@TheHappinessFund – at the risk of sounding trite – You Do You. Don’t worry about anyone else. Chance Me threads are toxic. Stop.Reading.Them.Now. They will only undermine your confidence and do not affect in any way YOUR chances.
What matters for admissions cannot possibly come through in a chance me thread. Are you nice? Do your essays reflect someone who is authentic and engaged? What are you like to have a conversation with? Will a school enjoy having you on campus? Do you fit a particular niche they happen to be looking for? All the awards and accomplishments in the world don’t get someone admitted if they are a jerk.
Don’t give up on being admitted to top schools, but at the same time, don’t be applying to school just because it appears on some stranger’s list of “top schools”. The #1 school for you is the one that fits you. So so so many kids get rejected at the top schools – not just because of the odds, but also because they aren’t the right schools for those particular kids. The wiser approach is to find a list of schools (“top” or not) that have the qualities that you want. Then apply to a sufficient number of schools with a range of acceptance rates.
What makes you special? In what environment do you shine? Thoughtfully pick schools that suit you, and show that you have done your research. Show them you are applying because you match them and they match you. Think of it like dating – everyone wants to be liked for who they are on the inside. It is a two-way street. You have to know who you are and be comfortable with it. You have to know who they are, too. Take the AO’s perspective – what will you add to their community? You don’t have to cure cancer or play Carnegie Hall to be an asset.
You can do this!