<p>@rishav17/ Good point about uniqueness. Eh, I’m just so worried that my lacklustre list of ECs will bring me down. How bad ARE they, compared to your usual Ivy students? I’m sure I could squeeze in another EC in there…maybe I’ll start a Science Society or something at my school. 
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<p>@sosomenza/ International is its own pool…? Do you have any source to back this up? I’ve never heard about this before. I thought all applicants competed in the same ‘pool’ since they say your international status doesn’t affect anything during decisions… If I raise my grades to, say, 0.3% of the state, would that be “enough” to get me in RD? Can you offer some comments about my ECs?</p>