What if I can't be number 1?

Colleges & Universities Yale University
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<p>You shouldn’t say something unless you mean it, silverturtle. I appreciate your false statement, but I am sure you are not seriously concerned for me, you really don’t care about me. And, sure, you can call me unstable. I have the right to be dissatisfied with the college admissions process, who doesn’t? There are less people like me because most people are supported when they say their plans for the future. My family scoffs at me for thinking that I can go to an ivy or any college that is well-known for that matter. I have no support, including from the counselor, because there is no trying to get into ivies in my community. There are some egomaniacs who think they have ivy admissions in the bag, there are some who regard it as simply a dream. </p>

<p>I am not “unstable,” I am just disappointed because I know that my efforts will lead to nothing. It is good to be optimistic about somethings, but sometimes, it is best to let reality hit - and devastate - you.</p>

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<p>SheenR, don’t ramble so much =p. Don’t become obsessed with college admission success or proving those around you wrong. The satisfaction obtained is only temporary anyways. </p>

<p>It’s fine to dream big and try your best. Just do things without regrets and have honorable goals.</p>

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<p>chill out man. the tone of your posts is incredibly negative and challenging, especially toward questcrew.</p>

<p>there is a huge discrepancy between being #1 and having strong grades and scores. i have a couple Bs in a rigorous curriculum and great scores, and i’m FAR from the best academically at my school. we don’t rank, but there are handfuls of people who would be ranked ahead of me and handfuls of people with similar or better scores. not #1.</p>

<p>i am not involved in “any and all” extracurriculars. i am not “deeply” involved in all of the extracurriculars i participate in. in fact, i only have one really significant extracurricular for which i have regional awards for, but even then, i am not the best in my city. i am not really a popular kid at my school. i am not a leader of my class in any way, shape, or form. i have a tiny bit of leadership, but ridiculously far from “#1” in that area.</p>

<p>i haven’t read my recommendations, so i can’t say for sure, but i suppose they were good. they were not extreme. and i certainly do not suck up to my teachers. you should be able to find other ways for teachers to positively notice you besides actively sucking up to them. essays were good. steel? eh. #1? no.</p>

<p>i’m not the perfect academic, extracurricularly involved, leader, teacher’s pet, essay-writing machine that you describe. i’m not #1. i’m not even #1 in ONE of the above categories. i’m a pretty normal kid who works hard and is passionate in particular about that one extracurricular i mentioned earlier. just one. and yeah, i got into yale.</p>

<p>so, relax man. i apologize in advance if what i wrote above seems boastful, i didn’t intend it to be that way. just trying to show you that your stereotype of yale acceptees is off the mark. you seem to be doing pretty well, and you seem to be able to write pretty well (watch the tone, though…). apply to yale if it’s your dream school, you’d be surprised what kind of things can happen (i certainly was). and if you don’t get into yale, don’t worry about it. i’m sure you’ll get accepted to another great school. just work hard, do the activities you love, enjoy high school, and things will turn out just fine.</p>

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<p>I second YeloPen and also have a somewhat similar story. I certainly don’t fit that description of that “perfect” student you described. Schools like Yale accept students who they think will make the most of the resources offered to them and will be able to handle the work academically. Those people who get “100s” on everything don’t necessarily get those kinds of grades at top colleges and even get their first B’s and C’s ever. Also, many, if not most, the students who apply to Yale actually want to go there. Just trust that these colleges are picking the right students to form their classes and try your best to be picked.</p>

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<p>I know this is much easier said than done, but seriously try not to perseverate on college admissions too much this early on in high school. Right now, I would suggest focusing on doing extracurriculars that interest you and that you enjoy doing. Don’t think about what admissions officers would want from you, think about what YOU want from you. </p>

<p>Also, they’re not looking for perfect people, they’re looking for dynamic people. Yes, you should do well in school and have good SAT scores if you want a shot, but they honestly don’t split hairs about standardized test scores. They DO put a lot of weight on the essay, however, which is fortunate because it’s the one thing you are COMPLETELY in control of. Make it personal…they notice. If they like the “you” which is represented in your essay, your chances of admission are significantly raised.</p>

<p>Anyway, those are my two cents. Seriously, don’t worry about it; your self-doubt will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.</p>

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<p>I wouldn’t go this far.</p>

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<p>Yelopen,</p>

<p>I wish I could believe you. I wish I could put my incessantly racy mind to rest, but I can’t. Why? Because, you see, I am right. There is not one person that will come into this thread and say they got accepted into Yale although they are normal. You were 20 points away from a perfect SAT score your first try, you got as close as possible to a 4.0 UW GPA with the most rigorous schedule possible, you have crazy volunteer hours, you have an internship, you are a beast at the clarinet, you have work experience, you are a National Merit Finalist, etc. etc. etc. You basically fit the description of another Yale kid. Nobody, NOBODY, on this website can come into this thread and say they are average and were lucky to get in without SEVERELY downplaying their achievements. </p>

<p>Stop telling hopefuls about your candyland dreams of not worrying about college and saying it is all going to be okay, because it isn’t. More and more people are going to be shattered if they are told that hard work alone will get them where they want to be. It takes perfect planning and if you don’t have the resources to get where you want to be or do what you want to do, you will never realize your dreams. It is that simple. We should have never looked any deeper than what we thought was a facade in the beginning.</p>

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<p>Just so you know, not everyone has resources or uses “perfect planning” to get into college. </p>

<p>What do you want people to tell you? That if you don’t have any outstanding qualities present in your application that you will most likely be rejected? Well yes, if your app is not outstanding it is true you will probably not get in. What of it? There is so much more worth dreaming about than a college acceptance.</p>

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<p>If this is about success later on in life, I guarantee you that most of the successful people you know today did not attend Yale. Why are you already becoming fixated on college admissions? You’re using at as a barometer of a student’s worth, and that’s not right at all.</p>

30

<p>If you continue to refuse to listen to anybody and perpetually insist that you are right and everyone else is wrong then I recommend that you don’t post your rant sessions on CC anymore. I honestly have know idea why you posted this if you are just going to debunk everyone’s opinions that are meant to help you out. CHILL OUT or else you are going to have an ulcer by sophomore year</p>

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<p>SheenR, your writing is wonderful. Your posts are so funny, they are meant to be humorous aren’t they? I don’t think you sound unstable, I think you sound quite sane.</p>

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<p>I suspect your family appreciates your sense of humor.</p>

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<p>I’m not downplaying anything; everything I said was true. You, on the other hand, seem to be exaggerating things. None of my extracurriculars are particularly outstanding because there are countless people who volunteer, hold internships, etc. Sure, I had a near perfect SAT score and GPA, but there are tons and tons of people who were better. There are also tons and tons of people with lower scores and GPAs who got accepted. Go check the acceptance thread. Again, I’m not perfect and I’m not #1.</p>

<p>And make the most of the resources you do have. Adcoms (whether it’s true or not) say that as long as you do that, you’ll be fine. They understand that not everyone lives in a conducive environment.</p>

<p>And trust me, college acceptances don’t mean very much if you’re looking to achieve your dreams and be successful. My entire family is a living example of that, especially my dad. I don’t want to go into personal details, but none of my family attended a school even NEAR the caliber of Yale. My dad is just a driven individual and needless to say he’s very successful. I wish I could be a little more specific, but that’s personal info.</p>

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<p>SheenR, you’re right, we’ve just been trying to shield you from the truth. I didn’t think you could handle it, but I’ve changed my mind and I think you are ready to hear it.</p>

<p>If you don’t get into Yale you’ll tell yourself it doesn’t matter, you’ll go to another school, your second or third choice, you’ll tell yourself you’re moving on with your life. You’ll graduate and you will come to view your Yale dreams as a passing fancy, a foolish notion of youth, you’ll tell yourself you were better off where you ended up. You’ll think you are happy.</p>

<p>Then one day you’ll be walking down the street and a trim, youthful person will run by in a Yale sweatshirt. They will look so young and successful, striding along effortlessly, not even breathing hard. You’ll think to yourself if only you could have gone to Yale you would also be able to run along effortlessly at a 7 minute per mile pace.</p>

<p>Or you’ll see a car drive by. Not any old car but a luxury sports car, red, and it looks like it is new. I has a Yale bumper sticker on it. If only you had gone to Yale, you could be driving that car.</p>

<p>There will be days, even weeks, when you can avoid these kinds of moments. But when you least expect it, just around the corner, there will be another reminder of what your life could have been like if only you could have gone to Yale.</p>

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<p>^ I’m not sure how well satire will work here.</p>

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<p>Actually I agree with his last post, no one “average” gets accepted to Yale. That happens to be a major reason why it’s such a prestigious university, it accepts and cultivates amazing students.</p>

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<p>The entire point is that accepted kids didn’t go into High School with great achievements. If they just decided to go on a message board and whine about their pursuit being “futile” they wouldn’t have gotten in either.</p>

<p>The OP is totally right, if you don’t try, you won’t make it.</p>

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<p>If your college essays exhibit the same manic-depressive tone as your forum posts do, I’m not sure who would take you. </p>

<p>Sure, college admissions were on my mind since before high school, but it never really made its way to the forefront of my mind because there was just too much stuff to do - tests to study for, community needs to be fulfilled, etc.</p>

<p>I don’t know if I can speak for everyone, but for the 10 people or so I know who were accepted/matriculated to HYPS, the majority of their accomplishments were in their Junior Senior year. You’re worrying way too early about this kind of stuff! I’m sure if I compared my freshman self to you, you’d beat me out. </p>

<p>As a freshman, you have the luxury of experimenting with many different extracurriculars. Try out for that sport you always wanted to play, and don’t give up if you get a relatively bad score on the SAT - I got a 2050 sophomore year. Three more tests and countless more practice tests later, I got a 2380. </p>

<p>Further, I don’t think that you need to suck up to teachers to get a great recommendation. You just need to be someone genuinely interested in the curriculum, though being a likable person certainly helps.</p>

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<p>To the OP -</p>

<p>When I first came to CC, I was amazed, too. A little bit shocked, even, by virtue of the fact that I had never seen people as accomplished and talented as the top CCers, despite my knowing many Ivy students in real life. 20+ APs?! Beauty queen <em>and</em> TASPer?! 2400 and over 1000 volunteer hours?!</p>

<p>But you know, it’s all a matter of perspective.</p>

<p>After my initial panic, instead of becoming extremely depressed (and really, I have more reason to lose all hope, since I’m almost a senior and therefore out of time), I viewed CC as a unique opportunity to be inspired and motivated by these extraordinary individuals. They are living proof of all that is possible–and I’m certain that, for the majority of them, it is their drive, hard work, time management, and passion that allows them to achieve so much, not any innate, God-bestowed brilliance. When you look at the stats of the HYPSM accepted students, don’t just look at the numbers and the awards–look deeper…at the long nights…at their frustrated tears…at their stress and breakdowns; but also, remember the self-discipline and determination that fueled their efforts.</p>

<p>It isn’t magic. Yes, most of the Ivy students have done amazing things with their lives, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t normal. My sister attends an Ivy, and I can assure you, she’s struggled, and she’s failed, and she’s been rejected, and she’s been criticized over and over again for her “impossible dreams.” There hasn’t been an invisible, invincible hand guiding her to success. She’s normal.</p>

<p>That person with the straight-100s? Don’t look at him with frustration, anger, or jealousy; look at him and know that, if you try hard enough (or rather, work smart, not hard…the latter generally takes way too much time, and if something isn’t working, try a different method), you can do it, too. The person with XXX awards? That’s just proof that it’s possible, and if you want it enough, you can have it, too. That 2400er? It isn’t chance and an IQ of 600 million. Even the people who don’t prep at all have prepared in other ways–being avid readers, loving math, writing extensively for fun, etc. If you find the right book, figure out your weaker sections, etc…it’ll be difficult, but in the end, if it’s been done before, it’s obviously possible.</p>

<p>Besides, if you’re only a freshman, realize that a lot can and will change with time. My school’s salutatorian actually went through junior high with straight C’s and D’s.</p>

<p>As for me, I started HS an extremely shy, serious individual with a strong, philosophical bent. I was determined to carve my own path, and I refused to become one of the so-called “tools” whose sole aim is college. HYPSM? I didn’t care for them–I thought I’d attend the local state university, and see where I could go from there. </p>

<p>Now, however, just 3 years later, I’m fairly outgoing, and while I’m still in love with philosophy (intended major, actually), I’ve discovered lots of other interests as well. Most notably, I’ve realized how much I actually want to attend Yale or Stanford, and I now understand that, even if some things <em>are</em> done with only admissions in mind, if these activities help other people, if they contribute to the world…the positive effects seem to overshadow the original intent. </p>

<p>Anyways, the bottom line is that, even if you aren’t popular now, or aren’t super-involved, or aren’t making the highest grades…don’t worry. You might be surprised by the future. Just keep your head up above the water, and see how far you can go. You’ll learn to swim along the way.</p>

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<p>After silverturtle brought to our attention that you, OP, are only a freshman in high school, I think I’m gonna have to agree with the others: you’re overreacting. majorly.</p>

<p>However “bad” (what was it? top 10%?) your freshman grades are, know that they are negligible; Princeton doesn’t even look at them. You still have 2-3 years to prepare your “perfect”
application. You also have an advantage over the other kids, because you will be consciously thinking about your application the whole time, and mentally calculating how everything you do will reflect on the application. If you can’t prepare yourself adequately in 2-3 years, with the advantages you have (manic determination, a meticulous knowledge of what Yale wants), I can’t say you deserve to be admitted.</p>

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<p>so, no there’s nothing wrong w/ thinking about college freshmen year or earlier, yeah, you are going to be getting ulcers at the rate you’re going. I got into Yale. I had at least 1 B per grade on my transcript, no 2400 for me, not much community service, and to top it all off, I’m asian, the most overrepresented race on Ivy League campuses. Is there luck, hell yes; everything you listed was just to get in the RUNNING for these schools. Oh and guess what, 70% or so is right there with you, the 7% they accept comes from that group. What can you do about it? Well… you seem to like whining…seriously, accept that your chances at Ivy League, like the rest of ours, is not, and was never high. That being said, miracles happen. In the meantime, enjoy your life, and know that you will go to A college, and you will probably love it if you give it a chance…</p>