My parents were not educated well (no college, 1 dropped out of high school). Never really grew up reading or doing anything academically until high school. In 10th grade, I took a practice ACT test and scored a 19. I worked very hard in the toughest academic courses at my school and got mostly A and A-. (10 ap by the end of senior year). I got ap scholar with distiction. My counselor said that I had one of the toughest schedules in his career. I took the ACT (1st time for my junior year) and just recieved my score, a 29. Should I mention this type of situation in a college essay, or will it seen unattracting because I’m not naturally gifted, I just started working hard and applying myself in high school??
<p>I think you’re almost luckier than naturally smart kids: setbacks add character, and diligence and self-application often reflect well of your ambitions even if not your ‘smarts.’ If you feel strongly about how you’ve overcome a “disadvantaged” academic background, then you should definitely include it in your application, especially considering how well you’ve done.</p>
<p>Absolutely put this in your application! Colleges will want to know that you have succeeded beyond your circumstances. They’ll be interested in knowing that you will be the first generation to attend college, and your counselor should be sure to mention the toughness of your schedule. Congratulations on your successes - you will go far!</p>
<p>buddy. your success at highschool already proved you ARE smart. What you can say on your application is that you came from an uneducated family, which never drove you to academic acheivement, thus making your personal drive to succeed even more impressive.</p>
<p>Trust me, you HAVE to be smart to get a 29+ on the ACT and get A’s in the most toughest courses offered… It’s often thought that people who are rich are smarter than everyone else, when really, in most cases, they’re just better educated. But you do have a HOOK considering both parents don’t have much education and probably don’t make too much income. :)</p>
<p>I wouldn’t suggest telling an adcom that you’re not naturally smart. For one thing, I doubt this is the truth, as your original score on an ACT doesnt say much about your intelligence. My original SAT scores reflected badly on me, but I prefer to go by my IQ test scores to tellif im intelligent. YOure doing well in high school, which means you are intelligent enough to handle a heavy courseload (i.e. what you’ll have in college). Debasing yourself needlessly will get you nowhere, mister.</p>
<p>I agree that it would be good to mention those things in your essay and to have them mentioned in your counselor’s report.</p>
<p>As for not being naturally gifted, I disagree with your self assessment. The students whom you seem to be viewing as naturally gifted grew up with advantages that you didn’t have. Those advantaged – educated parents and probably more enrichment support than you had – were what caused them to seem more gifted than you. In actuality, they simply had more opportunities to develop their gifts than you had.</p>
<p>You had to develop your natural gifts through hard work, not through the silver spoon method. :)</p>
<p>I think the Yogurt man is quick smart indeed. He had us hooked with the line “Im not naturally smart”. Good luck to you. I think many colleges love to have you.</p>
<p>you sound naturally smart to me!!</p>
<p>you can have the toughest schedule and the hardest work ethic in the world, but if you’re not SMART as well, you won’t get A’s!! Maybe you’re not smart in the same WAY as those “I never study” kids, but you’re still very bright if you take hard classes and get A’s and A-'s. Don’t ever doubt yourself!! </p>
<p>Don’t necessarily restrict your essay topic by needing to explain your circumstances (because there is more to you than “not being naturally smart”). Maybe write a supplementary essay, and definitely have your counselor write about your work ethic and schedule being the first generation to college in his his school report. Those things matter. Because even those “naturally smart” kids have to bust out the books once they get to MIT.</p>
<p>i’m confused… do i just go to my counselor and ask him to write about my circumstances?? How should I ask him??</p>
<p>first, tell him what they are. I’m not sure how well you know your counselor, but this would be a good way to open up if you don’t know him very well. Then, ask him to explain your circumstances in his report. Summarize what you want him to convey – basically what you told us (that you came from a family that was not well educated, faced oppostion, worked hard, yadda yadda (not your erroneous conclusion that you’re not smart!!! :)). They are trained and know how to do this. </p>
<p>I had some unusual medical circumstances that I felt hurt my performance in school and wanted my counselor to inform the schools. She did a really good job of conveying the message I was trying to … convey. lol.</p>
<p>am i probably duke/cornell/northwestern/university of michigan qualified??</p>
<p>Yes, but at the same time those are hard schools to get into. I’m not quite sure how far your hook will carry you. I think you’re pretty good at Cornell and UMich and have a shot at Duke and NW. Where else are you considering? </p>
<p>Retake the ACT/SAT, write good essays, get good recs and you’ll be very strong. You’ll also need EC.</p>
<p>Another thing:</p>
<p>Be sure that you don’t make your personal statement sound like the adcom should feel sorry for you and hence offer you a place.</p>
<p>My own circumstances are that none of my parents nor any of their ancestors have ever taken a university degree. When I applied to graduate school I obviously mentioned this, but I was very aware not to sound pitiful.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>