Background:
Lately I’ve been dabbling into the world of college admissions and have been finding it helpful to read about others’ experiences on getting accepted into top tier colleges. Mainly, I’m interested in what steps these individuals have taken to distinguish themselves in terms of extracurricular involvement and intellectual vitality.
I find it interesting to read about these ‘case studies’, where students who have been successful with the college process will post their results. I understand that not everyone’s case is the same with regards to admissions, but it is certainly helpful to take inspiration from other’s accomplishments and use their experiences to guide your own path.
There are thousands of students who look over chance threads, as to get a better idea of how to prepare for college. But I think it would be much more valuable to study the tried-and-tested results of the process, rather than simply speculating.
Prompt:
Describe the experiences of a successful applicant that you either know personally, or have simply heard about over the internet. What have they done to market themself as an applicant, and what unique experiences have helped to craft their identity?
Note: Do note include any personal, identifiable information about the applicants. This is to remain anonymous, as a way to simply circulate ideas.
Format:
Intended Major:
Volunteering:
Internships:
Research:
Competitions:
Awards:
Extra-Curricular Activities:
Known Acceptances:
Can’t you just go to the past years’ results threads for the colleges you are interested in to see what is there? You might also want to read “How To Be a High School Superstar” by Cal Newport. Trying to copy others isn’t going to get you where you want to go.
@intparent
(1) I’m making this thread out of convenience. I’ve lurked on CC for years now and it’s time consuming to find what you’re looking for. My intention is simply to collect this sort of info in one common place for those who are interested.
(2) I have read and am familiar with the book.
(3) I’m not trying to copy others, which I addressed in the background section of the thread (if you would have taken the time to read it before shooting down the idea). Any star-studded, 4.0, ivy league student didn’t reach where they are today simply by following their interests. Mind you we are talking about teenagers here. I believe that to be successful in this process, you of course need talent and persistence, but beyond that, you need positive influences who can teach you along the way and give you motivation going forward.
I read it. It is the part about using the info to guide your own path that makes it sound like copying to me.
Look at the top sticky thread under “What are my chances” forum. It has over 10 years of data for you to read through.
@billscho
Just a matter of convenience, not for me specifically, but for anyone in a similar situation.
@intparent
Well it’s all a matter of interpretation. It’s understandable how you may struggle to relate to my situation, but please, hear me out on this. I go to an uncompetitive, inner-city public high school, with only a few ivy league acceptances every decade.
I’ve heard people reference opportunities such as competitions or research, and the only way for me to really gain some insight on this sort of experience is to look up on here. We’re all just taking inspiration what we’ve heard others doing and this is the medium which I must choose.
Don’t shoot me down for simply trying to seek out support, and if you don’t have any relevant suggestions, then I ask that you find another thread to comment on.
I'll start off with some examples of what I'm looking for. Feel free to post along as well :)
Intended Major: CS
Volunteering:
- Founded toy-drive company, which helped to distribute presents around Christmas time.
- Renovated websites for poor, inner-city school and helped to manage their IT department
Internships: N/A
Research: N/A
Competitions: N/A
Awards: N/A
Extra-Curricular Activities:
- Founded gaming business, which generated tens of thousands of dollars in revenue
- Wrote custom software to optimize server hosting for the website
Known Acceptances: Stanford
Intended Major: CS
Volunteering:
- Explored alternative energy activities to sustain school power
Internships: N/A
Research:
- Satellite algorithms in Python, publishing improved algorithms in paper.
- Graduate level research at California State Summer School
- Yale Young Global Scholar
Competitions: N/A
Awards: N/A
Extra-Curricular Activities:
- Created modules for aerospace engineering modeling software, using FreeCAD
- Leader of Technology Clubs at School
Known Acceptances: Princeton, Brown, UCLA
I have used this example before, but I know someone at Princeton who is an underrepresented minority who went to a top public HS in our city, focused on STEM, got around 1900 or so on the old SAT and was a star football player. I don’t think he did much else in terms of ECs. He’s also a super nice kid. Bottom line is he a bunch of hooks
There are common denominators, apart from obvious hooks: get good grades, take hard classes, get high test scores. Anything after those basics is unknowable, except to the college and its admissions officers. THERE IS NO FORMULA. There is no trick. You simply have to do your very best with what you have. You have to show them why you belong there and give them a reason to say yes. Understand what a college is looking for. Read their mission statements. Most kids don’t bother.
If you go to an inner-city school, the tippy top colleges are really eager to have applications from students like you. Diversity of all kinds is very important to top colleges. If you go to an underfunded school with few resources and not a lot of guidance, colleges understand that you don’t have as many opportuntiies as a kid from a affluent suburban high school. So it’s even more impressive if a student like you manages to do something that is not typical for your school. Google online writing competiitons, look for contests in your area of interest. Start applying for scholarships. There are MANY, and if you manage to get some, it looks great on your app. Volunteer. Get a job. Start a club at school for something you are interested in. (Kids at affluent schools are advised not to do this.) Show initiative.
There is no point asking for stats of kids who get into top colleges. There’s an article somewhere. A reporter went to Columbia, I believe, and asked a bunch of kids why they thought they were accepted. There were a variety of responses, some of which detailed impressive achievements. But the vast majority of students responded like this: “I have no idea why they accepted me.” For evry accepted kid, there were many more kids who were denied, and MANY of those kids had stellar applications. Stanford denies 96% of applicants. I guarantee you that the 4% of kids accepted are all different and interesting in their own way. You have to offer the best you can. That’s all you can do.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Closing thread. There’s nothing more to be said and the information may be culled from elsewhere.