missymargaux

how crazy getting into college has become?

I'm a Hispanic female with a 3.7 unweighted gpa, 5.2 weighted, I've taken 8 AP classes, I've been co-captain of both my swimming and water polo teams for two years, I'm currently Yearbook editor-in-chief. I'm treasurer for two clubs and I'm top 20% in one of the top 100 high schools in the country and my class only has 128 students in it. I have a 2300 on my SATs (CR and W are both 800's) and I'm a National Hispanic Scholar. On top of all of it, I know that I nailed my application essays because I'm rarely happy with anything that I write and I LOVED them.

I'm not patting myself on the back here. Not in the usual sense, anyway. All that I'm saying is that I KNOW that I'm a good student. I've worked myself to the point of exhaustion the last four years, as most of us have, and I've got the results to show for it.
And I know I'm not the only one.

Why then, are we all panicking over being accepted? It's absolutely ridiculous. So many of us are amazing (many much much much more impressive than myself). Honestly, how many of the professors and admissions officers at these schools, even the Ivys, can say that they had as many accomplishments when they were 17 and 18-years-old?

These schools should be telling US why we should attend them.


I know that's crazy, but really, I think we all need to take a step back and realise that we are VERY impressive, and if they don't want us, it's their loss, not ours. If we've accomplished this much it means that we can make the best of anywhere that we go, because in 10 years it really won't matter where we went for undergrad. We need to realise that these applications are not going to make or break us. We're pretty incredible kids and I think it's time that we wake up and realise it, before it's too late.

littlemikey4

Amen! a lot of people, including myself needed this put into perspective, thanks!

T26E4

missymargaux: the truth is society is marketed to believe that unless you have a top "name" college diploma, you're headed for the downward ramp of life. I'd say even TV adds to this (Gossip Girl).

I was blissfully ignorant of the hubbub of applying to selective schools. I just worked my butt off because I actually was a hungry, self motivated student. I didn't know my low chances of being admitted to top schools. I applied to the ones that interested me. I was accepted at all, eventually matriculated at an HYP. Have worked as an alumni volunteer for almost 2 decades and I see the frantic behavior of students and families now who feel they MUST have an Ivy-type degree. Me? Been there done that. It's not all that. I work in the NFP sector and feel honored to work alongside and even below people who have only a HS degree.

Achievement is its own reward, not this diploma hanging on the wall two feet from my head.

Beepoo

The problem is simple: too many students are applying to too few colleges.

Why does this problem exist?
The educational system is a mix between a public and private system, and therefore market inefficiency exists.

The argument behind the system is public schools provide a cheap alternative to the private system, creating an equitable education system in which everyone can participate. However, they actually increase the cost of education for everyone by creating a shortage of spots at schools (i.e. there is a supply shortage of education for the given demand of education).

The results from two sources: 1) the failure of public schools to anticipate the expanding incoming student body and 2) the creation of an entry barrier for new, cheaper private universities.

1) Public schools calculate the need for expansion based on population changes. They ignore the fact that a higher proportion of the population will attend college as the technical and cultural importance of holding a degree increases. Moreover, even when they do accurately anticipate growth in the student body, they are too internally inefficient to produce infrastructure to meet the demand. A good example of this is the University of California system, which has come to be known for stuffing three students into doubles, placing hundreds of students in each lecture, and continually increasing fees.

2) The phrase "cheap private school" may seem innately paradoxical, but private schools would in fact be the cheapest form of education if the public system did not exist. In a completely private system, new private schools would be created to take advantage of the astronomical profits available through post-secondary education today. Because these schools would rely on student tuition and housing for profits, they would compete with one another for new admits, and would therefore be forced to lower their costs until the point of market equilibrium (where the number of students who are ready, willing, and able to attend college is equal to the number of spots available at universities).

Unfortunately, this series of events is inhibited by the presence of a public system that offers education at a below-market-rate. A new private school would be forced to price itself far below the cost of current public schools in order to encourage applications (a student would not pay more or equal to the cost of a well established public school to go to a new private school). Therefore, profit potential is not large enough to foster private college entrepreneurship.

Established private schools are able to be selective and expensive to the point of ludicrousness because they have no new competition. This educational oligopoly creates an aura of elitist exclusivity and prestige among the top schools, and has undoubtedly been a catalyst in the creation of the current U.S. plutocracy.

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The public school system which set out to be cost effective and equitable ended up producing results quite antithetical to its original purpose.

The problem may be uncorrectable. Instant privatization would likely cause the cost of college to skyrocket to $50k/year at all schools, and then go into a period of extreme downward volatility. The unpredictable nature of revenue would make it impossible for colleges to plan development and for students to budget their education. Gradual privatization appears better from an infrastructure and cost perspective, but it is difficult to see how the supply of education would be affected during the interim period.

In the end, there will be no changes will be made because the people who have the power to change the system are all rich IV alumni who would rather keep the system in place, even if the understood the problem.
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Also, as a side note, Adam Smith wrote about this issue in his fifth book of The Wealth Of Nations.

LubyMeng

margaux, I wish everyone can see through your eyes College admission is definitely a milestone for students but it's not the most decisive thing in one's life.As an international students I'm facing greater challenge, a not-so-high SAT score, a never-visit-U.S.A background, it's hard for me to pick any school in the first place, and now I have to compete with applicants from the entire world

any1can

Missy, congrats on your accomplishments. I loved your post and wish you the best!

missymargaux

I'm glad so many people agree with me

T26E4, it's nice to see it from a graduate's perspective. I think a lot of high school students feed on one another's anxiety and we build up a whole alternate world in their heads (I'm absolutely one of them) wherein not going to a good college automatically equals failure.

LubyMeng, don't worry too much. The best advice I've heard on coming from another country is to pick a school in a major city with a diverse population, because it makes the transition slightly easier. Good luck!

And any1can, thank you so much!

LINYMOM

Getting into college should not be a competitive sport. Having visited many, many colleges with my daughter over the past couple of years, I know she will do well, be happy and have fun at any of the 11 or 12 colleges she is applying to. There is more than one place that is right for every student. And not everyone likes/will do well at the same place -- even the name colleges. My daughter is definitely above average (although many on CC would pooh pooh at her app). I just can't get caught up with the people I talk to who have the attitude that "my AP class is better than your AP class."

My neighbors went to a small college (where they met) and live very well. She has always said, as long as you work hard, it doesn't matter where you go to college. She has a great attitude about it (and her kids do very well).

Yes, it's more competitive now than ever, especially at the state universities. However, if you do your homework and be realistic about the possibilities, you can find a school where you can get in and be happy.

My son is a HS freshman right now. I emphasize to him that college apps will be EASY if you just get involved and do your best starting NOW. Can't start worrying about it during the fall of senior year.

You just can't get caught up in it all. And definitely take everyone on CC with a grain of salt!

Good luck, missmargeaux. You seem to have a lot going for you, including your attitude!

TheyCallMeCC

hellz yeah, u preach, girl!

mom2collegekids

Great stats!

Where are you applying?

schrizto

Yeah, stuff like APs, leadership positions, and test scores are accomplishments but they really don't matter much in the real world. The fact is, these things are attempts at measurements of potential. It's not really a meaningful accomplishment to score high on the SATs and APs, they are just possible indicators of better things.

missymargaux

Mom2collegekids, I'm applying to Georgetown, Duke (those are reaches for sure), UMiami, WashU, GW and some state schools.

Thanks everyone else!

HonorsCentaur

your stats, op, are incredible.

missymargaux

op? thanks though

hmom5

There would be no College Confidential but for the insanity. Being Hispanic is a hook, you're more fortunate than most.