Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

I'm a good student, or so my parents say.

Perfect SATs (i mean it), research since frosh year at the local elite university, all the ECs (leadership too), concertmaster of orchestra, 4.6 GPA, blah blah blah. I'm extremely concentrated in two specific areas, and most of my ECs fall into those categories, so i'm not one of those ppl who are in every club on campus. I'm also a powerful writer when necessary, and i will have strong recs. too bad i'm asian.

What am I missing? I actually know. A national ranking, championship, or award (i.e. intel science, USAMO, science bowl national, etc.) Of course, I've participated in the national competitions without winning anything. Though i'm a junior, I don't think i will win that national thing by the time college apps time rolls around.

Now, do I stand a chance of getting into Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, MIT? I've heard rumors that ALMOST NOONE without a national championship in something gets into one of those elites. Please reply to this, and also respond to my stats.

By Louisa (Louisa) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 10:02 am: Edit

if you write an excellent essay, you have a chance of getting into all of them.. but when I say an excellent essay, it not only means a well-written essay, but an essay that is totally original, that stands out amongst the others. but be careful not to make the essay overly forced... try to make yourself stand out, of course in a good way.. I know PLENTY of people (my friends and relatives) who got into harvard, princeton, yale, stanford and MIT without national awards.. and remember, luck is a big factor in your case.. and for harvard, a perfect SAT score is very common (trust me), so make yourself stand out. again, write a top-notch, and I mean top-notch essay~! if you do, you have a good chance!!!

By Louisa (Louisa) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 10:16 am: Edit

oh, and I have another advice... DO NOT GO TO MIT...
that is, if you want a life, and if you want a happy college life... Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Stanford are all excellent choices~ I repeat, do not go to MIT... it's for your own good!

By Kalitiha (Kalitiha) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 11:44 am: Edit

There's no reason why you shouldn't have a decent chance of admittance now. Of course, you should always try to write the best essay possible, but that's only to differentiate yourself among the other 1600s. You have excellent grades and ECs, calm down if you don't have a national award. Only a very few people get these awards and the entirety of the Ivy classes are most certainly not comprised of just these people.

By Healthy_Body (Healthy_Body) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 11:46 pm: Edit

you will get in because you are money. i doubt everybody has a national award at these schools, because that would mean there are a lot of national awards being given out to a lot of people, making it less prestigious. meh.

By Collegeguy (Collegeguy) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 02:41 am: Edit

I am money? Haha ok, sorry, haven't heard that phrase before...my family isn't wealthy.

By Collegeguy (Collegeguy) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 10:02 am: Edit

bump

By Healthy_Body (Healthy_Body) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 10:03 am: Edit

no i meant you are money. like you are good. or you are CASH-MONEY, DOGG!!! slang. you know? not you are rich... haha a funny misunderstanding.

By Nyguy (Nyguy) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 11:28 am: Edit

you should be fine. I didnt make semi finalist in Intel, but I have loads of regional fair awards althoug nothing national. I have been accepted with all my aid in the form of scholarships to several top tier liberal arts school who release admissions decisions early to their most qualified aplicants. You sound as if your in a better situation than me because of your stellar test scores. I wish you good luck

By Collegeguy (Collegeguy) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 05:44 pm: Edit

is there anything else i can do (besides win intel or science fairs, essays, recs) to help my chances?

By Collegeguy (Collegeguy) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 06:45 pm: Edit

bump

By Thepiskickass (Thepiskickass) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 11:24 pm: Edit

why not mit?

By Louisa (Louisa) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 10:17 am: Edit

in most cases, you will be unhappy because of the excessively large workload... the MIT Admissions officer said (when he visited my school) that a typical student MAYBE has time for ONE shower a week; they have too much work....
and according to MIT peeps they have no life... and say that it was the biggest regret of their lives to have chosen MIT over other selective ivies. they get twice as much work as harvard, stanford, and what's even worse is that they only focus on math and sciences... that's what they do all day long--study..study...

By Collegeguy (Collegeguy) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 05:06 pm: Edit

bump