Apr 30 (edited) • 🎓 Strategy Posts
📉 4.0 GPA. 1600 SAT. Captain of three clubs. Still rejected.
This year’s admit rates were brutal:
Harvard: 3.6%
Yale: 4.6%
MIT: 4.5%
Columbia: 4.3%
If top schools reject thousands of high-achieving students every year… what are they really looking for?
Here’s the truth:
Stats open the door, but story gets you remembered.
Admissions officers aren’t building a class of “perfect” robots. That would be really boring and uninspiring.
They’re building a community—a mosaic of individuals, each bringing something distinct. They're asking:
🔍 Who are you, really?
🔍 How will you shape our campus — as a student, roommate, friend, collaborator, contributor, and future alum?
❗That’s where your Application Narrative comes in.
Not a resumé you submit—but the red thread tying your academics, extracurriculars, and essays together into something cohesive and intentional.
A story that connects your experiences and where you're heading.
Compare these two applicants, both interested in biology:
- Student A: 4.0, 1600 SAT, 8 APs across subjects, captain of three STEM clubs, member of 4 other clubs, pre-college summer programs (not subject-focused), and hospital volunteer.
- Student B: 3.9 GPA, 1530 SAT, 4 APs focused in science, dual enrollment at local college in bioethics, shadowed an oncology researcher, started a podcast about public health, and wrote a personal statement about translating medical info for her family.
🌟 Which student leaves a lasting impression?
It’s not about doing more. It’s about making your profile mean more.
âś… When your choices reflect a clear sense of purpose, your application feels memorable, not mechanical.
So if you’re applying this fall—or even thinking ahead for future years—here’s your goal: Build intentionality. Not just a list of impressive things, but a story that reflects who you are and why it all matters. 💜
💬 Want help shaping your narrative? I’ve created a step-by-step post series on application strategy and narrative design — check it out! 👇
Application Strategy Post 101: Click here
Application Strategy Post 102: Click here
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📉 4.0 GPA. 1600 SAT. Captain of three clubs. Still rejected.
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