Meh ECs, excellent academics, still sane... is that enough for HYP?

member2008 · 10-17-2009, 09:29 PM

I go to a fairly competitive private school in the Northwest. I've taken 9 APs up to junior year and am taking 3 more now in senior year. I've gotten all 5's except a 4 in French Language and my SATs are 2380 (1600 M+CR). I have a 4.0 cumulative unweighted, the second person to do this at the school in 10 years (but around 25 grads/year). I've taken the most APs in the history of the school.
In short, my academics are very good and I've worked really hard at them. Not only that, but I've worked my butt off to comprehend everything I learn, from Plato to multivariable calculus to Mandarin characters. This is partly due to a certain work ethic and partly to my genuine interest in almost every subject. And I go to a school where the regular classes are just as hard as APs at the publics. With 6 APs in one year, that means at least 3-4 hours of homework a night. Plus family life. Plus sleep. And some ECs.
Here's the problem. Academics are great, but ECs are meh. Violin (not amazing), tennis, volunteering for a month at a camp (240+ hours). The rest are all decent academic awards. My passion is in economics, and so far I've had a broad education preparing me for a more focused college one. I think the best I can do know is work as hard as possible, and then use my knowledge later. The time I would spend on community boards I am spending studying, learning. And I'm still sane and healthy.
My question: is this acceptable for HYP, and UChicago and Georgetown. How should I write my essays to get this across?

NOTE: Sorry this sounds like a sappy, self-pitying life story, but I think other applicants are asking the same question

monstor344 · 10-17-2009, 10:22 PM

Hate to ask this, but what's your ethnicity? And what's your school's track record of sending kids into top schools? Also, if you can, give a reasonable evaluation of how your teachers think of you. I do think you already stand as a strong candidate for UChicago and Georgetown though.

member2008 · 10-17-2009, 10:28 PM

I am white, not a US citizen though. My school gets 2-3/30 into HYPS per year, and another few into great schools like Duke, Cornell, Chicago, GTown, etc. I think my teachers think highly of me and know me as a hard worker. I have one rec from the head of school (and my AP Euro teacher) - he knows me well personally as well as academically. So recs should be great (8.5-9 on a scale of 10, I would say).

monstor344 · 10-17-2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

My school gets 2-3/30 into HYPS per year, and another few into great schools like Duke, Cornell, Chicago, GTown, etc.

Frankly, that's almost all you really need to know. You said that you're one of the top students ever at a school that sends a good chunk of its class to top-notch schools? I wouldn't be surprised to see you go to a HYP-caliber school. And frankly, the only time people get in on ECs are when they are truly stellar. Your ECs don't seem bad. Even HYP have to fill their seats with a bulk of well-rounded students like yourself.

Of course, with that said, nothing's a guarantee. You should be thinking of and applying to safeties; perhaps you can apply to Michigan, which has rolling admissions.

StudyStudyStudy · 10-17-2009, 10:47 PM

Our last year's valedictorian was just like you. Stellar grades (13 AP classes, almost all 5's), 2340 SAT, etc. by the time he applied. He took 9 more AP exams his senior year. His EC's were decent (involved tutoring and volunteering and a few clubs), but he didn't get into any of the HYP schools.

Not like it's out of your reach, just saying it'll be difficult (as it is with everyone, I suppose).

HonorsCentaur · 10-17-2009, 10:52 PM

One word: WOW

member2008 · 10-18-2009, 01:25 PM

^^Wow, in what sense? Mocking?

And I still wanna ask - how can I get this across in my essays? Will adcoms buy it?

Columbia_Student · 10-18-2009, 03:17 PM

You probably have a good chance at Princeton. From what I've seen in previous years results, 4.0 uw GPA and perfect or near perfect SAT with so so ECs students usually get into Princeton.

shuaishuaishuai · 10-18-2009, 04:06 PM

yeah i think princeton is the school that puts biggest weight on academics of the the three.

chumpchange · 10-18-2009, 07:07 PM

I think, with a stellar application essay, you can get into all three. Definitely Princeton, though.

BrownParent · 10-18-2009, 07:28 PM

How can you get *what* across in your essays? I'm not sure what the question is. Surely you don't want to write an essay on your lack of stellar EC's, right? Focus on what you are good at. If you like you can make one essay about your academic curiosity and work ethic (although 3-4 hours of homework a night is pretty typical and even on the light side.) Just try to find a good and interesting way to approach that. Really your grades and transcript will speak for itself, so you should consider making at least one essay to highlight a passion and to draw a fuller picture of yourself as a person.

Consolation · 10-18-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

And I go to a school where the regular classes are just as hard as APs at the publics.

I'd advise you not to say things like this. Ill-informed bragging by private school kids who simply assume superiority is not attractive.

Your academic achievements are certainly impressive. Admission to schools like HYP will probably depend on whether you come across as a grind.

Gryffon5147 · 10-18-2009, 08:18 PM

Nah... you can't get in if you're still sane.

Don't worry, you'll do fine.

member2008 · 10-18-2009, 11:42 PM

Thanks guys. I'm afraid my original post sounded too arrogant. Consolation, I obviously shouldn't mention that, but this view is not meant as bragging but rather to put my education in context (and public school students have affirmed my statement).

What I'm asking is how to get across my emphasis on academics and downplay my possibly justified lack of stunning ECs?

TheAscendancy · 10-18-2009, 11:55 PM

Somehow I doubt the regular classes are your school are harder than the AP classes at all public schools (maybe the ones around your area). My public school's AP classes are actually quite difficult -- more difficult than some at private schools. Just saying that your statement there would be difficult to verify at best.

Also, I'm not sure your lack of EC's is something to be justified. I'm a lot like you...4.0 UW GPA, 9 AP classes (straight 5's), 2300+ SAT, but meh EC's. My approach was to play up what EC's I did have and make them more significant in terms of their impact on me -- as opposed to justifying why I did not have more stellar EC's. Even common EC's such as violin can be a great essay in terms showing personal growth.

If you ask me, trying to explain your lack of EC's because you had to study might indicate a lack of time management skills and seems to be just plain excuse-making (which would probably be a put-off for the adcoms). You could still play up the emphasis on academics (curiosity, furthering your learning out of the classroom, advanced topics you've read up on, etc.), but probably shouldn't explain your EC's.