<p>I remember preparing for college admissions, many years ago, and I remember thinking about many of the issues I read about on this forum: standardized test scores, course load, extra-curriculars, leadership roles, the strength of my application.</p>
<p>What I don't remember is obsessing about these topics. I must have to some degree, but I don't remember it. Due to my location and environment, I never talked to other applicants (we didn't do much with the Web, and Wellesley was all but unknown where I grew up), and the pressure to "do everything you possibly can and then some" was limited by the scope of my high school. If I had come to this forum, I probably would have curled up into a little ball of depression: in comparison to a lot (all?) of you, I would have thought my application was weak and pathetic.</p>
<p>And, yet, I was still accepted ED. Clearly there was something more at work than numbers and stats and lists. My four years at Wellesley were the most influential and enjoyable that I have had the honor to experience, and I will readily admit that pushing the limits of my high school's (and community's) offerings was well worth the effort.</p>
<p>But what about you? For those of you who have been accepted, would you repeat what you've done to prepare for the admissions process? Do you think it was excessive? Do you wish you had chosen a less convential high school experience? Did you partake of extra-curricular activities because you sincerely wanted to? Or was there a little niggling thought in the back of your head saying that you -ought- to because it would look good?</p>
<p>Absolutely. The stress of admissions is terrible- but if it pays off and you achieve what you were working toward, than wasnt it was worth it? I think the worst part is really just the waiting at the end, and no one can help that. No regrets.</p>
<p>I've never participated in extracurricular activities or done things I didn't want to do because it would look good on an application. I also didn't work as hard as I did in school for the main purpose of getting into a big name college. For me, I'm happiest when I'm busy and disappointed when I don't do well. So I always just did what felt right for me, and I'm glad because if I hadn't done as much I know I would have been bored and depressed. When I first found this site it did freak me out because everyone applying to different schools seemed so perfect, but it also gave me a reality check of the people I'll meet at college, who aren't all like the kids in my little school. </p>
<p>But yeah I think all the work and stress along the way has been worth it, and I can't wait to be at Wellesley next year.</p>
<p>I guess my real question is whether or not this national sense of one-upsmanship deludes high school students into thinking that doing more is synonymous with being better applicants. </p>
<p>My senior year at Wellesley, I remember talking to my friends about the rising-SAT-score phenomenon where incoming students had higher and higher median SAT scores, and yet there certainly wasn't any evidence that they were more mature or insightful or able to communicate well than any of the classes before them. They were no less so, either. There also wasn't any difference in these attributes across the range of scores.</p>
<p>I said that putting in the extra effort during high school was worth it, but I have to admit that I would never repeat the experience. I spent college living the way I would have wanted to live in high school, and I'm a much better person for it. At the very least, I'm more realistic about what I actually want, as opposed to what I think I want.</p>