<p>Oh for goodness sake, somebody really woke up and say it as it is. I am new to this site and I found it disturbing and degrading to my gpa of 3.4 and sat 1450. I guess I will never get in NYU my #1 school. I worked very hard and I am very determined that one day I will be successful and have fame.
All you students out there with less than 4.00 and 1800 sat and above, cheer up. Next thing the colleges need to wake up…</p>
<p>I think that many students with a 3.4 and a 1700 are just as anxious about college admissions as students with a 4.0 and a 2200. They may be anxious for different schools, but they’re still anxious.</p>
<p>This argument is pointless…</p>
<ol>
<li><p>This site is biased towards higher statistics because those with normal scores because are often intimidated, while people with good scores often want to brag. </p></li>
<li><p>Keep in mind that even on anonymous forums, people tend to inflate their statistics. Post a poll asking for someone’s salary in a normal forum, and you’ll find that nearly everyone makes above $100,000. Similarly, poll for SAT scores, and suddenly everyone is above 2000.</p></li>
<li><p>Those “Chance Me” threads are pointless. People randomly guess when giving “chances”. As I mentioned in another thread, there was a student with a 24 ACT and 3.2 GPA asking about a school that had a mid 50% of 30-34 ACT and 3.7-4.0 GPA. Nearly every person said “I think you’ve got a good shot. Match. Now Chance me at…”</p></li>
</ol>
<p>And there is something wrong with arrogance. Confidence isn’t a bad thing, but arrogance is, by definition, boasting about undue claims.</p>
<p>lol, where I come from, it is not about your high ranking ACT/SAT or gpa, it is about what your football ranking is, lol. I can take a poll and ask people on the street, if they know what Dartmouth or Cornell is, and I guarantee over 95 percent or more, would say I don’t have a clue what you are talking about. Hell, I know people going to college who don’t even know what those schools are. Why, they don’t give a damn. Let me give ya’ll anal retentive, politically correct bastards some insight. Congrats, a sports star who can barely pass public speaking or college algebra without having 9-10 tutors at a time will make several million dollars a year, when you won’t even make that in a life time. You don’t achieve a higher worth as an individual by going to some elite school. You aren’t worth more as a person than an individual working to make ends meet at Walmart, or the bus driver who drives your kids to school, or the garbage man picking up your waste on the side of the road. Realize, that whatever you do in life, everyone has a part in making this country and world work. If you do think you are worth more as an individual, give me your address, so I can send you one of my friends who spends their free time beating in faces in cage matches. They will gladly speak to you on this subject matter. Everyone in this world hasn’t had the same opportunities, schooling, upbringing, or socioeconomic status to go or even have the slightest chance of going to college, more less an Ivy. To them, even graduating from High School is a major accomplishment. People who can do it, and have the atmosphere to do it in, need to realize they are blessed to be in that position, they should be thankful that they can become professionals in different career fields of their choice. People are missing the point as to what a professional is. They think it is some kind of whooo hoooo, look at me, I went to here, and there, and this. We all live on the same hunk of rock people. Maybe you need to come down from outer space and realize such things. It would do wonders for your character. Get a grip on reality. When your life ends, you can’t take your accomplishments, success, money, and degrees with you.</p>
<p>Ask yourself this, what is your dad’s name, oh that is easy. Now what is his dad’s name, oh, that is easy too. What about his dad’s name, ok, harder, maybe you know. Now, what is his dad’s name, ok, don’t know. Now what is his dad’s name, no clue. You see, in really 4-5 generations you don’t even know there names, more less how they were, what they cared about, etc. It is as though they never even existed. There you go, I hope that sinks in. Do what you can with what you have been given.</p>
<p>I’ll be waiting for the the comments, “oh forever, you are so barbaric, you are a monster, you are a blahah, adkafakldjf.” Go ahead, I enjoy reading your creative use of adjectives and euphemism. I’m glad you got that Ivy league education, so I can laugh my ass off at your excellent literary skills. Oh, and do be politically correct. You’ll make me cry if you don’t, lol.</p>
<p>Amen!!!</p>
<p>Yeah, because other countries don’t have many colleges/universities as US does.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that McGill in Canada and Oxford and Cambridge in UK base a lot more on academics than US does.</p>
<p>I’ve only just recently joined, but I’ve been lurking for a while. I think you’re looking in all the wrong places… yes, there are score-bots around here, but there are just as many who realize scores and grades aren’t 100% of the app.</p>
<p>Getting below a 2000 on the SAT is “way below” average for your High School? Uhh…no! Sorry buddy, try again! Your school would make headlines nationwide and they would wonder what kind of stuff is in the water you guys drink if it were true. The fact of the matter is, anywhere around 1600-1700 is average no matter how you want to slice it. It’s people like you that help take the realistic lens off this site and spin it. Can I just tell some of you that the average GPA for graduate students in Wake Forest is 3.45? Wake Forest is a VERY prestigious school. Most graduate schools require at least a 2.5 or 3.0 GPA to be considered for admission. Now, those are the bare minimums, but it still gives you a shot even if you barely cracked a 3.0. It is just complete BS that some people on here imply that “X” University is only accepting students with a 4.0 with a 2240 on the SAT and has extra-curricular activities that rival the likes of Mother Teresa. The truth is, as long as you have at least a 3.0+ GPA and do decent on the SAT or GRE, you WILL get in somewhere. Apply to lots of schools, and something will work out for you. By the way, some people on here brag about how they’re going to make $100k…do you realize that just being a teacher with a degree from No-Name, Non-Prestige University can get you more than 100 grand a year? You don’t need to go to a top 25 school to make that kind of money. As a Psychologist at Marist College, I have an interest in Social Psychology and want to figure out exactly why and how students are becoming robots who are known by their numbers, not their name.</p>
<p>“Ok, not everyone in the world has a 4.0 GPA with around a 2000 SAT, ranked in the top 10 of their high school.”
/makes captain obivious comment
if everyone have a 2000 sat, everone will have a 1500 sat (cb curves) and if everyone is in top 10, they will all be middle 50%</p>
<p>It’s just so sad to see the levels of materialism and ignorance skyrocket in our generation. Instead of going to the school that fits you best, it’s all about going to “Brand Name” University. Why…for the education? No…just to say you did. At the end of the day, aren’t we all just trying to get that piece of paper that leads to jobs? It’s just like in many clothing stores today…you buy a girl a plain white shirt. It fits her perfectly and is very comfortable. Does she like it? Probably not. You take the shirt in the other room, stamp the letters G-U-C-C-I on it, and she loves it even though it’s the same shirt as the one she disliked before. This is an analogy for many prospective college students today selecting their colleges to apply to. They just want the brand name, not the actual shirt. Find the college that fits YOU, not our culture’s understanding of a prestigious institution. In the end, will it really matter that much what school you went to? It’s all about the piece of paper…if you get that after you graduate, you’re golden. Most employers don’t even look at your grades…they just care that you have the degree in the first place and check your work experience. You only live once, and you’re only young once. America’s youth really needs to unwind and take a deep breath. Don’t sacrifice your social life and dignity, because those are 2 things you may never get back. Work hard, but remember there’s more to life than just academic education…you need life education as well to succeed. To cite a relevant quote from A Bronx Tale, “I was getting two educations- one from school, and one from the University of Belmont Ave. (his street)”.</p>
<p>Meh this thread is becoming ridiculous.</p>
<p>everyone acts like makeing 100,000k or more is a lot of money, honestly people it is not, sure you will make above the national average, but the government has ways of getting around this, welcome the “Tax Bracket”. My father gets killed in taxes, so does all of the other people in my family. The best thing I can tell you is to live the simple life. Don’t get in debt, pay everything off, and screw living like the jones. There is no telling how this economy will turn out. Especially with the oil field the way it is. Luckily my father is in the position where he does the hiring and firing. For the love of god, don’t go into oil for the money, do it because you love geology or something. The amount of time you spend working is not worth the unstability or the time away from family. When things are kicking they kicking, but when things are down, boy does it go down hill.</p>
<p>Another thing, 35 percent of his portfolio flew away like a damn pigeon. He considers himself lucky, got some of his money out. My buddy’s dad lost 60. I think I would have caught a heart attack. It is pitiful, to see someone who has worked so hard, dedicated their lives to their profession and see there work, fall to pieces. To see what they are supposed to live off of after retirement evaporate into thin air. My father said screw it, I guess I’ll work until I die. Listen people, this is a new generation, you can forget about retirement, unless you save up every nickel and dime you earn and live in a box. Then you won’t even know if the dollar will be worth a dime in the next 10 years. I once read a poll that said, that the general population thinks that if a person makes 125k a year, they are considered wealthy, or well off, well, I think they need to pull their head out of their ass.</p>
<p>
First, my school is not in America. I never said it was. Second, it actually was noted by Wall Street Journal. On average, 99% of my school’s graduates attend university, many on scholarships. I am not ■■■■■■■■, nor spinning the truth for a fact. I am just stating my school’s average for SAT. Do some research about a school in Singapore.</p>
<p>Why are we always striving to better ourselves? Why do some people pay that extra buck at starbucks as opposed to getting a cheaper caffeine alternative elsewhere ? Why do send resumes, join organizations, and go out of our way to impress potential employers? </p>
<p>Why are developers flocking to Apple as opposed to settling at some isolated, unknown software company in the middle of Ohio? Why do most people use PC’s instead of Linux? The answer is quite simple actually, humans do what they think is best for them. We are constantly in search of innovation, inadvertently striving to build on our own human capital whether others like it or not. </p>
<p>Basic economics can tell us why many students have Ivy fever every college season; HYPSM has branded themselves as premier private insitutions, and are held in high regard by the academic world. But there is only one HPYSM, and the demand is increasingly high. True, one can also be successful at a lesser known college, but I can also get the same quality shoes at sketchers! True, college anxiety may sometimes be somewhat unneccesary and ludicrous, but who’s to tell these students what their priorities are? Must we all preach medicority, telling students that they need not worry about where they attend college because adcoms ain’t got nothin on them? </p>
<p>Perspective people, perspective ; just because you live the world through your own little bubble doesn’t mean you’re right. Different people, different ambitions, different college lists. We argue about everything from comic books to standardized testing, so college admissions would probably be the more relevant of the bunch.</p>
<p>Ummm… This thread seems to have a been a tirade against high achieving people. Being high-achieving does not mean you give up your social life your fun…</p>
<p>Believe me or not, most top school people had load of fun during high school, and also got 2300+ SAT and 4.0 GPA UW. And yes, there are other ways to have fun than to party: my conception of fun can be to discuss crystal field theory with a friend… Is that a crime? I like doing summer research instead of just “hanging” out. Is that a crime? Instead of criticizing other people for being high-achieving, we should encourage them.</p>
<p>Wow, only in the US we could see such a paradoxical situation. Blaming other people for having high grades and making assumptions about their social lives and parents. Although you may think it is impossible to actually enjoy studying/do it for fun, I am a living proof of the contrary.</p>
<p>I hope you’re kidding, but in case you’re not…</p>
<p>Making 100 grand per year is a damn good accomplishment. I don’t know what high school you go to where teachers earn 100 grand per year, but it’s generally less than half that. Less than 16% of households (not persons) make 100,000 or more. If you think otherwise, you should probably get out of your bubble.</p>
<p>And I want to go to a top-tiered school to get an excellent education, not for the name brand. You’d be lying if you told me that I’d have the same education and opportunities by going to the best of state schools, as that’s simply not true. Call me an overachiever if you want, but I just want a great excellent education so I can go on to do great things.</p>
<p>THANK YOU REDFOX 11. I see where you are getting at. I feel this site is all about statistics, numbers, test scores, grades…it is all TOO MUCH. Everything is blown out of proportion and people have the perception that a high GPA and perfect SAT’s/ACT will GUARANTEE admission to any college/university. I believe any college, whether a prestigious institution like Harvard, or a UC like Berkeley, are looking beyond numbers. They want personality, character, leadership, and motivation, which is not only evident in our academics, but also in our involvement in school or the community. Being BOOK SMART and STREET SMART are two very different things. I don’t think all colleges just want to admit book nerds who study all day and aren’t involved in anything. After college, in the “real world”, the people that TRULY succeed are sociable and have a unique personality that appeals to the masses. They are people who succeed, regardless of attending Yale or Princeton. </p>
<p>The focus needs to be shifted from numbers and statistics to the overall, HOLLISTIC review of the applicant. It is rather a well-rounded, comprehensive package of a decent/fine GPA, volunteer/work experience, invovlement in extracurricular activities, and character that is an exemplary model of an ideal student of any university. I really cannot buy that the SAT’s measure success in college. Really now, a 4 hour exam can determine success in a span of 4 years in college? Are you kidding me? An exam doesn’t even come CLOSE to evaluating a student as a whole. I can practically write a report/essay on Collegeboard, the “non-profit” organization and how the impact of the SAT is slowly withering away within the next decade. Basically, people need to stop thinking about numbers and really dig deep into what a university is looking for. I’m so sure a 5.0 GPA and 2400 SAT score is really “all they want”…</p>
<p>RedFox11, you are awesome. My friends are sooo obsessed with their GPA and everything and it’s like, calm down. They got into so many good schools, too. Their heads are so big.</p>
<p>It’s like, there’s a world out there, learn about it. -_-</p>