<p>One of my friends was accepted to Harvard early. I was talking to her the other day and she told me that she hadn't let anyone know she was accepted (besides, obviously, her parents and a couple friends), because she was embarrassed to--she thought it sounded like bragging. </p>
<p>I've observed this in action since--when someone asks her what colleges she's applying to, she either doesn't name Harvard or sneaks it in there between UMass and Tufts. She says she's got no idea why she does it but I think maybe it's got something to do with not wanting to weird out other people...'cause you know everyone's got that one friend or acquaintance or something who got a 1600 and a 4.0 and ninety thousand AP 5's and didn't get in...</p>
<p>I don't know. Was just wondering if anyone else felt that way, so as for a little comparison?</p>
<p>I just flat out lie and say I'm going to Ithaca College. A bunch of my friends go there, and it makes for conversations that are centered on better things than school. I went down to UPenn to hang out with a friend about a month ago, and every single frat we went to I would just say I was a freshman at IC. Girls seemed to have a better response to IC too (I tried saying both on different nights).</p>
<p>Edit: If I mentioned IC, they'd say something simple like "Cool, how is it?" If I mentioned Harvard, I'd get "Oh my God, you must be so smart, what were your grades like?" I'd much rather have the first conversation.</p>
<p>Well, I don't have the power of the H bomb, but I've found that the Y bomb is quite embarassing as well. Some may be quick to point out that the H bomb is far more powerful, but I can contend that I've had several awkward moments after being posed the question 'where are you going to schol?' At school most people know because we're all in eachother's business, but when someone asks me who doesn't know, I just artfully change the subject. When it's an adult I'm more polite, and say... Yale? Which ends up sounding like Yeel? and then they make me repeat myself. I'm not someone who is easily cowed, and I'm actually really confident, but I don't like the fact that people want to measure me by the school I'm attending. I'm just as smart (or stupid) as I was before I got in. <em>shrug</em> ;)</p>
<p>Well getting in didn't. I'm not there yet, and these past two months have seen me at a level of intelligence that I'm pretty sure I possessed in November...</p>
<p>So, it's possible that two Harvard undergraduates could meet in Europe and one says he's going to Ithaca, and the other says they're at Slippery Rock. It's probably better that they not know the truth, since each would think the other was way too smart for him or her.</p>
<p>"The lies can range from the banal (lousy undergrad education, as my Legal Seafood chum insisted) to the breathtaking and patently unbelievable (I really liked Yale better)."</p>
<p>I told my boss at work that I got in because he wrote me a letter of recommendation for my application.</p>
<p>A message saying "Congrtulations to employee XXXX for being accepted to Harvard!" and a picture of me that I don't remember being taken is now on the front page of the newsletter at the place that I work. It's a bit embarassing. :-X</p>
<p>I can't believe that anyone could keep it a secret. I go to a private school, and all of my local public school knew within a few days. All it takes is for one or two people to know and then it spreads like wildfire.</p>
<p><em>Raises hand</em>. Well, I avoid mentioning that I'm applying here because of lack of confidence...A lot of my friends refuse to tell me where they applied because "I can't get in".</p>