<p>@soze I understand your point but respectfully disagree! You say “Realistically, how well are you going to do among a student body who had 4.0’s and 2350’s? You would likely not do well…” I participated in a great program this summer at Columbia (mentioned in my original post) and had great discussions with my professor, fellow peers, and a group of rising senior columbia students, that just goes to prove that intelligence and how you make use of what you learn are not always measured by the grades or test scores you earn. I consider myself to have a growth mindset and intellectually curious and maybe I haven’t received the best education or have the best grammar but that won’t prevent me from trying hard to catch up with those that already have these qualities. I am more than just my test score! I recommend participating in something similar to what I experienced this summer! It can really open your eyes! If you feel like reading about what my experience was like, there’s an article written about in in the NY times: </p>