My results, and some (probably not super great) advice

beepybeetle
Wed, 26 Apr 2017 03:45:58 +0000

1) I don’t think my ECs were all that strong. I think they were more unique than impressive, and that’s probably what saved me. If you can make yourself stand out (the whole idea of a hook or a spike), I feel as though you’d stand a better chance in front of the admissions board

2) I think my college list might show the early signs of gambling addiction… Juniors, please if you see this APPLY TO SAFETIES. The college with the highest acceptance rate on my list was UCSD… and I applied as an engineering major. Don’t roll dice with colleges.

3) While my essays may not have been the most elegant, I think they highlighted my persona and showed the admissions personnel my true desire to serve. I did not recycle a single essay, and I think that paid off. You reap what you sow I suppose… Underclassmen, it’s going to be worth putting that extra hour into your college essays since yaknow, it’s only your future…

4) Don’t kick yourself over a not-perfect SAT/ACT/GPA. I clearly didn’t have one, and I’m the textbook example of an anti-hooked person. After you get a good score, stop and focus on making yourself an interesting applicant. Being a total nerd with a 36 and a 5.0 doesn’t make you very interesting. Top schools could easily fill their classes with those kinds of students but they clearly don’t

5) Don’t lose too much sleep and stay positive. Once you submit that application, there’s nothing left for you to do other than keeping your grades up. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by worrying daily as your grades plummet from self-induced anxiety. You’ll be OK.

6) Double check your application before you submit it.

7) One more thing… take CC advice with a grain of salt. A lot of posters here are just like me: High school students. We don’t offer the best advice. Don’t get hooked onto ‘What are my chances?’ threads. It’s not healthy

So yeah… That’s about it.