Zero ECs or awards but I can prove I'm smart, how far will that get me?
Due to a combination of chronic illness throughout high school and a consequent lack of motivation, I have effectively zero extracurriculars of any substance. I was forced to quit all of my activities and passions once I was hospitalized at the beginning of freshman year and I haven't picked any of them back up. During my 9th and 10th grade years, when my health was the worst, I had a mixture of grades that were low for me (nothing below a B+, but this is low considering that I didn't do ANYTHING outside of school). This past year I got back on track and earned an A+ in each of my classes (all honors / accelerated). Furthermore, I took the SAT for the first time in November and somehow pulled off a 1570. For shits and giggles, I took the most recent spring ACT and somehow got a 36 with little to no prep.
I know that my GPA and test scores are not going to be enough to make up for my lackluster extracurriculars and awards, which I think is what most T20 schools really prioritize. I honestly don't deserve or expect a HYPSM acceptance. I know there are kids who work their asses off for that and I truly hope they get what they deserve. But it's just hard to know that I wasted my potential and I have a lot of regret looking back knowing that I could've done so much more.
Are there any schools (T20s, if any) that place more of an emphasis on raw intelligence rather than hard work and dedication demonstrated in ECs? (yes, I know tests/GPA are not the best measure of intelligence, I'm just not really sure how to word my question)
Posted Jun 8, 2026, 4:50 AM UTC