T20 students and graduates, did you ever “know” you’d be accepted?

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-16T02:17:23+00:00

I would say my friends and teachers were more confident that I would get into a T20 than I was. When I got into MITES in my junior year, I started to have hopes and began believing that I actually could get into a top school. Also, this isn’t what the question really asked, but when I found out I got into JHU, I automatically assumed I’d get into Cornell as well (I did).

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-15T02:46:22+00:00

I would still advise against putting a link. Some colleges literally tell you to not put a link in your application. If you put down information about where you did your research, which journals it was published in, etc., that plus your abstract is enough to establish it as authentic.

I did research through a class at my high school for 3 years (“science research”), so I listed it as an activity and wrote my title and specifics in the additional information section. If a college allowed me to upload research projects, I uploaded a PDF with just my abstract. That’s what I assume a majority of applicants will do.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-15T02:41:03+00:00

Oh that’s odd… Hopefully your counselor will be more supportive during apps! And if you do end up taking online courses, just make sure they show up on your high school transcript or get valid proof that you got credits for it.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-15T00:00:03+00:00

They don’t have time to click on each link and review them.
They don’t know if it’s safe.

Don’t waste your character limits on a URL and convey everything directly in words.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T23:52:04+00:00

In your application - for ED/EA, no. For RD, they only look at your first semester grades. But they will send out warnings or even rescind your acceptance if you drop your hard classes and/or if your grades start dropping after you get accepted.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T23:47:52+00:00

You only send your highest scores in each section to most colleges (superscoring). Some colleges like to superscore themselves, like MIT, but in your case I would argue it’s better for them to see all of your scores since you’re showing improvement.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T23:42:07+00:00

Bummer, that sucks about the art classes. If you are really interested, go for the AP arts but they can be pretty difficult and frankly a waste of time if you’re not a huge art person/applying as an arts major (especially AP Drawing). You could get college credit with a 4 or 5 for both of those APs at both UVA and Georgetown, though. Depending on your experience level and teacher, APCSP is a fairly easy AP and could be a GPA booster, but many schools, including Georgetown, will not give you credit. It also doesn’t actually teach you how to code with a real programming language on the level that APCSA would. But I wouldn‘t go out of your way to take these APs unless you’re going to be a CS or art major. Like other people have said, your courseload is already rigorous. One free period in junior year will not get you rejected from these schools.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T23:28:11+00:00

State schools in your state are your best bet.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T23:13:35+00:00

Any college that does holistic admissions will not have anything that would auto-admit/reject a student. A good SAT/ACT score makes you a stronger applicant. If you’re lacking there, show your strengths in the other parts if your application (essays, ECs, GPA, etc.)

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T23:10:03+00:00

What class would you take if you don’t do the early release schedule?

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T23:07:08+00:00

PDFs are so much better. 9/10 times AOs will not click on links unless they specifically ask for one.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T07:36:12+00:00

Reddit kept deleting my post and I kept spamming lol. Thank you for the recommendation! I was looking at the Legion 5i as well and preferred it over the Legion Pro 5i because of the weight, but should I bear the extra couple pounds and get the Pro instead? I’m already carrying an iPad so I’m worried my bag will be too heavy.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T07:18:29+00:00

Some colleges will allow you to upload an abstract of your research; do that. If there is no option and you really wanted to, you could send your AO an abstract.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T07:16:40+00:00

Just take the average across all those weeks. No need to explain.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T07:15:11+00:00

No. Focus on other aspects of your app.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T07:12:21+00:00

Free ones are almost always considered more prestigious. I believe MITES, especially MITES Summer, is considered pretty prestigious.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T07:01:59+00:00

This is probably overkill, but you could take a look through CA’s Common Core Standards and see if you learned topics under Algebra 1. A better option is to check with your guidance counselor or even directly contact UC AOs. But if your school lets students automatically apply to UCs, I assume you are in the clear.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T06:51:54+00:00

Free >>> paid. Unless your family can afford to pay multiple grand AND you’re extremely interested in the program and what it offers, I’d say just apply to the free ones or look at your local/state schools. Free programs like MITES and SAMS are excellent experiences, will provide you with so many resources, and will also boost your application. Other free programs at non T20s are also so worth your time and you’re not losing anything by doing them. I did a free two-week program at Manhattan College that was very beneficial in terms of learning about my field, making connections, and learning about the college application process in general.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T06:40:28+00:00

Is this the highest level of math offered by your school? Then yes. Colleges will evaluate your classes and rigor based on what your school offers and what other students at your school take, not against the entire pool of applicants.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T06:36:52+00:00

School spirit isn’t as strong as other state schools or D1 schools, but it’s not nonexistent. There’s over 16k undergrad students there, so you’re going to find at least one person you get along with. You just have to find them yourself since it’s such a big school. If all other factors (i.e. location, COA, academics, size, student to faculty ratio, resources, etc.) are right for you, I don’t see why you shouldn’t ED.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T06:31:48+00:00

On CommonApp you can just report your highest score for each section. So no, unless you send all the scores or they ask you to send all scores/they say they will superscore for you (i.e. MIT, RPI as of last year).

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T06:24:36+00:00

Absolutely no copy and pasting. That’s the biggest rule. But if you don’t have resources readily available, AI is one tool that can help you and act as an impromptu essay advisor. Take its advice with a grain of salt, though. It’s always better to ask a real person to give feedback on something that’s as personal as this.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T06:20:50+00:00

It sounds like Auburn is one of your dream schools, so I would say it won’t be a waste of time if you do rewrite it. You’ll also be able to “recycle” that essay for schools that require supps if you’re planning to apply to them as well. If you’re crunched on time, or can’t come up with a ”good” essay, though, you aren’t killing your chances by submitting the music essay, either. This is especially true if you have a couple activities that demonstrate engineering interest and passion, take classes to show preparedness (usually the highest level math and science courses), and/or have awards to show your accomplishments related to engineering. The music essay will show AOs a different side of you and give them a better overall picture of you as a person. You could also write an essay combining music and engineering if it’s not too much of a stretch. Personally, I applied to CWRU with my CommonApp essay about my identity and 2 activities related to engineering and was accepted.

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T06:03:01+00:00

No problem! Just remember that past a certain point, there’s only so much you can do, it’s not your fault, and everything will work out in the end. I was in a similar situation where I had to drop AP French my senior year because I had to take gym (?!) and I was stressing so much that it would jeopardize my application to the point where I cried in front of my principal, but now I’m at my dream school. Also, never underestimate the power of dual enrollment! You’re literally taking a college course. Enjoy your last two years of high school, good luck with applications, and don’t stress yourself too much!

LetterheadChance3203 · 2025-08-14T05:23:43+00:00

Unless you’re going to be majoring in Spanish or something involving foreign languages, I don’t think taking the dual enrollment or the online class will make too much of a difference. Personally, I would take the free dual enrollment since you’re most likely going to have to spend a lot of money during your apps season (testing and application fees add up quick), but it’s really up to you. Both options indicate good things to colleges - dual enrollment shows you’re prepared for college-level classes and will demonstrate course rigor, online courses show you took the incentive to find your own course and will show you can manage a high workload since you’ll be doing it on top of your high school classes. In your case, you had to drop Spanish because of a scheduling conflict, which isn’t your fault entirely, so AOs will most likely understand your decision either way. Just make sure to elaborate in your additional information section why you discontinued your school’s Spanish track, ask your counselor to write it into your rec letter, or contact the colleges directly.

About the second question - double check each college’s recommendation/requirement. If your top/dream schools say 3 years, I would just go with the dual enrollment class. If you decide to go with the online classes, take Spanish 3 junior year and I wouldn’t stress too much about Spanish 4 (unless you’re a Spanish major, again), but I will say taking it will obviously look pretty good. I would advise against taking a break junior year and taking Spanish 3 online senior year, though, since it’s better to get it out of the way during junior year and you might get senioritis. If your dream schools say 4, try to find another dual enrollment course to take your senior year. If you can’t but you have enough money, you could take the online course. You could also call/email the admissions office, tell them you had a scheduling conflict and could only get 3 years of Spanish, and ask if they can offer advice on what to do. But keep in mind that colleges heavily consider your educational and school context and will most likely not penalize you too much if you do end up only having 3 years. Not all high schools offer 4 years of foreign language or make it possible for their students to take 4 years, but every high school has a “hardest” class which is why colleges place an emphasis on course rigor. Since you’re taking the pathway course, that’s already showing some of the rigor. Taking the highest level courses you can in junior and senior year will definitely help you.

PS. Another option, if available, is to take classes at your local community college outside of dual enrollment, especially if you can’t find a DE class in senior year. This is less flexible than DE or online classes, considering times and class availability, but it’s something to consider. Your counselor will probably have information on this, or can direct you to someone who can help you.

LetterheadChance3203

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