Disregarding many factors, are there any sure fire aspects of an application that can ensure my position at a top school
The chance calculator on college vine didn’t take into account a few important aspects of my application - self-studied and received 5s on AP exams, prestigious non-academic recognition and distinctions, and test optional applications, so I am looking for input!
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3 answers
Honestly, there is no sure-fire way to get into any college - sometimes it just depends on the admission officer's mood. Students who get accepted into Ivies get rejected from their safety schools. I think with top schools, especially the Ivy leagues, they need to see something that sets you apart from other applicants. Whether it's an amazing project you've started in your community to winning a national debate competition, it could honestly be anything. The tough part about the Ivies and other competitive institutions though is everyone has good grades and amazing extracurriculars. So, you have to set yourself apart from the crowd whether it's through one very impact activity or a well-written, unique essay. I think you could write a very interesting essay about being self-studied and the discipline and drive you must of had. I think it would depend on where you took it though, maybe don't focus so much on the success you have already had, but rather what it took to achieve those skills and where you hope they will lead you. Just a thought, but I think that could be interesting or maybe you already have something great to write about.
There is never any surefire way to guarantee you a spot at a top school. The college process is unpredictable and although there are factors that will help get you in, there is nothing that can guarantee you a spot.
So I presume you mean very selective that have sub 30%admit rate like the Ivies UCLA etc but since you said top I’ll list some very well known that have a 80%ish admit rate. And in these cases you really only need As and Bs ( some may allow a C or two) and have a 22ACT/1150SAT(guesstimate). All of these are very well respected and I argue these are top schools.
School list:
Oregon St
Wash St
Wyoming
Boise St
Portland St
Oregon
UN Reno
UNLV
San Fran St
Arizona
AZ St
CU Boulder
Hawaii
Iowa
IA St
Kansas St
Kansas
NDSU
Nebraska - Lincoln
Neb - Omaha
Wichita St
Kansas
Missouri
UTSA
UTEP
UT Arlington
Sam Houston St
LSU
Ole Miss
Okla
Mich St
Ohio
Illinois-Chicago
Toledo
IUPUI
Tennessee
Kentucky
George Mason
Memphis
VCU
Old Dominion
West Virginia
Your chance of acceptance
Your chancing factors
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Q. Why would the CV chancing calc have a separate drop-down for test-optional application when virtually every single college on CV is test-optional? Q. Why would an admissions officer reward you if you self-studied an AP versus took it in class for a grade? If anything, it doesn't show course rigor but sidestepping the opportunity to improve your GPA no? Q. And there are "Self Initiative" catagories on the ECs and other catagories as well if traditional ECs don't fit? What is your award?