<p>I have a quick question - why is it you have taken so many AP classes and gotten As in all of them yet received a mediocre SAT grade? Yes, SAT scores only measure one Saturday morning out of your high school career, but if you can’t achieve the necessary scores, your dream college has no liability to lower it’s expectations for you. Here’s the truth: there’s you, who has As in your AP classes and a decent SAT score, and there’s other applicants, who have 2400s, received A+s in their AP classes (granted, they got 5s), are national math or science competitors and captains of clubs and sports, and more. They can’t lower expectations when there are clearly enough people meeting their requirements and more. The truth hurts, sorry.</p>
<p>PS. You’re only considering grades and extracurriculars. There are still other factors, many of them uncontrollable (eg. demographics, school ranking, ethnicity, etc). Do your research completely before pouring your heart out on this dream school.</p>
<p>OH, and I’m not trying to insult you if that’s what it sounds like. I’m just not good with constructive criticism lolz.</p>
<p>Bob, any time you try to get something when there are so many more people going for it than the availability, the chances are not good you’ll be successful. That goes for certain jobs, clubs, accounts, etc. An selective college is just one of those things. What should a college do when it gets 10x the number of applicants that it can accept? Accepting who they can is just one minor part of their mission.</p>
<p>I understand the emotional attachment to the college process. How could you NOT care where you end up? This is your home for the next four years, this decision will shape your life. Being “emotionally distant” will only lead to an underwhelming college experience. I understand the pressure that students are under, I understand being so stressed that you’re pushed to tears on a weekly basis. I understand the disappointment of rejection.</p>
<p>What I DON’T understand is how the OP comes across as an “elitist, entitled prick.” Clearly, the OP has worked very hard throughout high school. When you work that hard for four years, you expect it to pay off. I’m not saying just because someone works hard they deserve to get into every college, especially ones with a 6-7% admit rate (I’m not sure which college the OP is talking about, but that’s what it is at Harvard, for example). I wouldn’t say the OP “finds her worth in how others perceive her.” She worked hard and expected results. If you apply to a college, it’s because you want to be deemed good enough to get in. Isn’t this entire process about others judging you?</p>
<p>Also, I don’t know if it’s fair to ask colleges to lower their expectations, but it is absolutely fair to criticize the pressure that teenagers are under.</p>