Upvote this post, join this community, and comment your dream school!
and DM me or post in this subreddit if you have any questions about the college app process. i know i was certainly scared and uncertain how my college applications would turn out!
I'm deciding on these two colleges and need to make a decision ASAP. I recently got into Pitt and have been considering it. The price isn't really a deciding factor for my family anymore so now I'm even more confused since the price of colleges had been my deciding factor.
I'm gonna list some details to provide context of my situations :
DREXEL
COST: $50K per year
Honors program
STAARS research program
MAJOR: Psychology
PITT
COST: ~$54K per year
Honors program
MAJOR: Psychology
I would've committed to Pitt instantly, but I really like living in the city and am not sure if Pittsburgh will really provide that for me from what I've seen. But then I also love how there's the college campus vibe plus the city vibe. I love the campus culture at Pitt, and even though I'm not a huge party person I could see myself there.
The only thing keeping me tied to Drexel is the research program I got into. It would allow me to do research my freshman summer which I think is a great opportunity. Pitt will also provide great research opportunities but I feel like they will be more competitive and harder to get.
I will appreciate any advice at all on this matter cuz may 1st is right around the corner!
I received all As for my first semester grades but I might be getting a B+ on one of my AP classes for second semester. If I get off the waitlist for a t5 school during May and commit but send my second semester transcript with a B+, will that get my acceptance rescinded?
exactly what the title says. I’m wondering how much it matters to top colleges, or that if its importance varies across different colleges.
i’ve heard that UCs are more academics/gpa heavy compared to other schools. is that true?
ive been accepted into 13/13 of my ea and rds so far, including mit, uchicago, columbia (likely letter), cmu, and caltech.
DM me if you would like to join the chess education non profit that got me to all those places. im looking to expand! ty :)
no, i did not do it for college apps, i actually have a passion and love the instrument i play. i was just wondering, since i was second internationally for the instrument(took a lot of work), and the instrument is pretty big, would it hold any weight if im applying stem. i always thought that aos wouldnt care because im applying stem. would it be a tier 1 in my ecs list(emnlp main, usaco plat, iclr workshop, icml workshop, neurips workshop, nonprofit with 1M+ raised), or would it be towards the bottom?
Hey, so I know everyone is always saying 'do what you wanna do' for extracurriculars (ECs), but all I want to do is stay home and sleep. I’m hoping someone can give me suggestions or ideas for extracurriculars, awards, or basically anything to boost my application, as I want to major in finance. I have mid-stats, so I’m probably going to rely on my ECs to boost my app
There's a lot of guesswork going around on 'what counts in college admissions' – also the name of a talk I gave to over 10,000 people from here to Hong Kong. After a year of calibrating scales, I finally came up with one number that tells you exactly where you stand – that also drives your essay strategy and gives you the kind of evaluative feedback people pay me privately for. I'm opening the Competition Index to 50 juniors today - it's like a chanceme with actual knowledge behind it.
The 522-point CI has direct strategic implications. A shortened version would read:
450+ You are virtually certain to be admitted everywhere
426–450: Use powerhouse strategy, discussed here at https://www.reddit.com/r/CollegeAppsAdvice/comments/1sloq0j/comment/ogccaty/?context=3
400–425: Highly competitive at any school with an admission rate below 10%. Essay strategy needs to be right
370–399: In the thick of Ivy+ competition – application becomes huge
360–369: Ivy possible, wide net needed, strategy essential
350–359: Need safeties, perfect strategy for Ivy+ or odds go to 0
340–349: Admission to an Ivy+ is unlikely. A strong application can move the needle
330–339: Luck required for Ivy+, need a balanced list
Below 330: This is where honest list-building saves you from a devastating spring. The right schools exist
Join the group, comment in this thread with your region and first-choice college, and I'll DM a code. Limited to 50 people so I can give the feedback real attention. No phone numbers or addresses involved.
Hello collected r/CollegeAppsAdvice. I am giving a talk on May 7th on the effect that Reddit, TikTok and others have on students applying to college and their decisions. Largely, it talks about how students use all the noise to figure out how (or if) to actually make a decision.
I have a lot of good screenshots, threads, videos and whatnot but would love it if people on here could share URLS, handles, screenshots or otherwise of the most dramatic, wild, interesting or useful thing they've seen (Reddit preferred but I'll look at it all).
If you are interested in the talk, it is free, online and being hosted by Lumiere Education - registration is required at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/gyjrUz1LTW-WzpUU3qzZug.
I have a LOT of materials but I'm realizing I should just ask the community directly!
this is the hardest decision of my life, deciding between 4 t10s and 4 of my 5 top schools overall (no yale aww). i would appreciate some advice on this matter! would like to preface this with the fact that i dont wanna come across as egotistical or privileged i genuinely would like advice on how to proceed with my life.
info to know:
nonacademics:
i live near boston, so mit is roughly an hour away. i'd slightly prefer something more further away, but not that big of a deal
would like a place with many diverse people and experiences not just the same genre of people
prefer a bigger campus with more people to interact with, and moderately big classes
decent asian/indian huzz lol
majors:
mit - interested in mathematics
caltech - interested in applied/computational math + cs
cmu - school of cs
columbia - cs/math (IMPORTANT: selected for a likely letter + 1 of 10 rabi scholars, where i will receive 3 paid summer research positions and a network of mentorship and support)
academics:
i dont really wanna go to a place where i have to grind my classes all day (kinda burned out from high school) and get to spend more of my time doing research, joining clubs, and spending time with my community.
i need a school with good research and tutoring opportunities as those are something i am interested in pursuing in college.
j*bwise i have no clue what i want to do after college, maybe pursue my phd/become a quant/become a math professor?? idk yet
the most aura for my insta bio.
yeah so lmk if you need any more information from me but these are my pretty much my top four choices. of course i am so so happy and thrilled that i have the privilege to make this decision but i am REALLY distraught on what to choose. everyone is pretty much giving me different answers irl so i would really appreciate this subreddit's help. thank you in advance!
EDIT: since im lowkey nerdy if u dont wanna comment for wtv reason u can fill out this google form to anonymously decide where i should go! thank you!!!
General Information
Academics
Extracurriculars
Awards
Letters of Recommendation
Essays
RESULTS!!!
✅ Accepted
⏳ Waitlisted
❌ Rejected
🔙 Retracted Application
Committing to Columbia or MIT!
So let me know what you guys think; do you think its deserved? Also feel free to ask me questions on anything or if you want to join my non-profit!
Does it normally feed into academic or extracurricular rating for a college, or both?
I've heard mixed responses, some college influencer saying its both. Yale podcast says it only goes into academic and doesn't work as really an extracurricular. If it only goes into academic, wouldn't it be more beneficial to just list publications as awards, and not even in the EC section? Curious to hear responses.
I got waitlisted from Yale and Cornell and my counselor was kind enough to offer me her vouch either via email or call. Unfortunately, she has never done this for a student on the waitlist and told me to do research on what she should tell them. Does anyone know??
-rising senior
-intended major: pre-med track, something in psych maybe
-public school that is extremely grade inflated and is known for cheating lol (hypercompetitive me thinks)
academics
-3.8 UNW, 4.3 W (got depressed in freshman year and got a C in a 1.5 weighted non-AP class)
-Honors Bio, AP Bio, AP Stats, AP P1, APWH, AP Chemistry, AP Calc AB, AP Macro, AP Lang, AP Human Geography, AP Psych, Dual Enrollment APUSH, Government, Micro, and three other medicine-based classes (Neuro, Medical Terminology, and Organic Chem)
-4 on APWH, 5 on AP Precalc (self-studied)
-ACT: 35 (trying for a 36 deff wont get it; took 4 times)
honors
-AP Scholar with Honors
-CAP VFW Award
-Tri-M (National Music Honors Society)
-Science National Honors Society
-National Honors Society
-All-State Band x2
-All-State Orchestra
-All District Band + Orchestra
-CPR Certified
ECs
-Performed at Carnegie Hall as a French horn (going back next year as a violin)
-School's (synthetic biology club that's pretty damn hard to get into. censoring this bc its a possible doxx lol)Team (published a paper through a journal and presented at a symposium)
-Tri-M President (over 80 members and counting; help the middle schoolers with their all-state auditions)
-Orchestra Officer (basically helps coordinate fun events and fundraising; hopefully pres next year)
-120 service hours through the local hospital
-2026 Emory Windship Intern
-Paid internship as a phlebotomist
-Medical Officer for CAP ____ Wing x3
-Started the first STEM-based camp for CAP ______ Wing
EDIT: forgot my hook lol im lgbtq asian does this count
Trying for these schools but wanna get into JHU
| UT AUSTIN |
|---|
| UCS (LA+BERK) |
| BROWN |
| COLUMBIA |
| CORNELL |
| DARTMOUTH |
| PRINCETON |
| UPENN |
| YALE |
| JOHNS HOPKINS |
| CASE WESTERN |
| NYU |
| VANDERBUILT |
| NORTHWESTERN |
| UAB |
Hi everyone,
After reading a lot of personal statements over time, I have noticed that the memorable ones are usually not the most dramatic or the most decorated. They are the ones that feel real.
A strong personal statement does not just answer what you did. It quietly shows how you think, what shaped you and why a certain path matters to you. The difference is often in the details. One honest moment can say more than ten achievements listed in a row.
What weakens a statement is usually the same pattern. Too much praise of yourself, too many generic claims, too much effort to sound impressive and not enough reflection. It starts reading like something built for admission rather than something written by a person.
What strengthens it is specificity, restraint and self awareness. A clear voice. A few experiences that genuinely connect to each other. And language that sounds natural enough that someone could believe you speak this way when you care about something.
In my experience, the best statements are not the loudest. They are the most convincing because they feel lived, not assembled.
I thought I would share that in case anyone here is in the middle of drafting theirs.
GPA 2.7 need a 3.7
Hello, 24 F did really bad when I started college. please don’t judge my grades. I was depressed and my “mom” grandma passed away and I took it hard.
Is there any way I can improve my GPA?
I’m a 16-year-old applicant targeting Cornell Engineering (Dream School). I have a massive spike in robotics and social entrepreneurship, but a significant medical dip in 11th grade. I’d love an honest evaluation of my profile.I am spike kid like i am best at building stuff than anyone else in my school i can bet for that
Stats & Context
SAT: 1500+ (Predicted) current :1400
9th Grade: 90%
10th Grade: 90%
11th Grade: 60% (The Dip: Diagnosed with severe Typhoid during finals. I'll be explaining this in the "Additional Information" section)
12th Grade: 90% (Mid-term predicted)
Additional Circumstances: Commute 120+ minutes daily
Extracurricular Activities (ECs)
Captain & Lead Innovator, Technoxian World Robotics Championship: Led team to win the 2024 World Championship; secured a 60,000R innovation grant for scalable engineering.
Founder & Product Lead, VISER (Startup): Developed an AI-powered social platform. Scaled to a 10,000+ user waitlist through product-led outreach and minimalist design.
Founder & Lead Engineer, Assistive Engineering & Robotics Org: Built a computer for blind users and mind-controlled bionics. Authored a 100+ page research paper certified by the AICB; impacted 300+ individuals.
Vice Head Boy / IT Club Captain, DPSG: Elected leader for 7 years in a school of 7,000+. Directed IT teams to multiple regional and national tech wins.
Founder & System Architect, Ayogtree: Created a sensor-based anti-tree smuggling system with real-time app alerts. Recognized by India’s National Environment Ministry.
Winner, Student Innovator, Vigyantram IIT Bombay: Developed a smart helmet for industrial safety; took 2nd place at IIT Bombay’s national innovation competition.
Independent Aerospace Engineer: Self-directed rocketry project. Designed, fabricated, and launched a small-scale rocket with full post-flight failure analysis.
Hackathon Winner & Developer: Top finisher in multiple state-level hackathons; led teams in rapid software prototyping.
Awards & Honors
World Champion — Technoxian World Robotics 2024.
2nd Place National — IIT Bombay Innovation Challenge.
National Ministry Recognition — For environmental tech (Ayogtree).
AICB Certified Researcher — For assistive technology and blind-user computing.
Essay Ratings
Personal Statement (9.5/10): "The Jazz Engineer." Explores the intersection of engineering and music (trumpet), focusing on how "wrong notes" lead to better improvisation and pivoting from "building for judges" to "building for impact."
Cornell Supps (8/10): Focused on the collaborative "Any Person, Any Study" culture and specific robotics labs.
Published Work
Author: Published a 50-page book titled "Killer Files" (Non-fiction/Investigation).
What are my chances?
^
I’m currently a second year architecture student, and lately I’ve been feeling really unsure about whether this path is right for me.
At first, I think I really wanted this. But now, it feels more like a burden than something I’m passionate about. I’m struggling with the workload, the pressure, and the uncertainty of what will happen in the future especially considering how much money is being spent on this course.
What makes it harder is that I see my friends in other programs, like nursing, and they seem more stable, happier, and more certain about their future. Nursing also feels like a “safer” path with more guaranteed income, and I can’t help but think, what if I chose that instead?
At the same time, I don’t fully see myself in architecture anymore but I also don’t completely want to let it go. It’s confusing because a part of me still wants it, but another part of me feels tired and lost.
So now I’m stuck wondering: Is this just burnout, or is it a sign that this career path isn’t really for me?
I’d really appreciate honest advice especially from people who have experienced something similar or are in architecture or nursing. TYIA!!!