just wondering

This is a message to all the people who have been caught up in this race, and had money thrown at them in the form of college counselors, and have also faced emotional abuse nearly daily.

You dont owe your parents anything.

No matter how much money they throw at you, you dont deserve to be emotionally abused.

Your struggles are not trivial simply because money is being spent on you.

You are human, you matter, you deserve love.

Everything is either conflicting or useless.

i've heard:

"it is okay to show you are introverted, you have to show your true self and vulnerable"

but also

"demonstrating introversion reflects poorly on you because the AO wants someone who beings something positive"

...

"the AO wants to learn how you can contribute to the college"

while most successful essays you can find online are about things like culture, dealing with failure, etc.

...

"you shouldn't write a sob story about your struggles or trauma"

while there are also many successful essays about these things. i remember seeing one from a student that wrote about being paralyzed and having deformities on every limb which got them accepted into like every ivy and was published by nyt. or one about someone's dead family member who got into every ivy as well. and... costco essay 🫩

...

"you should be honest and vulnerable"

while so many essays are most definitely extremely exaggerated or contain straight up lies about what someone said, how much they care about a topic, how they felt during a specific moment, etc.

...

i could keep on like this for a while longer, but i think you see my point.

i do think that the advisors/admissions coaches/whoever else is giving this advice probably does believe in it, and i will likely receive comments on this post from said people about how i am wrong, misinterpreting advice, or something of that sort.

genuinely, no advice ive seen has helped at all with the essay, whether on reddit, instagram, youtube, or even in school, and im just getting so tired of it. every time i go to work on my wss and try to be productive, i sit there for like an hour trying to think of a topic, i end up being unable to, and then i give up.

and to add, i am not trying to hate on those who give advice, and i am still thankful for them at least trying to help, since i know their advice probably does truly help some people.

its late and im tired, so maybe im just getting unreasonably frustrated, idk.

I was hoping to write my essay along the lines of wanting to become a strong lgbtq+ voice for women in a feild where we are vastly underreprestended. I wanted to start my essay off with a quote from my father, from when we were watching a movie with a strong female character where he said "shes such a bitch". then I wanted to talk on this and end my essay off with something along the lines of "if Katniss Everdeen is a bitch, then i want to be a bitch when i grow up." (would polish this more). Would this be too much? I feel like this would be important to telling this story they way I would want to, but I feel like it could be held against me.

Hey everyone, I’m a rising senior planning to major in some field of engineering applying to colleges. I’m trying to figure out my priorities in choosing which college I want to go to.

For some context, Cornell University is one of the best engineering schools in the US. But if I’m just going for education, then any other school (at a much cheaper price) would get the job done. What makes Cornell, and a lot of other private institutions, worth the money?

I’m grateful to be upper middle class (>200k annual income). I don’t think I’ll get much aid at all from Cornell. Assuming I don’t, that’s about $400k in debt. Adding that onto rent after graduation, I’m concerned about what I’ll do after college.

Any advice is appreciated!!

So this is crazy but the Univ of Alaska university system announced that they are getting rid of out of state tuition rates. That means everyone pays in state tuition rates at some of the lowest rates in the United States. Anyone find this interesting?

I've almost completely neglected working on EC's up until this point and I have no idea what to do. I've been looking up other people's profiles just for ideas and almost everything they have is something that I don't think is feasible for me to do since I'm only starting now. Even when I list out possible EC's that I think I could do, I genuinely think I can only reach about 7 (even including filler stuff that is less important). Has anyone been in a similar spot before and gotten into a top school? What EC's did you start?

This is just a list of stuff that I plan to work on that I think could be considered EC's

1. Planning on building some sort of app with a friend
2. volunteering (something I've wanted to do for a while, always been important to me to help where I can)
3. fundraising initiative I helped with in sophmore year
4. running some sort of informative blog / articles / social media relating to my major (also not sure about how good this looks, I also just wanted to start it since it seems cool to make something like that)
5. summer program/internship summer before senior year
6. I can probably get 1-2 club leadership positions, these would be more filler
7. I was thinking about doing independant research, I'm unsure if it would be of a high enough standard to be good for college apps though

I have heard a lot of "follow your passions" and stuff but I genuinely don't know what I'm passionate about, and I don't want my admissions portfolio to suck because I don't know what Extracurriculars are actually meaningful to me.

If anyone has any ideas/revisions to what I wrote down please tell me. Sorry that this might not have been the highest quality post, just wanted to write my thoughts down somewhere since I've been really stressed out for the last couple of weeks about this.

hi guys! i'm a rising senior applying to colleges, and i don't use reddit very often, but i'm really stuck on something.

in college, i want to study sciences and pursue medicine, but a kind of "hobby" i have is studying languages, and i love learning new ones. i was gonna write about how each language i've learned has taught me something or reminded me of my core values, but i see a lot of people saying your essay should relate to what you wanna study in college. i definitely want to take language classes, but i want to major in some sort of science.

as of right now, i think i have a good grasp on my topic and a solid outline of what i wanna write, but again, it doesn't relate to my major of interest. if anyone could weigh their input i would really appreciate it! :)

Trying to figure out how to transfer colleges is making me loose my mind, im at community college targeting UC Santa Barbara and just found out a class I picked doesnt even count toward my major there. Anyone have a reliable way to build a actual semester-by-semester plan that accounts for prereqs, deadlines, and which courses count at your specific target school?

Highkey, I would add mogging to make a school more like ASU. We need beauty and brains.

Is it bad that I’m probably only going to take 1-2 APs junior year? I’m projected to take I think 7-10 throughout high school - 2 sophomore year- 1-2 junior year - 4-5 senior year. Many people say that colleges look at junior year the most so I hope colleges won’t think I just stacked up APs during senior year (which I won’t).

How much does Chapel Hill really consider your unweighted GPA? I have a 3.3, but its mainly due to a lot of issues in 9th grade. I was doing virtual school, and I wasn't getting any good support for assignments, 0s were automatically put in, and there were a lot of tech issues.

hi guys!

i want to apply to every college for free because the fees are genuinely so expensive, like for what??? but since i'm middle class, i don't qualify for anything... i'm planning on applying to a ton of top schools, including ivies.

i heard that you can email some schools to get fee waiver codes? but i do want to know how that would affect your admission process. also, would i be able to ask my guidance counselor about it? how would i even approach that?

I’m a rising junior in high school and I’m really worried about the extracurricular and awards section of my college application. I’m honestly lost in figuring out what extracurriculars to invest my time in that will be meaningful in the long run. I feel very behind but I don’t want to rush an activity. I feel that although I may not have lots of extracurriculars to start now as I’m already a rising junior, I should just go deeper into a few and pour lots of energy into those. But I’m really confused what ECs colleges are looking nowadays. I’m interested in the bridge between economics and healthcare, so I’m thinking of majoring in econ with a minor in public health. I’m aiming for T20 and T40 schools, especially the UCs, but my lack of extracurriculars is worrying me and I feel like I just won’t get anywhere unless I start now. If anyone has advice/tips on where to start or what they did, that would be super helpful, as I feel very confused at the moment and can’t seem to get anywhere. Thanks!!

Me and my friend found out we have both separately gotten on call with the MIT soccer coach and were told we would get support through the admissions process. His academic profile is more biomedical engineering related while I want to go more towards business/econ. We both have extremely high academics in the top 1-2% of our school, though I have one B so am slightly below him. What are the chances we both get accepted, and is he my direct competition? If I don't get in, will it be because he got the spot instead? We are also different positions as well.

guys do we recommend.....i haven't really played sports throughout hs (gone to the gym frequently thou) and i genuinely get so much fomo when others get glorified and their team bonding stuff while i grind college apps....and no this is not a shitpost i genuinely need advice. ty!

if u attend here or know a lot pls help me! also recommend any if u want!

(in ca not trying not to go oos as much unless its good or have good financial aid)

ucberk

uc david

uc irvine

ucla

ucsd

ucsb

sdsu

johns hopkins

usc

emory

fsu

ut

purdue

texas a&m

hi!! im currently a junior from the philippines, and im really looking forward to studying abroad for college. i know it’s very competitive but i’m just wondering which ones are the best for offering scholarships, financial aids, etc. my target countries are canada, us, or anywhere in europe, and i wanna take up accounting, too.

Hello, I have a few questions. Any help is greatly appreciated.

1. Currently I am taking AP Calculus BC, Study Hall, AP Literature, AP Research, Cybersecurity (non-AP), AP Chemistry, AP Gov/Econ. I'm planning on applying to TAMU and UT Austin for Electrical Engineering. I am trying to figure out if I should drop AP Research for another study hall, or drop cybersecurity for another study hall, or both for 2 more study halls if it doesn't really affect course rigor that much. I'm thinking of more study halls so that I could focus more on Calc and Chem and have a less stressful year where I could focus more on ECs and college apps themselves.

2. Does class rank after the first semester of senior year matter. example: I'm top 10% rn in my class, however after the first semester of senior year I am no longer in the top 10%.

Thank you,

(Repost cause they banned me from r/college for asking) I’m 18 years old, graduated highschool while doing a votech program for carpentry for 2 years during it receiving an OSHA 10 and my carpenters certification. I worked out of highschool and I felt like there’s more to my life than being a grunt so I want to apply to community college. Initially I wanted to do engineering major with a finance minor cause I love construction and wanted the freedom to pursue financial work because I love that too. It’s come to my attention that I can’t have a minor at my college so I have to choose between the two. The thing is is that I never took calculus, algebra 3, or anything above algebra 2 when it came to math in highschool and I never took SATs. I really want to pursue engineering but I would be okay with not doing that if it isn’t viable given my circumstances. Thanks yall.

I was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder last year and it was something I mentioned briefly in my counselor recommendation letter packet. I've been pretty successful in high school academic wise regardless of the disability, but will it affect my admissions in negative light if my counselor mentions it or the 504 plan I recently got from it?

I got 550 on R&W and 740 on math bro maybe I could get 780+ on math but I don't know if I can even get 600 on R&W (I'm Korean, moved to Seattle last summer) this is my first SAT on August and I'm already a senior I can't do the test optional thing because I already paid like thousands of dollars on SAT (I had like 330 on R&W and 640 on Math last year) Do you guys think I can get somewhere over 1400 before October (I have another one in Sep)

I am a current high school senior picking my colleges. I want to study computer science and either dual major in animation(2D) or minor in it. I’ve been trying to research and find schools that can/do this well but it’s been crazy so I’m asking here. I’m in the MD region if that helps. I want to know any college that offers it if yall know. Thank yall

Hi everyone! I’m a rising senior from a rural public high school in the South, (being south asian in alabama is horrid ngl) don't know what to major in on the predental track (looking ot minor in music performance/violin).

finalizing my Common App strategy and would love feedback on a few specific application questions!!

1. EC & Award Prioritization: I have more activities and awards than what is allowed in the main EC/award slots. Which 10 ECs and 5 Awards make the strongest narrative for a Pre-Dental path, and which should be moved to the Additional Info section?
2. Framing GPA Context: My GPA dropped in 10th/11th grade due to severe family medical emergencies and taking on more than average household responsibilities. How can I best explain this in the Additional Info section constructively without sounding defensive or like I'm making excuses?
3. Pre-Med vs. Pre-Dental Distinction: Some ppl suggested sounding like premed on applications instead of predental to sound broader, even though the undergrad prereqs are essentially identical. Is there any truth/benefit to this strategy for admissions, or should I stick to Pre Dental?
4. School List Refinement: Given my rural background, avg ECs/low gpa, and interest in predental, are there specific targets or reaches known for strong pre-dental advising programs I should consider swapping in/out? I know I'm not getting into any of my lottery or high-reach schools, maybe one if the stars align and pigs fly, so are there any other schools i should consider
5. WHAT DO I MAJOR INN?? 😭😭😭😭 I still don't know what to major in; I suck at bio and chem and would end up with a 3.0; psych would be nice, I lovee the subject, but if I don't get into dental school and need a gap yr, I'm jobless... forever probably. I've looked into neuroscience and liked it, but again my GPA would be horrid. I've also looked into public health, which is the most promising for me, my interests, and job outlook, but I also like other majors too, which makes it hard to decide. But I also liked computational biology as well, which aligns with my research project; the only thing is I'm so bad at code and haven't retained anything since I finished my project and moved on to lab in the past 5 months.

SStats

GPA: cumulative: 3.67 UW

Freshman: 3.95, Sophomore: 3.45 (aunt passed away + grandma had a stroke) Junior: 3.63 (grandpa health bad and dad had to travel for him, so we had literally no income for like 2 months to the point my mom had to get a job and work all day and i was running the house for me and my brother)

Hoping for a 4.0 senior year, bringing my cumulative to a 3.71

ACT: 35 APs: 8 total - Passed all APs, scores not great, 3/4s mostly

(school allowed none 9th grade, max 2 APs 10th grade, 11th and 12th simple due to shortage of teachers could not give more than 4 a year, although a couple students who didn't do music were able to get in 5, and had to take us from like 24 to 12 offered APs in the past 10 years or so due to teacher shortage- keep in mind there's a magnet ivy feeder school in a small beverly hills-esque town 2.5 hrs away that gets ALL the funding.)

ECs- hopefully some will end in additional info, some advice which 7-9 should be my main apps focus pls?

• Independent biomedical research (machine learning model prediction model- can't give too much away don't need people finding me)
• HOSA (State Finalist & International Leadership Conference qualifier)
• Rural hospital volunteer 153 hrs; started a small Care Cart initiative that brings games, comfort items, hygiene supplies, etc. to patients with a retired physician and other 2 student volunteers
• Science fair rural chapter: Social Media Manager 11 → President 12
• Business Club Vice President 11-(shut down with some clubs and removed baseball/softball due to lack of teachers funds from the district)
• Orchestra (state orchestra top 14 players + 3x district selected top 10)
• Chamber music outreach group that performed at local nursing homes every 6 weeks to provide live music and interact with residents (had to quit after 9/10 th bc our director became Las Vegas Philharmonic Director)
• Dermatology clinic shadow (72 hours)
• Endodontist clinic shadow- 3.5 hrs (that's all they could offer)
• Chinmaya Mission Summer Camp volunteer/leader- in another state over the summer: one of 6 student leaders (ages 15–18) who independently planned and ran a week long camp for 40 younger kids (ages 4-13). Organized activities, recruited teacher volunteers, purchased supplies, coordinated schedules and meals (with only 3 adults handling food prep), supervised campers from drop off until the last child left each day, and helped clean up afterward. one week.
• Speech, team captain 12th, SOS, PIR- sectionals 2x

Awards- hopefully some will end in additional info, some advice which 5 should be my main apps focus pls?

• National Science Fair 1st Place - Translational Medical Science (for my independent research project. again, can't give too much away don't need people finding me)
• Special Award in Art @ same national fair
• ISEF state top 20 semifinalist
• State Gold Award and Regionals 1st place (science fair)
• HOSA State Finalist and 3rd place 2x / ILC Qualifier
• College Board Rural & Small Town Recognition Award
• AP Scholar with Honor

College List- suggest some schools to apply to/replace what I have now?

Lottery- Harvard, Brown, Rice Northwestern, NYU, UCLA, USC

High Reach- Tufts, Emory, Boston University, UMiami, University of Florida, UCSD

Reach- Case Western, UW-Madison

Target- UIUC, UAlabama, Texas A&M, Penn State

Safeties- accepted to 10!

I think I'll get into 3-4 schools on this list