Planning on Going to a Decent college?

[ShadoWing]

College selection and stuff is coming up soon for me and i just got back the results from the new SAT....1980 :\ Kinda disappointed so I'm going to retake it again in April

My aims for college are probably NYU, Boston U, and have small hopes for big ivy league colleges.

What was big for all you guys to get into a decent school? Recommendations? Grades? SAT Scores? Extra curriculars? What was the ballpark score that you got too, like in the old SAT?

I hate this time of the year, i gotta think about all this crap

 

[ntdz]

Extra curriculars are a HUGE plus, absolutely enormous. My friend had over 1500 SAT (this was before they switched it) and a GPA over 4.5, and went to a private high school. He still couldn't get into Ivy League, he went to Cal instead.

 

[jaybert]

when i was looking to transfer, I couldnt get into Cal but ended up going to Cornell for comp sci.

 

[Albis]

high gpa and sat is all you need

i had a 3.85 and 1410 in high school and i went to the university of michigan

 

[ShadoWing]

i mean, like, i've done some student exchange program with japan, going to some entrepreneurship thing in washington over the summer, do those count for anything?

 

[Elderly Newt]

Yes, those would definitely count. How much would they count? I'm not sure. But they'd definitely give you a unique advantage over others: those aren't the typical things people do (such as school-sponsored extra-cirricular activities).

 

[Mrvile]

Well, I'm planning to go to an art school, so basically portfolio here

As for a regular school, the most important things are usually standardized test scores, class rank, and out-of-school work (like volunteering and stuff). The essay/interview is also very important. Some things that usually don't really matter are variabl things like GPA (since all schools do their GPA differently...mine is 4.4 and I'm still ranked 34th ).

Your thing you did in the summer will help. Since most of the students that apply to top schools have already met and surpassed the standards like test scores and class rank, those extra things you do in the summer will help you stand out. Just make sure you do a lot of them :thumbsup:

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

its funny you guys are disappointed with your SAT scores.. i got a 1810 and i was perfectly happy with it, hell the #4 kid in my class got an 1820 and that's the highest I've heard of anyone getting on the new SAT at my school.

 

[Juno]

extra-cirricular activities are what colleges are looking for.

no extra-cirricular activities, how can you contribute to college?

 

[Brainonska511]

I got a 2010 on the new SAT. I could have been disappointed, but I didn't study or care for taking the test.

And now I just need to hear from the schools I applied to (I kind of hate the waiting game), but at the very least, I'll end up in Binghamton.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

I had good numbers (1440 SAT, similar GPA) but ended up at UCLA (which isnt bad.. but its not an Ivy). The biggest difference between me and the kids who got into top 10 schools were maybe 50 pts on the SAT and more extracurriculars. I was weak in that regard. Also, my school had literally dozens of kids go to Ivys. They will factor that in and make the standards HIGHER for schools like that.

 

[Tylanner]

i got denied to madison based on extra-cirricular activities :/

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: LordSegan
I had good numbers (1440 SAT, similar GPA) but ended up at UCLA (which isnt bad.. but its not an Ivy). The biggest difference between me and the kids who got into top 10 schools were maybe 50 pts on the SAT and more extracurriculars. I was weak in that regard. Also, my school had literally dozens of kids go to Ivys. They will factor that in and make the standards HIGHER for schools like that.

Two years ago, one kids from my school went to Harvard. Otherwise most of it was like UPenn, Michigan, etc. The Harvard kid was BIG news around the school. My school isn't too bright.

What were you ranked at your school? And don't worry, UCLA is a pretty good school My mom went there for her PhD after getting her masters at Stanford :Q :Q

 

[Juno]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
I got a 2010 on the new SAT. I could have been disappointed, but I didn't study or care for taking the test.

And now I just need to hear from the schools I applied to (I kind of hate the waiting game), but at the very least, I'll end up in Binghamton.

you are going to see my brother there.

 

[blustori]

Originally posted by: Tylanner
i got denied to madison based on extra-cirricular activities :/

You should have written ATOT as one.

 

[da loser]

going to some entrepreneurship thing or doing some entrepreneurship thing? colleges want doers, leaders, innovators, blah blah blah. your experience should show they you've experimented, and perhaps have some unique ideas that you've tested out. actually tried to research on your own.

instead of going to camp to learn, try to start a business to learn and gain first hand knowledge and experience. note this is only for the elite colleges, for state schools and above average private universities, you just need stuff like your business thing to place on the resume.

read your application, and ask yourself. does this person seem like they're going to use college to expand their horizons, interact with fellow students, and make the world a better place or just going through the motions?

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: blustori

Originally posted by: Tylanner
i got denied to madison based on extra-cirricular activities :/

You should have written ATOT as one.

Yes, it definately is a full time extra-curricular activity!

 

[Juno]

Originally posted by: Mrvile

Originally posted by: blustori

Originally posted by: Tylanner
i got denied to madison based on extra-cirricular activities :/

You should have written ATOT as one.

Yes, it definately is a full time extra-curricular activity!

time to nef?

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: da loser
going to some entrepreneurship thing or doing some entrepreneurship thing? colleges want doers, leaders, innovators, blah blah blah. your experience should show they you've experimented, and perhaps have some unique ideas that you've tested out. actually tried to research on your own.

instead of going to camp to learn, try to start a business to learn and gain first hand knowledge and experience. note this is only for the elite colleges, for state schools and above average private universities, you just need stuff like your business thing to place on the resume.

read your application, and ask yourself. does this person seem like they're going to use college to expand their horizons, interact with fellow students, and make the world a better place or just going through the motions?

:disgust: I don't really know about that...

My friend is taking all kinds of summer programs...he did a two week thing at Northwestern last year as a sophomore, and this year he's signed up for a full time internship at the Cleveland Clinic. He's your typical asian STUDY STUDY STUDY kid so he knows what he's doing.

Also, if you take a pre-college course at an art school, it basically equals guaranteed acceptance into that school.

 

[ponyo]

It's not where you go but what you make of it. You can go to small no name school and excel in the right field and do great or go to top tier school and get lost and become average.

Regardless of where you go, try to make most of your opportunity and resources and excel at whatever you do. That's what matters.

 

[ModerateRepZero]

from what i understand, the top schools don't use standardized test scores and gpa to differentiate between the students who get accepted versus rejected. Think about it....almost everyone with a bonafide chance to get into Harvard (who applies) has a high SAT score and/or GPA. It certainly serves as a baseline (barring extraordinary circumstances you're not getting accepted with a 1200), but it doesn't seem like that really is a deal-breaker.

You can get into most public schools (especially if they are huge) through simple numbers like the UC schools, I believe.


Brainon: you might head to Binghamton? congrats, i went there.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Mrvile

Originally posted by: blustori

Originally posted by: Tylanner
i got denied to madison based on extra-cirricular activities :/

You should have written ATOT as one.

Yes, it definately is a full time extra-curricular activity!

and UT2004 clan ladder matches!

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: ModerateRepZero
from what i understand, the top schools don't use standardized test scores and gpa to differentiate between the students who get accepted versus rejected. Think about it....almost everyone with a bonafide chance to get into Harvard (who applies) has a high SAT score and/or GPA. It certainly serves as a baseline (barring extraordinary circumstances you're not getting accepted with a 1200), but it doesn't seem like that really is a deal-breaker.

You can get into most public schools (especially if they are huge) through simple numbers like the UC schools, I believe.


Brainon: you might head to Binghamton? congrats, i went there.

Oh? But high test scores and class rank are the only things keeping you from being "considered" and "completely rejected." You'll need those high scores and rank if you want to even think about getting in to good colleges anyway. So they are definately important. They may not be what differentiates between those that do get accepted and those that get rejected in the long run, but you'll need em.

And like I said, it's the extra curricular things that will help in the end. NHS, internships, clubs (especially if you start your own), etc.

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: Mrvile

Originally posted by: blustori

Originally posted by: Tylanner
i got denied to madison based on extra-cirricular activities :/

You should have written ATOT as one.

Yes, it definately is a full time extra-curricular activity!

and UT2004 clan ladder matches!

:Q :Q What about being ranked number 1 out of 8000 in your favorite CS:S server?? That has to be on there.

 

[DigDug]

I am an alum interviewer and its become quite evident what a farce the current admissions game is - and game is the perfect word to use for it.

It's all about creating a "hook" - drafting up a persona that fits with the niche you think your favorite school wants to have, but is underrepresented in.

The amount of "activities" these kids are doing is ridiculous, but I see why. My undergrad has gotten so competitive that I wonder if I would ever have gotten in despite having great grades. At many schools a 4.0 is a base pre-requesite - what kind of nonsense is this? A mix of grade inflation, gaming the secondary school system and gaming the entrance exams.

I feel so bad for the average kid who can't afford a princeton review, or the multi-thousand dollar "summer programs to go write a screen play" or some equally quirky thing.

I think people (admissions officers and students both) have lost sight of what college is about - its a place to grow up and become who you'll be. Why do you need a mile-long resume before you get there?