Comments on: Crowd Wisdom: The Worst Part of the College Admissions Process http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/ Demystifying Student Success Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:25:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Sonny http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-4005 Sonny Sun, 24 Feb 2008 08:12:13 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-4005 Believe it or not, at most, if not at all Canadian schools it is very easy to get accepted! No SAT, what is the SAT? lol I can't imagine having to compete against other students to gain a spot. Good luck my American friends, Vote well, Sunny Believe it or not, at most, if not at all Canadian schools it is very easy to get accepted! No SAT, what is the SAT? lol

I can’t imagine having to compete against other students to gain a spot.

Good luck my American friends,

Vote well,

Sunny

]]> By: Study Hacks http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2735 Study Hacks Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:11:34 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2735 @Terrol: So was it the time this required that was difficult, or the complexity of the planning, or the worry about not doing enough? @Terrol:

So was it the time this required that was difficult, or the complexity of the planning, or the worry about not doing enough?

]]> By: Terrol http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2729 Terrol Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:10:50 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2729 I think the hardest part of the admissions process was a combination of things such as partaking in the right extracurriculars and finding ways to go above and beyond the norm in order to make you an attractive applicant such as doing AP classes independent study and taking on meaningful volunteer opportunities. Strategically planning essays to give a complete picture of who you are was also difficult. Apart from this the process was smooth as I was very organized and did not procrastinate. I think the hardest part of the admissions process was a combination of things such as partaking in the right extracurriculars and finding ways to go above and beyond the norm in order to make you an attractive applicant such as doing
AP classes independent study and taking on meaningful volunteer opportunities. Strategically planning essays to give a complete picture of who you are was also difficult. Apart from this the process was smooth as I was very organized and did not procrastinate.

]]> By: Julia http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2725 Julia Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:08:05 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2725 I'm a high school sophomore, but the worst part is looking at how much time has already elapsed and knowing that I have just under 2 years to try to pull together some impressive extracurriculars. Underclassmen hate hearing about college planning, but starting early is preferable to a junior-year scramble. I’m a high school sophomore, but the worst part is looking at how much time has already elapsed and knowing that I have just under 2 years to try to pull together some impressive extracurriculars. Underclassmen hate hearing about college planning, but starting early is preferable to a junior-year scramble.

]]> By: Study Hacks http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2710 Study Hacks Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:16:02 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2710 Thank you everyone who has responded so far. I'm gaining some interesting insight here... Thank you everyone who has responded so far. I’m gaining some interesting insight here…

]]> By: Jose http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2707 Jose Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:55:47 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2707 Figuring out what makes you unique. Trying to feel that your "unique thing" is really unique and that few or no people have done anything like it. It's hard to feel that way sometimes when you know that there are other people out there who have almost the same or better high school resumes than you. I went to a middle college high school (which is basically where you attend community college and get high school credit and college credit at the same time). Not many of these types of schools around, but be warned this is COMMUNITY COLLEGE, so don't get the wrong idea about "college" at a community college. The worst part though was putting in the low SAT scores and B+ average GPA, feeling that I could've done better. Figuring out what makes you unique. Trying to feel that your “unique thing” is really unique and that few or no people have done anything like it. It’s hard to feel that way sometimes when you know that there are other people out there who have almost the same or better high school resumes than you. I went to a middle college high school (which is basically where you attend community college and get high school credit and college credit at the same time). Not many of these types of schools around, but be warned this is COMMUNITY COLLEGE, so don’t get the wrong idea about “college” at a community college. The worst part though was putting in the low SAT scores and B+ average GPA, feeling that I could’ve done better.

]]> By: Jason http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2679 Jason Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:48:17 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2679 I never really had problems with the admissions. Granted, I never really wanted anything Ivy League (or similar). For me, admissions weren't the problem. It was money. I spent more time trying to raise scholarship and grant money than I did on college applications (more money, as well). The lack of funds deep-sixed my college plans before I even graduated high school (in Southern California). But it turned out well, so I can't complain. I never really had problems with the admissions. Granted, I never really wanted anything Ivy League (or similar). For me, admissions weren’t the problem. It was money. I spent more time trying to raise scholarship and grant money than I did on college applications (more money, as well).

The lack of funds deep-sixed my college plans before I even graduated high school (in Southern California). But it turned out well, so I can’t complain.

]]> By: Val http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2665 Val Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:23:17 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2665 Everything was pretty smooth except the guidance counselor at my upper secondary school (high school). When I wanted to apply to some well known american universities she thought I was joking and it took about 2 months of talking to her once a week before she actually realized I wasn't making her read the instructions on the international application forms just for fun. Sure it was alot of work on her side (alot of your US stuff are very different from over here). I decided not to move abroad due to social stuff, so I didn't lose my mind when at the end of school she came to me and asked when she was supposed to post those applications, and I answered "4 months ago". Everything was pretty smooth except the guidance counselor at my upper secondary school (high school). When I wanted to apply to some well known american universities she thought I was joking and it took about 2 months of talking to her once a week before she actually realized I wasn’t making her read the instructions on the international application forms just for fun. Sure it was alot of work on her side (alot of your US stuff are very different from over here). I decided not to move abroad due to social stuff, so I didn’t lose my mind when at the end of school she came to me and asked when she was supposed to post those applications, and I answered “4 months ago”.

]]> By: Jordan http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2664 Jordan Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:59:05 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/22/crowd-wisdom-the-worst-part-of-the-college-admissions-process/#comment-2664 I would say "Trying to build an impressive extracurricular resume." I realized how important they were junior year but for freshman and sophomore year I had nothing to write down. ~Jordan, High School Senior just finishing with the college admission process I would say “Trying to build an impressive extracurricular resume.” I realized how important they were junior year but for freshman and sophomore year I had nothing to write down.

~Jordan, High School Senior just finishing with the college admission process

]]>