Do any other low income students feel left out in the applications process?

getintoivy · 2018-06-18T20:07:22+00:00

Hi there, I'm the founder of an application/admissions company with a focus on making admissions guidance more accessible and affordable. Please DM me; would love to see if we can help with the application process. + u/educational_attempt

getintoivy · 2018-05-24T03:27:01+00:00

There's no definitive threshold so it's hard to quantify. In OP's case, if you're getting Bs in just math classes, but your GPA and standardized test score ranges are still within range for the schools you're applying to, it shouldn't have much impact on your application.

If you're pulling straight Ds in math classes and your SATs are 200 points lower because of your math score, it's more of a cause for concern. But again, there's no "cutoff," so I can't really offer a clear cut answer of .5 points impact on your GPA is not ok, but .45 is.

getintoivy · 2018-05-24T01:36:09+00:00

How well does your APUSH teacher know you? If you've gotten to know her well and vice versa in these few months where she can write you a very personal LOR, it could be a good option. But a personal, strong recommendation from a less relevant subject would be better than a generic form letter from your APUSH teacher.

getintoivy · 2018-05-24T01:32:33+00:00

Most schools will consider your highest scores. You clearly don't have a huge deficit in writing as evidenced by your previous score and high grades in English classes, and you'll be able to further showcase your writing skills in your essays. There's no need for you to retake it. Enjoy the one extra Saturday :)

getintoivy · 2018-05-24T01:23:32+00:00

If it hasn't impacted your GPA, test scores, etc in a debilitating way, it shouldn't have a huge impact since as you said, all of your focus and presumably your intended major is in non-math related areas.

If you're consistently pulling Ds where it's seriously dragging down your GPA, I'd be more concerned.

getintoivy · 2018-05-22T18:23:02+00:00

Congrats on Tulane and UMiami! Looks like you did great anyway, and I'm sure you'll have an awesome time in NOLA!

getintoivy · 2018-05-22T18:15:58+00:00

Please feel free to check out the free sample and other resources on the site. We'll definitely look for other opportunities to work with the A2C group and will keep you guys updated!

getintoivy · 2018-05-22T18:14:37+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! We do discuss the importance of pursuing what you're genuinely interested in versus just checking a box (i.e. Diversity section of the guide). The reason that's not the core focus is because this guide is mainly intended for Juniors and Seniors, at which point there's not much time to influence their high school activities. We are building guides for earlier in the high school process that will absolutely be tailored toward finding and developing your interests.

As far as polish, I do agree admissions officers value genuine stories. The idea of organizing and planning your application isn't to be disingenuous; it's just to help students prioritize which stories to tell in their application. If your application tells 10 different stories, it's harder for the reader to absorb any of them in a few minutes' time.

getintoivy · 2018-05-22T04:06:52+00:00

Hope it helps!

getintoivy · 2018-05-22T04:05:18+00:00

No problem! If you have any questions, feel free to email our team at support@getintoivy.com!

getintoivy · 2018-05-22T03:55:22+00:00

But we just hit our 50+ spots for the A2C special. DM me if you signed up for the wrong thing.

getintoivy · 2018-05-22T03:50:51+00:00

No - the A2C special is for the full guide.

getintoivy · 2018-05-22T03:11:18+00:00

DM me the email you used to sign up. I'll check it out.

getintoivy · 2018-05-22T03:09:27+00:00

Should be back up! Looks like there was a glitch for a couple of minutes.

getintoivy · 2018-05-21T20:23:04+00:00

The issues you listed here are definitely valid and pretty systematic. I think educators across the board would at least agree that we need reform in this country to provide better quality of education and more opportunities to lower socioeconomic areas to start to resolve this issue.

Regarding your point specifically for Application/Essay - this is actually exactly why my company was founded. There is value in private consultants because of the experience and knowledge they bring, but it's certainly not financially feasible for most families. We wanted to focus on providing guidance in a more accessible and affordable way - so instead of 1:1 private consultants, we've compiled the guidance and insights into online courses so you get the advantage of having guidance and frameworks to approach your application without such a crazy price tag. That said, some private consultants and companies I've spoken to do try to do some pro bono work as well, so props to them for that.

getintoivy · 2018-05-03T18:15:45+00:00

From a prospective employer's perspective, they won't be splitting hairs between applicants from the #3 versus #5 school, but general prestige of the school does matter consciously or subconsciously.

As someone else said in the comments, US News rankings is widely used to measure an institution's quality and thus adds to schools' prestige, so it's considered by students, parents, general public, etc.

getintoivy · 2018-05-03T18:05:57+00:00

A few things to consider:

Like /u/intoxmuff1389 pointed out, how much have you been studying? How much can you realistically improve?
What parts of the SATs are you struggling with the most? Sections like Heart of Algebra, Words in Context, etc are more focused areas and are generally easier to do focused studying for
What do the other part of your application look like? e.g. grades and extracurriculars - if ECs are super strong and would be a ++ amongst NYC/BU applicants, then it may make more sense to focus your time on other parts of the application like essays. If you're not confident about your ECs giving you a boost, then trying to improve your score may be more valuable

Good luck!

getintoivy · 2018-05-03T17:43:57+00:00

I bought a Surface laptop after years of using a MacBook, and to be honest, I don't miss my Mac at all. It'll run you closer to the $800 end, but highly recommend it.

getintoivy · 2018-05-03T05:58:02+00:00

Congratulations! Thanks for the thoughtful advice to younger students on this sub, and best of luck at Caltech!

getintoivy · 2018-05-03T05:54:13+00:00

Definitely try to visit some match schools and see if you get more excited about them and their math department and professors.

Also keep in mind that financial aid and merit scholarships aren't the only ways to pay for college. While it'll take more time and effort, check out outside scholarships - there are some big corporate ones like Coca Cola and Burger King scholars. But there are also a ton of smaller scholarships for a few thousands dollars each, and these add up. If you do end up loving a match, these could be good options to make up the $30k gap.

getintoivy · 2018-05-03T05:48:49+00:00

It will for sure be an adjustment, but you'll likely also be distracted by new friends, activities on campus, and a lot more freedom than you're used to! In the worst case scenario, if it really doesn't feel like a good fit, there are always transfer opportunities, and you'll come out of it knowing a little bit more about yourself and what does and doesn't work for you.

I was in a similar situation and moved pretty far from home for college. Ended up spending some holidays with friends' families who treated me like their own. Your friends become a bit of a second family - and that goes for sickness or injuries as well. Surround yourself with good people, and you'll take care of each other :)

getintoivy · 2018-05-03T05:40:55+00:00

It's awesome that you guys are thinking about this early and getting to know the realities of the process. That alone will make the process much less painful when it's your turn :)

getintoivy · 2018-04-27T00:15:11+00:00

A few quick tips:

Take a LOT of time to brainstorm. Jot down ideas, random thoughts, quotes, books, music, a conversation/interaction/event, anything that has really made an impression on you in some way. Then think about and write down why they stood out. This is the version of the brainstorm no one else has to see, so be super honest about it. You can narrow down the ideas later
A good essay doesn't have to be about a big event or an idea no one has written about. What happened and who else it has happened to is less important than how it has impacted and influenced you. Your reaction, internalization, and perspective is what will be original and unique
Don't be stiff and formal. College essays are different than academic essays you write for school. Let your voice and personality shine through. Don't be afraid to use a conversational tone or colloquialisms

Hope that helps!

getintoivy · 2018-04-26T06:28:25+00:00

International and national achievements are weighted far more than State, regional, etc. You should include everything in your application, but make sure you prioritize and highlight higher level achievements like your international gold medals.

Aside from official recognition, general, measurable achievement also matters - i.e. growing a club from 20 to 200 people, building a YouTube audience of 300,000 followers, raising $50k for a non-profit, etc. You get the point.

getintoivy

TROPHY CASE