<p>I’ve got good grades, going to get the IB diploma, varsity tennis, varsity debate, and maybe I’ll go to state in one of those things. But if I don’t, does that kill my chances? I’m pretty good at those things but I’m not exactly a prodigy or anything of the sort. My parents can’t donate a building so that options off the table :P. Any comments/advice?</p>
<p>Shockingly, there aren’t nearly as many prodigies as there are slots in the freshman classes of the nation’s elite colleges. If you’re admitted to Yale, or Princeton (never a good idea to use the name of an Ivy League college you haven’t gotten into in your screen name), it probably won’t be because of your tennis or debating skills ( unless you’ve been recruited for tennis, of course). Students are seriously considered for admission when they have demonstrated academic ability and application, as well as a passionate commitment (usually) to one or more activities. They are chosen for admission because the committee thinks they have something to contribute to the class. That something may be as simple as an interesting point of view. Rejections from these institutions can be arbitrary, because there is such an excess of qualified applicants… but most of the people who get in are merely human. (On the other hand, those humans have often done some pretty interesting things!)</p>