Are any other ED-admits feeling a completely irrational post-decision insecurity?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Here's the deal: I've wanted to go to Cornell since 9th grade. I've worked my entire high school career with the end goal of going to Cornell - almost everything I've done academic/EC-wise was with Cornell in mind. I was accepted to CALS during the ED round, and I was (still am) ecstatic. I've visited Cornell and absolutely adored it in person - AND I'm a NYS resident, so I'll get that coveted tuition break (which, for various reasons, I will desperately need). All of my work has paid off - my dream has come true. I am very happy. </p>

<p>But...</p>

<p>As I go about withdrawing my applications to MIT and other prestigious universities, I begin to feel the SLIGHTEST tinge of insecurity about one thing: the fact that Cornell is statistically the easiest Ivy to get into. I know it's such an oxymoron - an EASY Ivy to get into. What was the acceptance rate last year, 19%? </p>

<p>This faint insecurity hasn't dampened my love for Cornell in the slightest; I know that it's the right school for me and that my situation couldn't be better in any other college. I'm just worried that when I tell someone I'm going or went to Cornell, they'll look down upon me - and for no legitimate reason whatsoever (consider Cornell's otherworldly academic level and extreme competitiveness for admissions in comparison to 99.9% of US colleges). I am a very defensive person, and I know that I will become irrational and lose my temper whenever someone implies that Cornell "isn't worthy of its Ivy League status. God, they have like, public schools or something. Ew." I am also mildly irritated that I will be going to school WITH people who look down on Cornell - who will complain that they didn't get into Harvard or Princeton because a URM took their spot (a story that someone on this forum recently related). I hate that I'll be going to Cornell with people who don't love Cornell as much as I do. </p>

<p>I guess that this is just a rant about the injustices of the world: that Harvardites or Yalies paying over $50,000 to go to a school of the same (or, according to many, lesser) educational and social caliber would look down upon my school because Cornell's mission is to educate as many of the best as it can (for God's sake, it has 7 schools!), even some who don't have rich mummies and daddies to shell out 4 years of private-school tuition. I know that the majority of people would never think of Cornell as a "lesser Ivy" (the majority wouldn't care at all) - but I also know that one day I will come across someone who will thoughtlessly say something negative about my school. And then that person may never be seen alive again.</p>

<p>I had to work incredibly hard to get into Cornell, and I love Cornell enough (more than enough) to not mind that I will one day have to be on the offensive about her reputation - but I still hate that to one person, one day, I'll have to be. Is anyone else feeling anything that corresponds to this?</p>

2

<p>When my friend heard that Cornell accepts about 30% of its early applicants, she exclaimed, "Cornell is NOT an Ivy school to me anymore!" She, of course, did not apply to Cornell but Yale early.
I have a similar problem of people looking down on Cornell's high acceptance rates. I generally ignore them and let them rant on about how great Yale is (my friend is a die-hard Yale fanatic).
Let others think their ignorant thoughts, you know how great the Big Red is. :-)</p>

<p>Cornell class of '13!</p>

3

<p>^Well, since she is not my friend, I sincerely hope that she gets rejected by Yale, applies to Cornell RD, and then gets rejected by Cornell. </p>

<p>Vindictive Cornell class of '13!</p>

4

<p>Chances are the people who look down on Cornell are overly-studious nerds who are socially awkward, picking on Cornell to mask deeper insecurities. I have friends at every single Ivy, and they certainly have nothing but respect for Cornell - that shows they're confident and happy people. When I told my Dartmouth friend I want to transfer to Cornell, she gushed about how I was lucky to get reduced tuition. She's shelling out over $200,000 for a degree in Lit. We'll see who has an easier time getting a job after graduation...oh the irony :)</p>

<p>I hope your snooty "friend" gets rejected from Yale and get a reality check. </p>

<p>Think of it this way: 1/4 of Americans get a Bachelors Degree. Less than 1% graduate from Top/Ivy League schools. If anyone actually looks down on you for having a Cornell degree, that person is a laughable idiot who probably masturbates to the USNWR nightly.</p>

5

<p>"Injustices of the world"?
I had really high stats, worked my butt off for 4 years with Cornell in mind, took on any challenge that came my way, and involved myself in EC's that directly correllate with my interests and got deferred by Cornell.
That is injustice.
But it's life.
So we move on.
You got into Cornell, that's an amazing achievement, and you should be proud.</p>

6

<p>^^ Your thoughts remind me of my halloween costume this year. I wore crappy shoes with tube socks pulled up as high as they would go, short khaki shorts pulled above my waist, tapped nerd glasses, and an orange and black Princeton shirt (tucked into my super high shorts) with a bunch of pens in the front pocket and a pocket protector. </p>

<p>For the record, Im no Pton hater, I just thought it was funny</p>

7

<p>Haha. I love these make-fun-of-other-Ivies jokes. Kudos.</p>

<p>I think my friend is regretting applying Yale early now...</p>

8

<p>My only consolation for you is that these thoughts are completely irrational. First of all, no one gives a crap about average SAT scores or acceptance rates after they get into college. No one you meet in college or afterwards will care. Secondly, very few people will judge you based on the school you go to. In the 5 years since I've matriculated at Cornell, I have not had one, not one, person make a negative comment towards me about having attended Cornell. And more than half my graduating class at med school attended a college ranked higher than Cornell. We're all more mature than to make fun of someone about their college. Thirdly, unless you join some kind of exclusive Ivy League club or attend a top tier med school or law school, you will never be in a situation where you're surrounded by by more people who attended prestigous colleges than not. In the vast majority of situations, YOU will be the top dog in terms of colleges. But, like I said, no one really cares either way.</p>

9

<p>This is my take on this, which I believe explains a lot about Cornell's so called "high acceptance rate"</p>

<p>Almost all people have heard of Yale, Harvard, Princeton, MIT, UPenn, Dartmouth, etc...Because of this TONS of people apply to these colleges. Most of them don't even have the slimmest chance to get in. However, because they just want to try for the sake of trying, they will apply. Because of this, the applications received are MUCH higher than they actually deserve to be. Of course, Yale and Harvard and such Ivy League schools would deny them admission. They only want the best. Cornell on the other hand is not as well known to the public. (Yes, maybe to you and your friends, but not to the majority of the people). The applications received by them are much less and therefore it "seems" like the acceptance rate is much higher. However, in all actuality, the acceptance rate is quite similiar.</p>

<p>Don't believe me? Here is my research:
Ivy</a> League Schools - College Admissions Information for Ivy League Schools
Cornell Enrollment: 19,800
Harvard Enrollment: 25,690
Columbia Enrollment: 22,655
University of Pennsylvania: 23,980</p>

<p>(These are 2007 enrollment numbers btw, so they are up to date)
Need I say more? So if someone says that again, tell them all about these statistics. Not only do you sound well-informed, but you show them up at the same time. I now rest my case XD.</p>

10

<p>I think those enrollments include graduate students too..</p>

11

<p>Meh, just trying to prove that overall, Cornell is just as prestigious as all the other Ivies.</p>

12

<p>Um... except that Cornell actually receives more applications than any other top private school?</p>

<p>I'll have more on this later. It's an interesting subject. But for the time being, kara, you are interested in wildlife rehabilitation! Where else would you rather be with such interests as that?!</p>

13

<p>^I said in my initial post that Cornell is my dream school and I couldn't be happier to be headed there. It's not Cornell that I have a problem with; it's the possibility that somewhere out there there are people who are stupid enough to think that only HYPS are worthwhile schools and thoughtless enough to say so - and that there are people who I'll be attending Cornell with who will say they "settled" for Cornell. It's just that select handful of waste-of-spaces that makes my blood boil.</p>

<p>I know this is an extremely minor concern and that it's not at all important in the cosmic scheme of things; it's just something I decided to vent about.</p>

14

<p>Interesting to hear these thoughts of the original poster.</p>

<p>My son applied ED to MIT last year. He had perfect grades, 800 on SAT II Math and Physics, blah blah blah.</p>

<p>For some reason, he thought MIT was the only place for him. Short version of a long story - He got deferred ED, then waitlisted during RD. He was one of the 64 who MIT unglamoursly waitlisted until early July. Torture.</p>

<p>In the interim, he had accepted to Cornell CofE. I could tell he was feeling slighted and wondered why he had worked so hard to get perfect grades and scores, which now seemed meaningless.</p>

<p>Well, he is a Frosh at Cornell and thinks that not getting into MIT was the best thing that could have happened to him. Excelling at Cornell is the same as excelling at MIT, or CMU, or Stanford, or (insert name).</p>

<p>He loves his classmates, loves the campus, loves the challenges, and thinks Cornell is better than he ever could have imagined. And, he doesn't have to live in a craphole like Cambridge or ........... He gets to interact with a diversity of people in so many different fields of study. A group of students not found at the places people like to put above Cornell.</p>

<p>Don't let these thoughts control you. You are going to one of the finest universities in the world. If you put into what it deserves, the world will be at your doorstep.</p>

<p>The reason many folks talk down to Cornell is hard to explain, but is the problem of the person complaining.</p>

<p>Ithaca is a great place and Cornell is an even better place. Be thankful and enjoy what will be the best time of your life.</p>

15

<p>If its such a minor concern, I don't think you would be here creating quite a large post on the concern in question, and then in each post thereafter trying to defend yourself that you actually dont believe it is a big concern to you... :/</p>

<p>You shouldn't lie to yourself.</p>

16

<p>^And you shouldn't patronize people. I suppose we all have our faults. </p>

<p>I created a large post because this is a rant and because I am a prolific typer. I guess you didn't actually read the rant because you obviously have no idea what (who, precisely) I have a problem with. I only hope you have a good reason for insulting me. </p>

<p>All right. If the mod is reading this, I believe this thread has served its purpose and I would appreciate if it were deleted.</p>

17

<p>My only insecurity is I still can't believe I got accepted... Since Cornell has had an issue with sending acceptances to rejected students in the past, I'm going to be on edge until that letter in the mail arrives.</p>

18

<p>you don't have to be defensive. I think it's a valid concern. everybody in my school was happy for me when I said I'd been accepted by the school of my dreams, but at the same time, I have classmates applying to places like Stanford and MIT and even my calculus teacher has teased me a little about Cornell, because he's a Dartmouth alum. even my own family didn't really approve of my choice. my mom wanted me to apply ED at Stanford, while my dad unsubtly tried to direct me towards Princeton.</p>

<p>I think that sometimes people have skewed views on college admissions. I'm definitely not a strong candidate for Stanford or Princeton, or even Cornell--there are so many people on this board that I've been in awe of, because their scores/ECs/etc. are so much more powerful than my feeble ones. people who hold only HYPS and all of those other top-tier schools in such high regard are a little deluded, I think. for a person to think lowly of Cornell, one of the most amazingly productive schools in the world, especially in research and quality of education and everything else...I just have to feel sorry for that person. because he/she is mistaken beyond words.</p>

<h1>17: I'm exactly the same! my mom is kinda concerned about why I keep on being so worried even after I got the acceptance via internet, but I can't help but be nervous. monday seems so far away. :(</h1>

19

<p>You dont need to withdraw the applications you have already submitted</p>

20

<p>Wow, you're complaining that people will think that Cornell is sub-par, which if they do they are elitist morons while applicants who got rejected would kill for a spot. Just be thankful for your acceptance, and enjoy the remainder of your senior year.</p>