Ivy League - Rural South Admission

[Anonymous]

Okay, so was thinking about this and wanted to know if my impression was right.

I attended an Ivy league from a rural southern public high school; was woefully unprepared compared to my peers from elite public and private schools.

I made it through, but it was a rough ride and I was very lost career planning wise (in my town you were a teacher, a doctor, or worked at the local factory).

I was a good student in high school, middling SAT scores (1300 I think on old SAT style when 1600 was top), had a single AP course b/c my HS offered only one.

Some extracurricular (student government, music, scouts) -- but really NOTHING outstanding. No legacy (parents went to extremely low-tier rural colleges) or connections.

I've always said I got in as a "diversity" element -- LMC white student from rural south.

What I'm wondering -- am i characterizing this correctly? Do elite universities have essentially affirmative action for socioeconomic class (b/c clearly I am not a traditional protected class).

On a side note, any one else with a similar experience? It was a hard transition for me, I barely survived and took me a long time to even have a clue how to navigate my work path -- ignorance of even what most careers entailed until actually working. I hope to do better by my kids, but have a lot of ground to make up as far as really knowing how the world works...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, so was thinking about this and wanted to know if my impression was right.

I attended an Ivy league from a rural southern public high school; was woefully unprepared compared to my peers from elite public and private schools.

I made it through, but it was a rough ride and I was very lost career planning wise (in my town you were a teacher, a doctor, or worked at the local factory).

I was a good student in high school, middling SAT scores (1300 I think on old SAT style when 1600 was top), had a single AP course b/c my HS offered only one.

Some extracurricular (student government, music, scouts) -- but really NOTHING outstanding. No legacy (parents went to extremely low-tier rural colleges) or connections.

I've always said I got in as a "diversity" element -- LMC white student from rural south.

What I'm wondering -- am i characterizing this correctly? Do elite universities have essentially affirmative action for socioeconomic class (b/c clearly I am not a traditional protected class).

On a side note, any one else with a similar experience? It was a hard transition for me, I barely survived and took me a long time to even have a clue how to navigate my work path -- ignorance of even what most careers entailed until actually working. I hope to do better by my kids, but have a lot of ground to make up as far as really knowing how the world works...

Probably some geographic diversity but unless you explicitly communicated your SES through essays I'm not sure that was a significant factor.

[Anonymous]

I think most colleges will take the lack of some opportunities (lots of APs and clubs) into consideration.

[Anonymous]

The top Ivies love to say that they have students from all 50 states. Geographic diversity definitely counts! Are you a first-generation college student?

[Anonymous]

When did you graduate OP? You wouldn't get in with those "meh" scores nowadays. My husband's BF was like you. He w as a low class white and first generation college. He went to Harvard and felt really out of place. Did well. Went to law school. Had really terrible SAT scores. Would never get in today. Graduated in '78

[Anonymous]

The highly privileged child of the Indian doctor in a small rural town in the South will be held to the same standards as one from Choate. On the other hand, a straight A first-generation student (of any race) who is the pride of the town will be judged differently. Test scores won't be as important as long as they indicate basic capability to succeed. The personal essay and recommendations will be decisive. But, you have to keep in mind that there are 5,000 small rural towns and the Ivies can't take every valedictorian from those towns.

[Anonymous]

Why don't people actually read the OP post before spouting off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don't people actually read the OP post before spouting off.

Because the OP means nothing to other posters, who must make it All About Them.

[Anonymous]

OP you didn't say what your GPA was, or what you majored in. Do you think those factors could make a difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP you didn't say what your GPA was, or what you majored in. Do you think those factors could make a difference?

4.0 GPA, thats a given for these rural school. They just aren't that rigorous. Your teachers have degrees from community college + local commuter college. Totally different world than the schools my kids are attending.

I majored in engineering -- I needed a major that would allow me to work and support myself after college -- the cost of Med or law school was completely unfathomable. My parents house sold for $60k in 2006; $100ks in loans for professional school? Completely outside my comfort zone. I needed to support myself and escape the rural vortex of my home town. I graduated in 2000, FYI. So not the 70s like PP.

[Anonymous]

Your "middling" SATs put you in the what, 90% percentile? Give yourself a break. Yes, the preparation and exposure gained from elite prep and high-end public schools probably gave some of your classmates an edge but plently of kids from "rural" high school and elsewhere negate that with hard work and determination... over time. Gladwell and others might have advised you to be big fish in a small pond with respect to your college choice, but what's done is done. You've seen the mythology of the Ivy world and the reality of it (yes... some kinds are super bright, super ambitious and driven... some will be amazing successful, etc.) Take that exposure you've gained and translate it into some confidence and focus for yourself. If you got through those rough seas, other stuff in life will seem like a piece of cake.

[Anonymous]

1300 sat's and you got in? were you an athletic recruit?

i got shut out of all ivies with a 1490 and top 2% of my graduating class from PA. and this was 15 years ago.

yes i'm asian.

lol, my family made sure the other 3 siblings became recruited athletes. we learned about 'the game' the hard way.

[Anonymous]

1300/1600 is very low for a white kid to be admitted to an ivy without a major hook. It sounds like this was many years ago, when it wasn't so difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1300 sat's and you got in? were you an athletic recruit?

i got shut out of all ivies with a 1490 and top 2% of my graduating class from PA. and this was 15 years ago.

yes i'm asian.

lol, my family made sure the other 3 siblings became recruited athletes. we learned about 'the game' the hard way.

1490 for an ivy is simply too low. This is not a shocker PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1300 sat's and you got in? were you an athletic recruit?

i got shut out of all ivies with a 1490 and top 2% of my graduating class from PA. and this was 15 years ago.

yes i'm asian.

lol, my family made sure the other 3 siblings became recruited athletes. we learned about 'the game' the hard way.

1490 for an ivy is simply too low. This is not a shocker PP.

The contrast is that OP got in with 1300.