How to improve the chances of chances threads?

[NewEngSocSciMan]

Another suggestion for posters is to give the selectivity of your high school, as well as how other students from that high school do. By this, I mean that those who respond to chances threads ought to have some idea of the context of your high school.

[cornell75]

I'll go out on a limb here and suggest that chances threads for the schools that get the most posts on this website are a waste of time. The Ivies, the "elite" LACs and some of the other "top" universities all have many more qualified applicants than they can possibly accept. While GPA, number of APs, test scores and a list of ECs does give some idea of the applicant's profile, there is a lot of subjectivity in the admissions offices' decisions that just cannot be predicted. For the most part, posters who ask about their chances are asking other high school or college students. I find it amusing for lack of a better word when I see other students chancing a person as a 50/50 or a rejected, or even a definite admit. If they knew someone's chances, they'd be admissions officers! I think this site would be much more helpful if people focused less on the chances threads and more on some of the other aspects of the admissions process or on actual student's experiences with a particular school.

[asdfjkl1]

What about essays? I mean, they're so important and never EVER mentioned.

[goolsci]

I know people never follow this, but don't do a chance thread after apps are due everywhere and its just waiting time. It will just make you nervous and it's too late to apply to more safeties and matches

[Calcruzer]

I think kyledavid80 gave the best summary.

The six other things I would suggest are:

(1) that the poster be receptive to the replies;--since if we say we don't think you can get into a school, it is not because we hate you or feel like being rude that day, but rather because it is our intent to tell you the truth, suggest how you might possibly improve your chances, and may wish to suggest a more appropriate school for you where your chances of acceptance are better;

(2) if you aren't chanced imediately, don't bump the post twenty times and insult us for not telling you your chances at the University of Southern Missouri Technical State in Springfield County, MO. It is just possible that (a) we've never heard of the school you asked about, or (b) we don't know what the criteria is for acceptance are at the school--and therefore prefer not to post rather than guess at what your chances may possibly be,

(3) if you are applying for a school where legacy matters, let us know if you qualify as a legacy, (and if you don't know if it matters, just tell us where you are a legacy--where your parents--or, in some cases, siblings went/are going to school);

(4) if you are the first in your family to attend college, tell us;

(5) if you are low income or a URM (under-represented minority), then let us know that, since we can then put your accomplishments in context--which allows us to better estimate your chances; and

(6) if your parents work at the school, tell us that.

Thanks,

[moizuhk]

Theses are the factors that colleges most usually take into account:

Rigor of secondary school record
Academic GPA
Class rank--If your school doesn't rank give us an idea like top 5%
Recommendations
Standardized test scores
Essays
Interview
Extracurricular activities--Only things you will mention in your application
Talent / ability -- Do you have exceptional talent in some area? Please dont tell me you are president of Debating Club. Thats an EC.
Character / personal qualities -- this will be difficult to tell but give us an idea as to how you've expressed yourself in the essay or what your interviewer might have told you about your personality (they usually do)
Alumni/ae relation -- or any sort of close connection
Geographical residence--Not all colleges consider
State residency--Not all colleges consider
Religious affiliation/commitment--Not all colleges consider
Minority status
Volunteer work
Work experience
First generation college student
Level of Applicant's Interest--Not all colleges consider
Financial Aid -- especially for international students

Telling all this will significantly help

[tokenadult]

Lots of interesting replies. I particularly like the idea of the student thinking about the overall story he is telling about himself in his application--that should show up in the chances thread too.

Indeed, this should be a slow time of year for chances threads. Any senior by this date has already submitted most or all the applications that will be timely. It's a little early for juniors to know their profile. Sophomores and freshmen have better things to do with their time than to post speculative chances threads.

[poignantpianist1]

"Too much information is listing every single club you've ever joined or attended. Only note clubs if you're an officer."

or if you've made significant contributions to a particular organization

[gandhijr23]

I think the people assessing and applicant's chances have to be cautious and prudent of the judgment given. Just because and applicant has a phenomenal SAT score or alumni legacy doesn't mean he/she is getting in. Carefully assess the situation from a pretty all around view point.

[FellowCCViewer]

I find that the chance threads that last have a catchy title. But please don't make it "I'm applying to HYPSMC with a 1.2 GPA" when you really have a 4.0.

[Futuremedstu]

How to improve the chances of chances threads? Wow, I'm starting to love this site more and more.

[Observer1]

Chances threads burn me up, because they are pointless. Either you have privileged information about a school's admissions practices, in which case they probably don't want you posting here (unless you're duly recognized, and I doubt you would participate in chances threads), or you don't have any privileged information, in which case your answers are worthless or even counterproductive. A lot would be gained, and nothing would be lost (except for site traffic), if chances threads were eliminated.

[kyledavid80]

A lot would be gained ... if chances threads were eliminated.

Yup, like anxiety and depression.

(The chances forum isn't my favorite one, but it serves a clear purpose and is helpful to a lot of students.)

[CountingDown]

Here's my problem with chances threads: there is SO much that a prospective applicant may well leave off the thread. There is a lot of information that would make it easy to connect the dots if it were disclosed in a chances thread. Think Venn diagrams: the intersection of Award X with Award Y, with School X as a safety and Z as an intended major, the sequence of APs exams taken, even one's SAT scores (if it's a remarkable score and there aren't many others at one's school similarly situated). It's just not that hard.

In addition, for obvious reasons, it's not a good idea to post essays. That component is a huge unknown to those online posters who are being asked to evaluate a student's chances -- I couldn't begin to assess someone's chances without reading essays as part of the process.

If one wants to get a serious look-see by someone who knows the deal with admissions, get Dave Berry of CC to do the $89 StatsEval. It's a safe place to disclose the info you don't want to (and probably shouldn't) post online. We did this last summer and got some useful feedback.

[2boysima]

Lots of good suggestions. Just want to add that I'm impressed with the seriousness and level of thought reflected in many the responses to the OP.