<p>When i go to HYPS forums they just seem so out of my league. For years I’ve always been having lower grades and getting 2nd and 3rd places. I’m sick of watching people getting 1st at competitions and accepted to the top top elite schools. I WANT TO BE ONE OF THEM. I’m not jealous, but I am willing to give whatever it takes to make it to the top. Some people might call me narrow minded or prestige whore. But there’s really nothing wrong to let a dream come true right?
It’s too late for me to apply college now (i’m a high school senior). But anyone here sick and tired of looking up at those people that seems so far away from us, and wish to work hard in college to be THE TOP?</p>
<p>not really. i don’t really care about who comes out on top and who doesn’t. all that matters is if i’m comfortable with the effort i gave and the results i got. obviously there are people in this world that can try their hardest and never make it to the top (in whatever they want) and there are those that don’t try much and make it to the top. it works both ways.</p>
<p>BP-i understand, i guess i feel like there’s sooo much in me that hasn’t come out yet. Being a late bloomer (accademically), I’m really starting to gain some confidence in myself now. Maybe in a couple months I’ll be one of those people who’ll try their hardest and just realize that, hey, I’m just not smart enough.</p>
<p>You say you’re a “late bloomer”, which in other words, just means you’re finally maturing and willing to work. </p>
<p>Good that you’re realizing that. </p>
<p>It’s not impossible to become an elite (I’m assuming you mean at a UC or Ivy). However, understand that it takes HARD work, a lot harder than you think. You can say to yourself, “Oh, I’ll do the 3+ hours or studying a night to be at the top.”, but when it comes down to it, will you really? Question yourself. Make a plan.</p>
<p>And if you’re serious about this, take this gap year, and go DO THINGS. Amazing things, get a job, volunteer at as many places as you can, (since we’re all learning that while grades are “important”, it’s those ECs that make you stand out from all the other 4.0gpa, 2200 SAT people) and read and study to get yourself up to par on academic intelligence that you may be missing due to all the years of slacking. </p>
<p>If you’re serious about this, also, I know this sounds insulting but I really mean it: Go take some writing composition classes at the local community college, because just from your casual postings there are a number of grammar, spelling, and punctuation problems.</p>
<p>haha yea…i’m not very good at English…yet. I certainly appreciate you for giving me insightful advices, but as for now I’m not sure if I’m able to take a gap year. I live with my aunt and uncle and they are ready for me to get out of their house so they can move on. I agree with your writing composition suggestion. Maybe I can take some writing intensive courses in college?</p>
<p>I’ve never thought that, actually. I don’t “look up” to them, because I think that elite college admissions, at least on the undergrad level, has almost as much to do with your parents as it does with you. I am tired of being looked down on by them, though, but that’s a whole new subject. I’m also not one of those type A personality, must be the best of the best of the best types of people. Even if I had actually applied to some Ivy schools and gotten into them, I probably wouldn’t have gone…I don’t think I would want to be in an environment full of people who think that if you’re not #1, you’re a big failure. I don’t want to base so much of my personal idea of success on competing with other people in everything.</p>
<p>I guess you could always do grad school and get your prestige kicks there. Or maybe by the time you graduate, you’ll learn that you don’t really care about it as much to begin with.</p>
<p>“haha yea…i’m not very good at English…yet. I certainly appreciate you for giving me insightful advices, but as for now I’m not sure if I’m able to take a gap year. I live with my aunt and uncle and they are ready for me to get out of their house so they can move on. I agree with your writing composition suggestion. Maybe I can take some writing intensive courses in college?”</p>
<p>I hope you didn’t take offense, because I know I came on strong.</p>
<p>So, in the first post you state that it’s too late for you to apply to college? Because community colleges are still accepting applications. So presumably you’re going to go to one, since you state you’re not going to take a gap year? </p>
<p>My simple tips that seem to simple to help but actually make this easier: Apply to scholarships like crazy (if you don’t have to worry about the money aspect of school, it helps you focus on grades). </p>
<p>Read a lot. A lot. Try to read a book a week. Doesn’t have to be literature, just commit yourself to reading something, anything, as much as you can. In over populated colleges, knowledge is definitely the priority and the majority of the grade. Although if you do read a lot of good literature, it naturally seems to help volcabulary and writing skills.</p>
<p>Look into your college to see if there is a transfer program to one of your state’s universities if you’re seriously considering attending one.</p>
<p>But like, BlahDeBlah says, </p>
<p>“Or maybe by the time you graduate, you’ll learn that you don’t really care about it as much to begin with.”</p>
<p>I learned that early on in life, luckily. In the business world, it helps if you’re from a school with a good rep. but overall actual work experience is what matters most.</p>
<p>Goood luck!</p>
<p>well I was accepted to NYU and Emory. So I do have two fairly good schools to choose. But that’s not the point. The point is that i’m not quite satisfied with my current position and I wish someday I can be at THE top.</p>
<p>oh yea, i definitely agree with the reading thing. I am reading like crazy now…man…hopefully that helps.</p>
<p>To the OP: there is always, ALWAYS going to be someone who does just a little bit better. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to go to a more selective school, but don’t let it become your life. </p>
<p><em>Real</em> people don’t define themselves by where the got in and the financial aid they got. It’s what we actually <em>do</em> with the education we get that matters.
Not only that, college is NOT the end of life. I wouldn’t kill myself trying to get on top in admissions; it’s just not worth it.</p>
<p>I’m going to make a bet and say you’ll never get to “the top” (whatever the **** that is).</p>
<p>That’s because people who are successful in life aren’t successful because they got amazing grades and just want to be good at everything. At least, not most people. They are successful in life because they have a passion - they want to make music, to help people, to solve world hunger, do WHATEVER, because they care not about being the best, but about people and animals and values.</p>
<p>My advice to you is to start finding some real role models, not just prep school kids who got to go to Harvard. Learn about the world and find out what you can do to make it better. Living for recognition is empty.</p>