<p>I know that (like almost everyone) I have 0/no chance of being accepted, but my dad is really pushing it. So, I was wondering: I understand that you have to be an exceptional student to get in (obviously), but are all the students started-a-nonprofit-at-age-12, published-author-at-age-15, etc. insanely accomplished going in? Would a kid who hasn’t lived two lifetimes already have a chance of fitting in without massive insecurity at an Ivy League school?</p>
<p>Note: I have a few friends attending various Ivy League and “Southern Ivy” universities, and ask partly because they are pretty much consistently like that.</p>
<p>And I guess this question goes for all Ivy? Probably never going to need to use this, simply genuinely curious.</p>
<p>well whether or not you are insecure is on you, not your classmates. The only thing that unifies all ivy league students is that they are smart, enjoy learning, and do the most they can with what is available to them.</p>
<p>Hah, that’s true (hey, if the onus is on me there’s always something that can be done about it!). Thanks for the reply!</p>
<p>Exceptional yes, accomplished no. If you show that you have the ability, work ethic and desire then your chance will be as good as anyone’s. (or most anyone’s) GL.</p>
<p>That is a total myth. I would say that while the students at Princeton are smart as whippets, they are not exceptional in the sense you mean. On average, they do dress better than the students at the other Ivies, however.</p>
<p>My CS prof said he taught at Princeton in the 80s, when Brooke Shields was going there. He said that he initially expected Princeton students to be 100% book-worm super-studiers, but that the mix of serious students to slacker students was exactly the same as at the big mid-western state school I go to (where he teaches now, obviously). Plenty of people there are just coasting, many come from wealthy families and are just going to college because it’s what you do, not because they need a career.</p>
<p>So maybe that means that you only fit in if you’re a serious student or come from a wealthy family!</p>
<p>Stop thinking of achievement and eliteness quantitatively and start thinking of it qualitatively.</p>