How Can I Be More Shrewd?

Pre-College Topics High School Cafe
1

I feel like I am giving my competitive advantage away. Whenever someone asks me about the unique activities I do, or what I did this summer, I always give too much information away. For instance, very recently, I talked about how I attended a summer program at one of the top universities with an acceptance rate of ~10%. Not only did I tell what I did there, I also revealed the important things I learned. Now that parent’s son wants to apply as well. Although we are good friends, it is rather unfortunate because he is very similar in ranking and caliber to me. I am ranked 7 and is ranked 10. And then when I found out something interesting that he did like robotics team, he didn’t reveal any of the processes of how to get there or what to do because he is getting a leadership position there this year. I feel like this is a regular occurrence and that I keep giving valuable information to other people and they succeed, while they give me practically nothing, and keeps me stagnant.

I really want to learn how not to share everything I learn and be more covered on things that I do. I feel like I am too helpful or nice, and I need to learn how to keep information to myself. How can I make this happen and make myself more shrewd?Thanks for reading this and any advice would be helpful!

2

This is a sad post.

You need to relax and enjoy your youth. You will get into college, don’t worry. When you apply, you will be evaluated on your own merits, and will be selected if you are a good fit for that college.

You are not competing against your peers in your limited acquaintance and location.

Is this what the college selection process is doing to our young people?

3

It’s as simple as not oversharing. There’s no need to tell a story if they didn’t ask for one.

And I would argue that keeping everything hidden just to get an advantage is not going to get you very far in college, socially or otherwise.

4

You don’t need to be shrewd, you just need different friends. Picking the right peers and friends is a skill you will acquire as you age. Keep your collaborative nature, find others with the same quality and you will be better off in the long run.

5

Did you ASK your friend how he got involved with robotics?

6

Generally students who share information all gain from the sharing. They learn about better ways to do a rather wide range of things.

Students who refuse to share information gradually find over time that others refuse to share information with them. In the short term they may gain a miniscule advantage. In the long term they lose a lot.

Stanford last year had 44,073 applications (I am not sure whether this is for undergrad, or all applications). Other top schools will similarly have had a very large number of applicants. Helping one other person is not going to make any difference to your chances.