching the chance threads for ideas, work on a way to define yourself.</p>
<p>I am personally glad that someone of your credentials recognizes the fact that stats aren't everything. There are many other factors to college admission and this site's obsession with stats has turned horribly wrong. You have a very valid point but you're not going to be able to stop anyone else anytime soon.</p>
<p>Anyways, the way I think of it is colleges reject statistics--not people. Don't become a statistic!</p>
<p>Can you imagine how boring reading all of these applications that sound the same would be? If I were applying to top colleges in a competitive pool, I would take a big essay risk.</p>
<p>1MX, realize that you aren't the only "unique" one on CC. There are plenty of unique people who post chances, people whose ECs aren't mundane, whose accomplishments truly make them "stand out positively." Of course, there are many who conform to a given model, but there are still plenty who don't.</p>
<p>I believe you were the one who actually considered Princeton and MIT "matches" -- perhaps that's why you don't see the sense in chances threads.</p>
<p>It does seem that there are kids who have excellent scores, ECs, etc. and for some, I think they are just looking for encouragement, or in some cases, a nudge to look elsewhere than the ivies. </p>
<p>I keep reminding my children that just because an Ivy turns them down, even if ALL of them say no, it doesn't mean they are bad students, unworthy of a college education. I saw a kid's post not long ago labeled something like "Horrible GPA and SATs." The kid had close to a 3.6 GPA and SATs in the 1350 range (cr + m). These scores are not "horrible." In fact, there are plenty of kids in America's best high schools who would go to their graves happy with those those numbers. We have to remember that they just aren't (necessarily) Ivy numbers.</p>
<p>1MX is right; the key is to find a way to make yourself standout above the rest. What's special about YOU? Certainly, it's not going to be National Honor Society or chess club.</p>
<p>kyledavid- I obviously recognize I am not the only 'unique' person on CC, but I am one of the few that have recognized what makes me unique. I am encouraging YOU to find out what makes you unique. When people hear passion, they think, well I have a passion for science or english. Well guess what, so do thousands upon thousands of other kids. Now if you are a member of the national Chem team, that's different, but won a few medals in science O, not cutting it.</p>
<p>1MX: You must've forgotten, I read your essay on starting your own business. That was quite impressive and I remember telling you so. I agree with you completely on the fact that the stats people post here only show a minimal side of who they truly are. The essays and interviews will play a bigger role in defining who you are though they won't show the complete picture either. I believe most of the people who've posted chance threads are merely looking for some encouragement so they know that they are on the right track in applying to these schools. Chance threads do tend to become tiresome but I think that people will still post them, no matter what. It's just reassurance for them.</p>