I have always been an overachiever and an excellent student. I always score well on standardized tests and I am normally in the top 2%. I participate fully at school and in my community. I just don’t have something special that I feel makes me stand out and I’m worried. Many of my favorite schools (Duke, Columbia, Georgetown) are very selective and I am worried that although I cover all of the typical bases, I don’t have anything extra special that would make a school want to accept me. Ok so here’s the rundown. I have a 4.4 GPA weighted and 4.2 unweighted. I just finished up my sophomore year so I don’t have ACT or SAT scores yet but based on the PLAN and the PSAT I am predicted to get a 33 and a 2250 respectively. I am also in all honors or AP. My activities include Speech and Debate, Special Olympics, Student Council (Class President), Link Crew (Help freshmen transition), Mu alpha theta (math tutoring), future medical leaders of america, national spanish honor society, and arrupe (volunteering club). I also play two sports both competitively and through my school (so 4 teams total). For volunteering I do so often but not neccesarily at one specific place. My academic awards are slim to none. I have made honor roll every semester and gotten a few small recognition awards through my school but nothing too over the top. I think that pretty much covers everything. Of course this does not encompass me as a full person but I’m just concerned that I’m good but I don’t have anything special that is going to make me stand out. So I guess my question is - Are there any of you out there that have success stories getting in to selective universities without some insane accomplishment or prestigious award? And, if not, what are some things that I could do to make myself stand out?
An underachiever is someone who achieves less than he or she is capable of. Presumably an overachiever is achieving MORE than they are capable of?
How is the 4.2 (unweighted) GPA arrived at?
“Are there any of you out there that have success stories getting in to selective universities without some insane accomplishment or prestigious award?”
This happens all the time. I was what is often considered a “cookie-cutter” applicant. I had near-perfect stats but no huge competition or award. I didn’t apply to any of the “high Ivies” (HYPSM), but I did get into 2/3 Ivies I applied to (Penn, Dartmouth, Cornell - didn’t get into Penn). In retrospect, I believe if I had shot higher and applied to all of the even more prestigious universities, I’d have been statistically likely to get admitted into at least one.
On top of this, I am also an ORM (overrepresented minority), so that probably hurt me as well because it makes me even MORE “cookie-cutter.”
I believe in the notion that if you are “cookie-cutter,” but high-achieving like me, and you apply to MANY selective colleges, you are bound by the laws of statistics to get into at least one (unless you’re just unlucky).
^also I made absolute sure to make my essays as non-generic as possible to detract from how generic of an applicant I was (generic not in the sense that I was mediocre because I wasn’t by any stretch of the imagination).
pick one of your EC passions and focus on it to the exclusion of most of your other ECs. Then take it to the next level in terms of leadership (“yours”), achievement and impact. if none of your current ECs is worthy of this effort then explore new possibilities and then pick one. As before take it to the next level – leadership, achievement and impact.
Your stats are just fine for many good schools, hang around this website as an applicant and risk feeling inadequate in comparison which is a not so great thing about this website. If you make a balanced list of schools, making sure you have some your family can afford then you will be fine. The goal is to get an education that you actually can finish.
You’re NOT “nothing special.” Your mom, your dad, your best friends, your teachers, all would argue convincingly otherwise.
You don’t have to cure cancer or build a nuclear reactor to get into college. You have to be bright (check), well rounded (check) and smart enough to apply to the colleges looking for a kid like you.
Let’s get back to that “well rounded”-- let’s focus on just one activity:
I’ll choose Speech and Debate, since it’s an activity I’m very familiar with. Which event(s) do you do? How successful have you been? Why did you choose that particular event? What have you learned from it? Have you, by any chance, qualified for States and/or Nationals?
Thank you guys! This really made me feel better. I am able to have a 4.2 unweighted GPA because at my school you et a 4.3 for an A+ and that is considered your unweigthed GPA. Also as for speech and debate I am in PF Debate and Extemp and I win an award at almost every meet but I have never been able to attend state qualifiers because it conflicts with soccer. I really like Speech and Debate and I think next year I willl miss soccer for it.
The typical unweighted GPA calculations used by colleges and universities do not include awarding 4.3 for an A+, so you might want to recalculate your GPA to be more in line with other examples you might see quoted.
Your essays will be extremely important for the top schools if you feel that you don’t have “a hook”. Also, prepare, study, and take many practice tests before taking the ACT and SAT. Set aside time to do this, don’t wait, do it now. Your projected scores look fine for the schools that you seem to be most interested in at this point. However, don’t limit your dream schools, as there are so many great schools.
What are you interested in academically, or what might you want to study? What amount can your parents afford yearly for your college education? Have a serious conversation with them about what they can afford now, as this may seriously dictate what schools you can even consider. Next year, start running calculators for each school and involve your parents in all aspects.
Also, decide which teachers you think would write the best rec’s for you (usually you ask your junior year teachers). Ask them before you finish your junior year. Start a resume now, list all EC’s, awards, etc. and keep adding to it.
Would you be interested in playing soccer, or your other sport, in college? Would you consider playing at a DIII level at a top LAC, or at a lower level D! school? If you might like to continue playing in college, this is a way in to the top LAC’s for many students. Son chose to do this, he had no major hooks, but also had great stats and EC’s. Most colleges will do an Early Read with the Admissions Committee for athletes. Not always a guarantee for admission, but if you are a competitive player, it really helps.
Keep working hard too!
The good news about that essay is that you’re an extemper.
Every single paper I wrote in high school or college was an extemp speech, written down. You have that sense of organization, the word choice, the innate talent with words to write a killer essay.
I agree-- miss a day or two of soccer to attend state and national qualifiers next year.
And don’t for a minute think you’re “nothing special.”