College Acceptances / Discussion Thread

[tennisace]

I'm mostly worried about a lot of the SAT prep stuff, so I'm just wondering - did you guys take SAT prep classes or did you hire a tutor? I've been kind of on the fence about it, since a lot of my friends seem to be getting tutors but I don't know if a class is worth more for your money than a tutor.

I had a tutor. The biggest thing with the SAT is that the SAT is designed to be a bitch to take. It's designed to trip you up. Take a couple practice tests for the real SAT, see where you stand. If you see yourself getting the same questions wrong over and over, find someone to help you with them, be it a tutor or someone else. A class is ok but as with any class you learn a general overview at the pace of the class.

Also I don't know how entirely true this is, or if it's all just bs, but my guidance counselor had said that another way to include Pokemon on your app would be if you wanted to go to like a club for underprivileged kids or kids in hospitals and volunteer your time and play Pokemon with them or something like that?? I'm not entirely sure, but something about "linking it all together" seemed to be her general idea of how to make your extracurriculars look better and make you look like a solid, set person. Just wanna here what some people who have been through the applications process think of that.

As long as you emphasize that you're helping underprivileged / sick kids then yeah that works.

 

[-Eddie-]

Everything.

Oh god your me two years ago. I applied to Hopkins (don't know why?), University of Maryland, and Carnegie Mellon. Got into all of them, but the fact that UMD is so cheap for in-state students was too hard to ignore. I also had trouble with non-Math SAT II but I picked a science, studied all summer actually did pretty well!

Anyway, you are so right with some of these things, but you might not know how right you actually are! I was pretty bummed that I was "settling" for my state school and that I was wasting my high school work (such as my SAT II since Maryland doesn't look at them...). I was a first generational college student, but I somehow "knew" I wanted to go to grad school, so I figured I would go to University of Maryland and then go to Carnegie Mellon/wherever for grad school. Now, two years in, pure math classes aren't all they're cracked up to be and I just want to get a job. And I actually really love it here! Being so close to home has so many advantages, the price is really good, UMD actually does attract quite a few big companies even if it isn't as famous as other computer science schools, and I've made a lot of good friends (I was kind of a loner in high school).

The big thing I'm getting at is that you might not be sure what you want to do with your life when you go to college (which is alright!!!), so don't be bummed if you don't get into all the big schools you feel like you need to get into because you really don't. My number theory professor actually doubled majored in English Lit and Math because she wasn't sure she wanted to study math until she almost finished her English Lit Major! I started off feeling like that since I was pretty smart I should go to grad school, but I get the feeling I'm just not "meant" for grad school. Not that I'm not smart for grad school (eh... it's debatable), but it doesn't even interest me that much now that I know what it really is (research).

Once again, congrats if you do get into one of those big schools, but it really isn't that big a deal if you don't get it in. While the name does help on certain occasions, college is what you make it.

EDIT: I also put Pokemon on my common app. In retrospect, I actually regretted it because I felt like I just missed more scholarship money, so I don't know if that hurt or helped...

 

[Cybertron]

Similar to Solace's post in the last page, this thread has been incredibly interesting and useful, especially as a freshman in an elite NYC private school. Coming from a school like mine, the college process is incredibly competitive: Around 41% of our kids (120~ per grade) get into an Ivy League every year, and that's just for the Ivys. Of course, this number isn't very accurate considering how many students in my school have legacies, are children to billionaires, etc, but it's already starting to stress me out a bit. (Just for reference, off the top of my head, 7 seniors got into Harvard, 2 into Stanford and 4 into Cornell from ED this year. A lot more have gotten into Columbia/Princeton/other ivies after yesterday as well.)

Most, if not all, of my grade is already thinking about colleges, and I am too. My grades aren't nearly as high as I would like them to be. I really screwed up this year not knowing what classes would be good for freshmen year, but I think I've figured out a solid schedule for sophomore year and on. I'm still a bit scared though: how much do freshman grades count for colleges? Are my chances of getting into an ivy over because of this B on my report card? I think I can generally maintain A-'s at least, but every once in a while, I get a teacher that I really don't work well with (not that they are a bad teacher, I just don't do well under how they teach) and this year was like that. I wanted to get some input on this because it's really been bothering me and stressing me out.

What do you guys recommend to a freshmen in an elite NYC private school who wants to get into an Ivy level school? I do stuff like math team, tutoring, community service (will have 150+ hours logged after this year), track/cross country, piano, but none of these really stand out unlike some incredibly talented kids in my grade. People always say, "you really need something that makes you stand out," but what's that really supposed to be? I think I'm decent at what I do, but not incredible. Too bad my VGC accomplishments don't mean squat lol

I'd also like to point out that I am one of the few Asian kids in my grade. I got into Stuyvesant HS, which is an elite public high school in NYC, but didn't go for two reasons: 1) There are way too many Asian kids there, and it's just too competitive in general. 2) Unlike most kids in my school, I pay less then 10% of what my school's tuition is.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Layell]

For anyone who is in a fine arts or some other program that requires an interview/audition here are some tips from me (since I had to audition to apply then audition again to get into specific majors, isn't theatre great?)

1. Dress the part: Wear something nice if it's a pure interview, try to have some object or accessory that the panel could easily remember you by (if they don't already ask for some head-shot as theatre/dance tends to)

2. Say your name loud and clearly, your may have to say your name hundreds of times but for these old profs this is the first time they may hear it, or know the correct pronunciation.

3. Keep your body in check, if there is a physical audition you best warm up if they don't already provide that time for you. Watch posture, pay attention the moment you enter the building since you probably don't know who is a panelist.

4. Be yourself and enjoy the moment, panelists understand how tough it can be for you, and they always love to be humoured because they audition tons of prospective students every week. Shake hands after with panelists if the opportunity presents itself.

5. At the end of any audition/interview make sure that you mentally check in and reflect on how you did, did the university prepare you for what would happen and were you put at ease despite your nerves?

 

[Dubby]

Similar to Solace's post in the last page, this thread has been incredibly interesting and useful, especially as a freshman in an elite NYC private school. Coming from a school like mine, the college process is incredibly competitive: Around 41% of our kids (120~ per grade) get into an Ivy League every year, and that's just for the Ivys. Of course, this number isn't very accurate considering how many students in my school have legacies, are children to billionaires, etc, but it's already starting to stress me out a bit. (Just for reference, off the top of my head, 7 seniors got into Harvard, 2 into Stanford and 4 into Cornell from ED this year. A lot more have gotten into Columbia/Princeton/other ivies after yesterday as well.)

Most, if not all, of my grade is already thinking about colleges, and I am too. My grades aren't nearly as high as I would like them to be. I really screwed up this year not knowing what classes would be good for freshmen year, but I think I've figured out a solid schedule for sophomore year and on. I'm still a bit scared though: how much do freshman grades count for colleges? Are my chances of getting into an ivy over because of this B on my report card? I think I can generally maintain A-'s at least, but every once in a while, I get a teacher that I really don't work well with (not that they are a bad teacher, I just don't do well under how they teach) and this year was like that. I wanted to get some input on this because it's really been bothering me and stressing me out.

What do you guys recommend to a freshmen in an elite NYC private school who wants to get into an Ivy level school? I do stuff like math team, tutoring, community service (will have 150+ hours logged after this year), track/cross country, piano, but none of these really stand out unlike some incredibly talented kids in my grade. People always say, "you really need something that makes you stand out," but what's that really supposed to be? I think I'm decent at what I do, but not incredible. Too bad my VGC accomplishments don't mean squat lol

I'd also like to point out that I am one of the few Asian kids in my grade. I got into Stuyvesant HS, which is an elite public high school in NYC, but didn't go for two reasons: 1) There are way too many Asian kids there, and it's just too competitive in general. 2) Unlike most kids in my school, I pay less then 10% of what my school's tuition is.

Thanks for any help.

Well considering that you come from such an elite private school, I wouldn't be too worried as long as you do what most people are recommending in this thread. School background matters, so the fact that many people from your school end up in Ivy league schools will make colleges expect more from you.

 

[tennisace]

When I was touring colleges, this line from MIT actually stuck with me: "We want to see vowels on your report card. And if that joke went over your head, the exits are in the back." However, I had a couple B's spread out here and there and that didn't kill me (they were in a class where basically everyone was struggling to stay afloat, let alone get good grades. I was one of 2 kids to get an A in the end).

OK since ibo said my post didnt make sense let me make it clearer:

Top schools want: best grades possible in a challenging environment. If you struggle along the way a little bit, then show improvement, they don't care that much as long as you improve. If you consistently get Bs or lower, top schools don't like that.

For other schools other than top schools: grades don't matter nearly as much unless you want a specialized program.

 

[blarajan]

Regarding SAT tutoring: it helps.

I got a 2150 on my first attempt without preparation, but SAT tutoring got me up to a 2370. Don't take any of those KAPLAN bullshit courses. Those don't help anything at all. I would know. I've taken many. All they do is teach you that shit that you know you won't do anyways (underline important parts of the passage, summarize each paragraph next to it, take x time per question, don't go too fast, etc). Get an individual tutor if you want some actual assistance. One on one attention actually helps for these things.

Regarding Pokemon. I don't know if it was the greatest decision, but I actually wrote my common application essay on Pokemon. If anyone wants to read it:

Hide

Write about an issue of personal, national, local international concern.

I’m supposed to use this essay to convince you to accept me to your school by illustrating how desirable I am. I could do so by discussing one of the unverifiable past experiences that have “changed me.” Having lived a relatively sheltered life, with a loving family and my basic needs provided for, I don't have access to a medley of riveting experiences I can pull from. Fortunately, I could very easily exaggerate a past experience. In spite of this, I would rather not, and will discuss something I wholeheartedly enjoy: Pokemon.
All kids my age have picked up a Pokemon game at one point in their lives, still remembering that level 100 Pikachu they had. Though while most shelved their Game Boys, I always retained some degree of interest even after getting “too old for that kid's game.” Over a year ago, I picked the game up in an entirely different way: competitively. Now, I was playing actual people, who were all much smarter than the computer-controlled opponents in-game. Having come from cartridge play, I was shocked that there was so much to keep in mind. Discovering this entirely new side of my childhood favorite intrigued me, and I soon found myself playing more and more, even to this day.
When I enjoy something, I like to share that joy with others. When Pokemon is involved, that might lead me to discussing various intricacies of the game to a friend that just wants to quickly escape. Most of my enjoyment comes from sharing what I love with who I love.
Apparently this is a luxury. A lot of my Pokemon friends do not have this option. I've heard “My friends will think I'm weird” or even “I don't think they'll like me anymore.” From this, I realized just how lucky I am. It's wrong to judge a person's race, gender, or sexual orientation. Why is it less wrong to judge a person's passions? The things that make a person happy are just as important as the immutable characteristics that make up a person's exterior. If you can't share these passions with the people you care about without fear of ridicule, how can they make you happy? You have to be able to share who you are with who you love. Otherwise, your passions boil down to a single question: “How long can I keep this a secret?” You shouldn't.
So far, I haven't really been able to discover much about life's truths. But from my loving family and my welcoming experiences in the Montgomery Blair Magnet Program, I think I've found a pretty important one. I've learned the importance of being yourself—I know if I couldn’t share who I was or what I enjoy, I wouldn't be who I am today. And hopefully, all of you reading this like who I am today and are willing to let me discover the rest of myself at your college.

And who said your VGC achievements don't mean anything? Video gaming achievements are still achievements. There is an additional information section in your application, and in it, you can explain Pokemon if you want, and why being good at it means they should want you. Cybertron, you wanted something to look unique, right? I don't know how you placed, but something like "fourth at Worlds" or w/e is pretty fucking unique.

 

[Eraddd]

Oh Jesus, when you're going to an interview, please dress at least semi formally. I've seen so many awkward asian kids wear sweats, t-shirts, and runners to interviews, and quite frankly it was sort of disturbing. Don't go out and buy a new suit, but just wear a nice pair of slacks, an oxford shirt, and a decent pair of shoes that doesn't look like it's been through your last track meet. Also, hygiene still applys, meaning you shave, apply some deodorant so you don't smell terrible during the interview, and at least put your hair down.

As for SATs, I spent the summer going to an SAT school, and while it did help, I felt that all it did was reinforce continual repetition of doing SAT tests. Basically, before taking the SAT test, I did about one hundred SAT tests in total (I actually kept track of this), while making sure my time was about 7.5 minutes lower than the time allotted. Doing that I scored well in my opinion. It's all about continual practice, not about some bullshit "learn this learn that." God this test was useless...

Edit: For VGC, I'd only include it if you've at least won a regional. Other than that, I wouldn't, because there's really no point.

 

[tennisace]

Basically, before taking the SAT test, I did about one hundred SAT tests in total (I actually kept track of this), while making sure my time was about 7.5 minutes lower than the time allotted. Doing that I scored well in my opinion. It's all about continual practice, not about some bullshit "learn this learn that." God this test was useless...

THIS THIS THIS THIS. The SAT is all about timing yourself. You don't need to go to the lengths Eraddd did, but you need to work through the test efficiently enough to be able to check your answers at the end of every section, and you need to complete the test. The SAT isn't about learning math/english/writing, it's about learning how to answer the SAT.

 

[marilli]

As a high school senior, I have a question that no one in this thread has touched up on yet: how do you decide on which college to attend if are accepted to multiple schools with similar 'rankings'? (ok I know those are kind of bs but...) Of course I'll attend those pre-frosh visits, but what kinds of things should I be looking for? What would people recommend that I do before I hastily choose schools solely on reputations, etc.?

 

[Da Letter El]

As a high school senior, I have a question that no one in this thread has touched up on yet: how do you decide on which college to attend if are accepted to multiple schools with similar 'rankings'? (ok I know those are kind of bs but...) Of course I'll attend those pre-frosh visits, but what kinds of things should I be looking for? What would people recommend that I do before I hastily choose schools solely on reputations, etc.?

Some basic/obvious tips:

Location matters a lot; if you're not comfortable in a city, or can't stand the cold, you should take that into consideration when choosing which school you want to attend. Find out what the surrounding cities and areas have to offer, as well.

Cost matters as well. If two schools are reasonably closely ranked and one costs $10k less to go to because of a scholarship, that should be a major consideration.

Make sure that the school you are going to offers majors that you are actually interested in. While most schools have a good variety of majors, not every school has every major. Make sure that you look into that. Similarly, try to find out how specific departments are at each school. Some schools are overall quite good but have some weak departments. Also something worth checking.

Size matters. If you're really shy and have a hard time socializing, maybe a huge state school isn't for you. If you're the kind of person who loves watching college football and/or wants a good drinking scene, going to a small D3 school may not be the best idea.

That whole "where do you feel comfortable" when you visit a school isn't all bs (well, it wasn't for me). Do take gut feelings into account, but also don't let them override your decision.

You also can check out how good the food is on campus here if you are desperate for a tie breaker. Food matters.

Oh, a lot of schools have problems with having people graduate on time and taking the classes they want to take. Find out if your school is one of them. UC's are notoriously bad for this, and some community colleges that I know of can be as well. My school on the other hand hasn't been a problem for me. Not sure if there are rankings for this online, but you can ask some students that attend; most colleges will have kids who attend answer questions if they aren't anywhere else. Try to find someone who is majoring in a department that you're interested in for the most relevant answer, as some schools have ridiculous requirements and hurdles to taking the classes you need that bottleneck majors into waiting for openings for specific classes.

Most schools near each other in rankings academically and socially are usually relatively similar; you're going to get the college experience regardless of if you went to UCLA or UC Berkeley. But there are things that should be taken into account individually if you have an idea about your own personality and interests.

I'll add other things if stuff comes to mind.

 

[Myzozoa]

THIS THIS THIS THIS. The SAT is all about timing yourself. You don't need to go to the lengths Eraddd did, but you need to work through the test efficiently enough to be able to check your answers at the end of every section, and you need to complete the test. The SAT isn't about learning math/english/writing, it's about learning how to answer the SAT.

Yes this, and all that Eraddd said. I only took the SAT once after taking like 15 complete practice tests over the course of 2 months. The SAT has nothing to do with learning anything and I think I could have taken it in 8th grade and still receive the same scores as I did in 11th grade.

So yes, you have to put time into it. No, don't pay someone to keep you on task, unless you're that lazy/charitable.

 

[ck49]

Wow, everyone seems to have worked waaaaay harder than me for the SAT. I had it after a terrible month, where I had a KVPY exam, my midterms, a spanish exam outside of school, and a violin exam in the month before. I just did one week of prep after all that (and a couple weeks a few months before), did two practice tests, and landed a 2240 on my first try.

For the SAT, i found studying vocab is a waste, because no word I studied came on the test. Spending the amount of hours you would to memorize the meaning of every word in that list (which I didn't, but my friends did and they got 600's in reading) could be better spent on ANYTHING else. Heck, just reading a reasonably high level book (High school level) and looking up any words you don't know is better so you can intuitively learn to derive meanings from the root of the words.

I'm naturally good at math and found it incredibly easy compared to high school level math. The Math 2 SAT II is way harder though. Its about HS senior level, though, so I can live.

The main criticism of the SAT used to be that it was tailored towards rich white northeasterners to do well. While its hardly true now, its still a test which is much better for "westerners" to do better in than other internationals (or so it seems). In my class (In india), the highest scores were by Indo-Americans and the one Indo-british guy. There was only two people who lived in India all his life who got above a 2050. 6 people who lived in Europe of the US (including me) got better than that. Then again, it is for applying to colleges in the US, so it kind of makes sense, but... (and no, its not because of the standard of English, since we all take IGCSE (Cambridge) English exams and most people got A's).

Also, in terms of study guides for the SAT, don't use the college board book, Kaplan, or Barons, since they all are pretty terrible. I used Princeton Review and found it great.

Also, @undisputed I'm also looking at Pomona and Harvey Mudd. No advice, but It would be pretty cool if we both ended up there.

 

[Bologo]

Any canadians (outside of Eradddd) with their personal experiences? I know that canadian universities tend to be a lot easier to get into unless you're going into a very specialized program.

I'll be attending the University of Toronto and their Engineering Science program with a specialization in Aerospace Engineering this upcoming fall, got my acceptance there early February!

I'm Canadian and I've been going to University of Ottawa since 2010 with a major in math. Honestly, it was easy as hell to get in since I only needed a 70% average in my maths, but seriously, all I can say is that while Canadian schools are easy to get into, the actual work is pretty demanding. First year typically isn't that bad, but second year has been a nightmare for me, but second year is typically supposed to be the hardest. I actually had to take this semester to completely take a break from math because I wasn't sure if I could keep up with the difficulty since last semester was horrible. But I'm going back into it, since it was like a little dog that just kept following me around, I couldn't stay mad at it no matter how hard I tried. xD

Basically, in second year, you have to take a ton of compulsory courses for your degree and they make it harder to try and weed people out in second year. But from what I've heard, third and fourth year are much, much easier. If you can get through second year, you should be fine.

The classes I've taken in uni are mainly maths, a couple of chem classes, a couple of music classes, and bio.

The best advice for maths is to go to your professor's office hours if you need help. Seriously, go there often. I unfortunately got really nervous about talking to people in my class, including my profs, so I didn't talk to anyone in my classes. That led to me doing very badly in my math classes last semester (I actually failed one of my classes, which was really bad, because it was the first time it's ever happened for me). Also, try your best not to fall behind in your homework. I know this is common sense, but for math, it's even more important, because chances are that the stuff on that homework will be important in an upcoming lecture. The nice thing is that math class is basically like high school math class with the exception of having class time to do work. It still follows the same format of lesson, homework, assignment, test, etc. There's no stupid labs or anything for math class like the other sciences have.

Don't worry though, I'm not trying to scare anyone. It's basically the same way school has always been. The main message is do your damn work. :] Do that, and you will do well.

 

[whistle]

Wow, everyone seems to have worked waaaaay harder than me for the SAT. I had it after a terrible month, where I had a KVPY exam, my midterms, a spanish exam outside of school, and a violin exam in the month before. I just did one week of prep after all that (and a couple weeks a few months before), did two practice tests, and landed a 2240 on my first try.

For the SAT, i found studying vocab is a waste, because no word I studied came on the test. Spending the amount of hours you would to memorize the meaning of every word in that list (which I didn't, but my friends did and they got 600's in reading) could be better spent on ANYTHING else. Heck, just reading a reasonably high level book (High school level) and looking up any words you don't know is better so you can intuitively learn to derive meanings from the root of the words.

I'm naturally good at math and found it incredibly easy compared to high school level math. The Math 2 SAT II is way harder though. Its about HS senior level, though, so I can live.

The main criticism of the SAT used to be that it was tailored towards rich white northeasterners to do well. While its hardly true now, its still a test which is much better for "westerners" to do better in than other internationals (or so it seems). In my class (In india), the highest scores were by Indo-Americans and the one Indo-british guy. There was only two people who lived in India all his life who got above a 2050. 6 people who lived in Europe of the US (including me) got better than that. Then again, it is for applying to colleges in the US, so it kind of makes sense, but... (and no, its not because of the standard of English, since we all take IGCSE (Cambridge) English exams and most people got A's).

Also, in terms of study guides for the SAT, don't use the college board book, Kaplan, or Barons, since they all are pretty terrible. I used Princeton Review and found it great.

Also, @undisputed I'm also looking at Pomona and Harvey Mudd. No advice, but It would be pretty cool if we both ended up there.

ur so smart

 

[ck49]

ur so smart

And to think people say I brag too much. Its not my fault I'm a fricken genius, amiright?

No really, I'm just saying things as they are. I really hate the concept of the SAT, but hey, what can I do? I'm just sharing my experiences. Maybe people will relate, maybe they wont.

 

[Myzozoa]

how come you decided to go to uc santa cruz when accepted to Princeton? I've always been trained to think "I'd for sure go to an Ivy like Princeton given the chance", so i just wanted to hear about why you chose that

im currently looking into the claremonts, claremont mckenna especially. do you have any advice, recommendations, or just general things you'd want to share?

I had a few reasons for not going to Princeton, and I will just give you a disclaimer: I'm going to sound like a whiny bitch, so just be aware that I know just how entitled and spoiled I sound.

My parents are rich, their combined familial income is about $325,000, which puts them into the top 1% (I AM THE ONE PERCENT BITCHES) of Americans (though just barely). But here's the kicker, my parents are horrible at managing their money, they have around $50,000 in debt. They weren't going to provide any money for my education. But, but, but I cannot demonstrate any financial need. They make and spend too much money for an administration to not expect me to pay full tuition. I have no money to pay full tuition. On paper my parents should be able to cover the cost of my tuition, but in reality they straight up told me that this was not the case. It's complicated and you may ask, why did I apply then? I had no idea they were in such shitty financial straights, they didn't tell me. I had a strong (not perfect) SAT and 3.85 (unweighted, colleges do not care about your weighted gpa) GPA from a public school, my extra-curricular activities were squash and music (colleges dont care about these much, sadly). I was one of those students who good colleges think of as "He's good enough to get accepted barely, definitely not good enough for scholarships," so I lost options I am a white male so no help there either. Two schools offered me money, Santa Cruz and Riverside (2.5 k from santa cruz and full ride at riverside).

I had some inheritance (Im rich and entitled remember), enough that I can cover 4 and a bit years at a UC. Over the last 2 years I have seen my tuition go up and the quality of my education go down, so I'm going to Berkeley next fall, so that at least my degree looks good on paper.

As for the Claremont colleges, they're really good. Like if you go to one you have access to all of them, and they all have one or two things that they excel in. McKenna has economics, Pomona is good in everything pretty much and like a lot of colleges it has some random ass thing that it just happens to be good at, neuroscience. Scripps is all women, but w.e you can take music classes there and meet bitches. I have two friends (both Pomona) who go there and they love it. Think about what interests you and then apply accordingly. If you have no idea, then choose McKenna or Pomona. If you're sure about engineering then Harvey Mudd. I don't know anything about pitzer, though my friends make fun of it, so maybe it's lame?

Also I would have received full ride from Caltech if I'd been accepted because my mom is employed by them, but alas I was not admitted.

I think that I may be giving a simplified version of my rationale for selecting UC Santa Cruz, and a simplified explanation of my college application process. At the time it was really really confusing and I didn't know shit. I applied to a shit ton of schools and honestly had no clue where I wanted to be or what I wanted to do. It was really stressful. I was in really bad place I think, at the time, and I was worried about money and I had ten people each telling me to do ten different things. I already knew santa cruz sort of, and I chose it because it was far from home and familiar it was stupid. I'm not at all saying I regret the choice, I love Santa Cruz and the people I've met here, but I have to live in the real world soon. I have to get to an area where I can find a job eventually, and that area is not Santa Cruz. If you want Princeton, then you should go for it. Just don't be blinded into thinking that Princeton is what's best for everybody. Knowing what I know now, I don't think anyone could convince me to pick Princeton over Pomona or McKenna. I like LA better than New Jersey, I like liberal arts colleges better than university. These things matter, you have to pick a place to live for 4 years, and probably find a job in afterwards, it will suck if you hate the region.

 

[comatthew6]

I'm mostly worried about a lot of the SAT prep stuff, so I'm just wondering - did you guys take SAT prep classes or did you hire a tutor? I've been kind of on the fence about it, since a lot of my friends seem to be getting tutors but I don't know if a class is worth more for your money than a tutor.

Do what blarajan said. Personal tutors work more than the Kaplan classes, as it's one-on-one help from someone that knows what he/she is doing and will help you in the areas that you need help in, and not just a general overview of how to take the test. That being said, I didn't score NEARLY as high as blarajan did (only got a superscore of 2200) but my tutor did help me get a higher score (I was stuck around the 1950-2050 range beforehand).

As a high school senior, I have a question that no one in this thread has touched up on yet: how do you decide on which college to attend if are accepted to multiple schools with similar 'rankings'? (ok I know those are kind of bs but...) Of course I'll attend those pre-frosh visits, but what kinds of things should I be looking for? What would people recommend that I do before I hastily choose schools solely on reputations, etc.?

This might sound like a really dumb and obvious answer, but choose the college that you see yourself going to the most. Even if you get into 5+ Ivies and MIT and wherever, if you can't see yourself going to a certain place, just don't go! My friend had her heart set on Columbia for various reasons, but when she took the campus tour she realized that everyone looked sad or depressed or "weird" (I can't confirm or deny if she saw you, ibo) so she told me that even if she did get in, she wouldn't go. She didn't end up getting in, but at least she told me that she would be happier going to NYU or BC (where she did end up getting in).

 

[sonickid01]

Had an SAT tutor; was mainly helpful preparing me for the writing section (which I bombed with aplomb anyway). His efforts were great, and I worked hard to improve my score. I did, but I had partially lucked out. If you are looking to boost your score around 500 points or so, I think it could be good to consider a private tutor for the test.

 

[JimBob]

Basically, in second year, you have to take a ton of compulsory courses for your degree and they make it harder to try and weed people out in second year. But from what I've heard, third and fourth year are much, much easier. If you can get through second year, you should be fine.

I disagree, I don't think that the classes get any easier after 2nd year. I think that 1st year classes are actually pretty easy, and then 2nd year is when you really need to step your game up, but when you get past the 2nd year, you're already used to doing harder work. So even though the classes keep getting harder, you're more prepared for them.

 

[Bologo]

I disagree, I don't think that the classes get any easier after 2nd year. I think that 1st year classes are actually pretty easy, and then 2nd year is when you really need to step your game up, but when you get past the 2nd year, you're already used to doing harder work. So even though the classes keep getting harder, you're more prepared for them.

That's true. I haven't actually gone through 3rd year yet, so I don't know, I'm just speaking from what other people have told me. I have seen that you don't have to take nearly as many compulsory courses in 3rd and 4th year, so you're allowed to take more courses that you actually like in your field, instead of ones that you're forced to get through.

 

[moi]

That's true. I haven't actually gone through 3rd year yet, so I don't know, I'm just speaking from what other people have told me. I have seen that you don't have to take nearly as many compulsory courses in 3rd and 4th year, so you're allowed to take more courses that you actually like in your field, instead of ones that you're forced to get through.

I feel as if this will be the case in my program. The first two years I have to take at least 11 compulsory credits, with the 12th being either an elective or a beginner's programming class (depends how I do on the diagnostic they send me over the summer). I then specialize in 3rd and 4th year, with room for my electives.

Apparently, the two foundation years are living hell, so it'll be a fun ride...

 

[Smaug]

I'll be touring Cooper Union on Tuesday, and plan to tour other colleges soon. Are campus tours important? Is there anything specific I should do while there? How should I dress? Obviously not shorts/t-shirt, but should I go dressed for a wedding, or just nice pants/shirt?

 

[Layell]

I'll be touring Cooper Union on Tuesday, and plan to tour other colleges soon. Are campus tours important? Is there anything specific I should do while there? How should I dress? Obviously not shorts/t-shirt, but should I go dressed for a wedding, or just nice pants/shirt?

They are not evaluating you on the tour, shorts and shirts should be fine. These things are generally student run and maybe you'll have a professor or person from admissions talk to you. It's by no means a VIP thing.

 

[Smaug]

They are not evaluating you on the tour, shorts and shirts should be fine. These things are generally student run and maybe you'll have a professor or person from admissions talk to you. It's by no means a VIP thing.

Okay, thanks! I'll probably wear fairly nice clothes anyway.