And I Return to Prep School Admissions

Prep School Admissions
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<p>This is taken almost directly from a PM to CherryRose. Cherry, I hope you don't mind- this PM summed up my emotions so accurately. She's just one example of the amazing applicants, parents, even ghosts of lurkers ;) I've encountered on College Confidential. It's truly a real community to ask questions, answer them, swap anecdotes, and learn.</p>

<p>"Yes, I haven't had an admit. Just got the thin envelope from Andover, of course. I've been in hiding- yes, the creator of the official decisions thread isn't posting her decisions. Yet. I'm just...numb, a little bit: dazed, confused, a little dejected and unexpectedly emotional at points. </p>

<p>It feels like my future has been screwed over three times. I don't know. But...every hour, even, I'm reminded of how lucky I am to have even been waitlisted. I remember all I have to look forward to that I wouldn't get at boarding school.</p>

<p>And the motivation (!) Crazy, crazy motivation to work my BUTT off even more. In a few years, I'll be joining the boarding schools' admits in the college rat race- and I"ll be ready to join and beat them next time. These letters don't define me or you. We make ourselves, Cheryl. And yes. These thin letters have come partially from things out of our control- FA, ORM, location maybe. But, only we have the power to propel ourselves out of this... dejectedness and sadness.</p>

<p>I respect everyone so much as a person, a CC-er, a fellow applicant, parent or friend. So good luck to everyone in the future. As much as we feel like our lives are ending, everything is going to be all right. New doors are opening, we just have to find them. And, lol, even though we can't meet cute boarding school boys, there's always college or reapplying. <3"</p>

<p>I know everyone here is amazing. We all have our moments on CC, don't we? I wish you all the best. Maybe I'll stick around on Prep School Admissions for a bit, maybe I won't. But I won't forget the help I've received and I know this site will be the first place I will go to when I am applying to college. I love you all.</p>

<p>Love, sincerely,
98beebee</p>

<p>P.S. five hundredth post! this is something monumental!</p>

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<p>Oh, no, I don’t mind! I’m coming out of hiding too, and am really glad you posted this. I second everything you said, especially the part about thanking you all unbelievably amazing CCers. We really do make ourselves; thin or fat envelopes don’t. I have gotten more anxious (if that is even possible) about college within the last 48 hours… how much different can it be from applying to prep school, for an Asian needing full aid?</p>

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<p>Based on what I have read on CC, Asian needing FA is like climbing Mount Everest in Bare Feet with no oxygen tank. BS or not, no one can take away your intelligence, drive, and passion. BS is not the only ticket to a good college. High school is what you make of it. I’m sure you guys will do fine. Many kids from public high schools do go to top colleges. And btw amazing boys can be found at public schools, ice cream shops, and BS has no lock on it. Best to you all. My favorite quote: “I don’t want my school to interfere with my education.”</p>

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<p>^^ The Everest thing really made me laugh out loud. And I do love the quote- actually, I am considering online public high school for the sake of intellectual freedom. I don’t think I can bear more school… it’s starvation of the mind, to me.</p>

<p>If it continues like this, this thread is shaping up to be one of my favorites of all time. :)</p>

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<p>ahhh…how coincidental. I was thinking about online public high school too. But then I thought about no friends at school…so then i guess i’ll be making it through public high school somehow. (assuming i don’t get off any waitlists)</p>

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<p>98beebee and CherryRose, welcome back to both of you! And, Analyticall, thank you for that great Mt. Everest quote - that’s one of the best things I’ve read on CC in a long time!</p>

<p>After all, what can you do when you’re surrounded by a pile of denial letters? (1) light a match (okay, sorry, but this is my personal favorite), (2) eat chocolate, (3) laugh!</p>

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<p>Aww, you’re making me get all nostalgic! I really hope everyone sticks around here, or maybe ‘graduates’ on to HSL, because everyone is really helpful, kind, and funny. No amount of words can express how grateful I am to you guys - applicants, current students, and parents. I truly believe this forum is a huge reason why my results turned out the way they did; I have learned soooo much on here. Here’s to all our dedication, old posts, and the future!</p>

<p>and lol @dodgersmom :)</p>

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<p>You are all amazing and should be proud. Being waitlisted isn’t what you wanted but it is a validation that you had the “chops” to be a competitive student on campus if the fates had turned in a different direction.</p>

<p>And the grace with which you are accepting those thin letters speaks volumes about you. I’d look forward to interviewing students like you (with that level of perspective) come college time.</p>

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<p>You guys rock. There was an interesting study in the New York Times about the most important predictor for a student’s later success in life. And guess what? It wasn’t GPA or a prestigious school; it was character–character defined as resiliency, the ability to bounce back when you fail, to keep working even when it gets hard. You guys have that in spades. Best of luck to you and check in and let us know about the great choice you’re going to make next.</p>

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<p>haha, that’s the way I’m treating my waitlists: The AOs though something of me, and it was positive. And that’s enough for me sometimes…</p>

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<p>@ExieMITAlum: Perhaps I shall apply to MIT just for the chance to interview with you. :D</p>

<p>It’s strange. But seeing all these old, wonderfully familiar names of my favorite parents and fellow applicant is actually making me miss those waiting days, when we were oblivious of our fates. And as for all the waitlists… in my case, I’m thinking of them as "Good Enough For ______ But Without The Bucks To Pay For It"s. ;)</p>

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<p>That’s how we looked at it too, Cherry. And don’t worry too much about college–there are just so many more choices out there, and you’ll have all the wisdom you’ve accumulated from this round. :)</p>

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<p>Thank you so much for this. I was rejected at all three schools I applied to, as I found out today and you don’t want to know how hard I cried. It really hurt to know that I wasn’t good enough, when I put everything into this. I feel like I wasted my whole year and let everyone down. But it’s comforting to know that I’m not the only one in this situation. I’m not sure whether I want to reapply next year or try for some schools with rolling admissions now. Again, thank you, for being the few nice people among some arrogant jerks.</p>

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<p>i was in your position last year-- i was an international, asian, needed full aid and was wait-listed across the board. (everest? perhaps)</p>

<p>if i had gone to prep school, i would have missed a ton of opportunities that came my way this year. instead, i transferred to a local, more academically rigorous school (still public) and had the chance to meet nobel laureates, the prime minister, and travel to Antarctica on full scholarship!
my point is, not getting into boarding school really isn’t the end of the world. had i gone to prep school, there’s no way i would have experienced these things; there are opportunities everywhere as long as you keep looking.</p>

<p>@ mayafairy, “It really hurt to know that I wasn’t good enough, when I put everything into this.”
don’t think for a moment that you weren’t “good enough”-- there are so many factors that you can’t control when it comes to admissions, and your worth/merit are most definitely not determined by whether or not you get into boarding school. </p>

<p>give yourselves a bit of time to mope (if necessary), then move forward, and always keep your chin up.</p>

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<p>And we admits too look forward to competing with you amazing individuals in the upcoming college rat race ;). I sincerely hope you guys will end up somewhere that deserves such levels of courage, motivation and resilience.</p>

<p>Good luck, and welcome back!</p>

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<p>Don’t think for a second that you weren’t good enough! Heck, these schools have painfully competitive admit rates–Andover, for example, is 14%. That means they only pick one in 7 applicants, and the applicants are a high caliber bunch. </p>

<p>Even if you roll a die, you have a better probability of getting a particular outcome.</p>

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<p>This is an amazing thread, and gosh it has made me feel so much better about myself even holding 1 admit in my hand, because I still don’t know if I can go yet. But to all of you applicants who did not receive expected results this year, keep your head held high and keep on fighting. You are all AMAZING people and will do BRILLIANT things no matter where in the world you are - the prep schools have no idea what they’re missing and you need to show them that when you grow up and are famous for discovering the cure to cancer or AIDS. My mom comforted me last year saying that when I was on TV one day giving a speech or writing my autobiography, I could mention all the schools that rejected me just to make them feel sorry - try thinking in that mind frame. :D</p>

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<p>hey guys! just want to let yall know yall are all awesome, and i really, really believe that everything happens for a reason. likely, i won’t be headed to boarding school this september as well, but i don’t regret applying one bit. heck, i rather deal with firm rejection than with all the “what ifs…” if i hadn’t applied. :slight_smile: it’s been fun, and yall have been the best - the best support, the best help, and really the most motivated people i’ve ever met! :slight_smile: i’m sure better things are coming, guys! keep going :D</p>

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<p>We’re all going to continue on, aren’t we? The lessons this app process has given me are astounding. I’ve learned so much, and not just about these schools. About everything…and Exie, I second CherryRose. Can I just interview at MIT and nothing else? ;)</p>

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<p>By the way, everyone. I’m currently writing the waitlist letter to Exeter. Writing that PM and posting this thread has helped so much to just get everything down and I feel so much better. If you’re feeling down, I strongly suggest you just write. It helps in a strange way to see all your feelings neatly typed or written.</p>