<p>I am a current Harvard freshman. With the understanding that many of you are about to receive your admission decisions, I felt this message may be useful.</p>
<p>Approximately one year ago, I received my admissions decision from Stanford. I had applied EA to the school and had poured my heart and soul into the application. I remember that the email came right after my school day ended, so I stuck around in the school computer lab to check my email (I did not have a smartphone). When the email with the decision came in, I took a few anxious breaths before opening it. I was so, so nervous.</p>
<p>I got rejected. Not even waitlisted. I felt terrible that day. I felt like a dream of mine had been denied.</p>
<p>When regular decision notifications were sent out, I was also rejected from Columbia, Northwestern, Dartmouth, Brown, Yale, and Princeton -- all before I finally found out that I was accepted at Harvard. </p>
<p>And, just as my first semester at Harvard is wrapping up, I can honestly say that I am glad I was rejected from everywhere else. I absolutely love it here. The classes are interesting, the students are driven, and the extracurricular opportunities are amazing. It's not a perfect institution, but it has so many opportunities that just fit me as a person. I really couldn't imagine myself fitting in as well anywhere else.</p>
<p>Now, I'm not trying to say that Harvard is the best school ever (though it is much better than Yale ;) ) and that you should feel like your missing out if you don't get in. Far from that! I think I was rejected from all of those other schools mainly because they simply weren't great fits for me as an individual. If you get rejected today or in the future, it most likely isn't a referendum on the quality of your high school performance; the vast majority of people who apply to schools like Harvard are academically qualified for admittance. Rather, it may be that the admissions officers simply thought that there are other schools out there that would be a * better fit * for you. </p>
<p>So, if you get rejected or waitlisted, move on with life. It doesn't mean that you weren't worthy of admittance or that you couldn't have done well here. It simply means that you'll be spending your next four years at another school, most likely one that offers just as good of an education, has just as motivated and driven student, and has just as many opportunities as Harvard, * and * is a better fit for you. Whatever happens today, keep your head up. If you keep working hard, no matter where you end up, your future will be bright.</p>
<p>Good luck wherever you end up, and have a wonderful senior year!</p>