Why can’t some folks see that diversity is simply about…diversity? Some kids from various regions of the country, from rural, city and suburbia, prep and public, different personal interests and experiences, varied SES, some who will perform in their free time, some with various musical talents to contribute to a chorus, band or orchestra, some who will write for the school paper, some who love the lab, others who lead community engagement, different political and religious interests, some hoping for med school, others for teaching, business or civic work. It takes all sorts to form a vibrant community.
And your multi-page app/supp, no matter your color, background, SES, or region- or stats- is how you convey your potential, on that campus, to those adcoms who are not your hs teachers and friends. Adcoms are not afraid to turn down kids who seem to be ordinary bumps on logs, no matter whether they were the top dawg in their high school, some ethnicity or legacy. Too many people assume hs stats/standing is all it’s about. That’s so flat. Or that some sad, stereotyped tale of woe trumps all else.
Too many people assume. Many don’t ever really get to know the schools they apply to, they go on rep and assume most-competitive admissions is just like, say, getting into NHS in their one hs. Not.
And then they get all bent out of shape because some other kid got in and they didn’t. They have the simplest assumptions and the simplest reactions. Be wise. You are not applying to high school or for a lateral transfer to another hs. You are aiming for the big leap to that college. There are no simple pats on the head.