Chances/Advice for HPSM

You asked for realism, so I am here to burst your bubble. Apologies in advance, as I am sure you are just trying to get ahead of the pack like so many others. I am not trying to be mean, just realistic.

First, you know you are an exceptionally well-qualified candidate for any school in the country. If you are worried because your friends didn’t get into HYPSM, then I can’t do anything to quell your worries. You know the odds are slim. You know that amazing candidates are rejected from those colleges every year. Your competition is fierce and a spot at one of those schools is just as likely to go to a poor inner-city kid who manages to do well against all the odds as it is to you. In fact, the kid I just described will possibly have an advantge over you at those colleges. So yes, if you choose to worry about getting into one of those tippy top schools, then that is the worry of your choice and it is well-founded.

If I were in your shoes, I would choose to put that energy towards solving some bigger issue in the world. You are clearly extremely intelligent and you could do some real good with your mind. In fact, do something positive for others with all that intelligence rather than fretting about what might happen in a year. Solve some kind of problem. That will make you stand out far more than all the other things you do.

If you want to study CS at Michigan, the school has a 16% acceptance rate. It’s a reach. So is Harvey Mudd, with an under 15% acceptance rate. In my opinion, any school with an acceptance rate under 20% is a reach for all. These colleges practice hollistic admissions and can choose whoever they like, so you already know that what you offer is no guarantee of a place. Having said that, I imagine you will get into at least one mega-reach school, but take a look at this guy: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1876770-what-did-i-do-wrong-p1.html
I hope we don’t see a post from you in a year, complaining that you ONLY got into Wash U or similar though, because I have seen quite a few of those recently.

To give you practical advice, your activities section should emphasize what is most important to you. In all honesty, colleges are not going to be impressed that you are the president of five clubs. Are you equally interested in all five clubs, and do you devote the same amount of time to all of them? Be honest. Focus your energy on two or three things that you like the best. Show your interests, be likable. Colleges want to admit people they like.

Get recs from teachers who really like you, and who you like in return. That is the most important thing to consider when asking for a rec. And don’t ask ten teachers. Ask two. Don’t submit extra recs, because it is annoying, unless there is someone who can say something else about you that no one else can. Recs are VERY important. Write a great essay. Your stats alone will not get you in. You don’t need more AP classes. At the level you are at, it’s the ECs, recs, and essays that are going to get you in. And the special sauce. What’s special about you? Show them what it is. Make them think they can’t get it from anyone else. That’s what you need to do to get in.