<p>It happened to me - I fell in love with a college as one might with a person. And it was a “reach school”. I think “a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?”</p>
<p>It can be a reach school. No denying that. But often what clouds the judgment there is that it can be the ranking and prestige that interferes with sound decision making, or one sets their heart on that one school and when they get rejected or waitlisted they absolutely tank…and sometimes tank their last semester grades in high school. I have seen it happen. Its fine if you are being realistic about who you are, your expectations, and a strong sense of how well you will do there and fit in. I just caution people not to get all giddy about prestige. That wears off really fast if you are over your head, drowning and miserable. </p>
<p>As for reaching for the stars…of course…everyone should challenge themselves as best they can. But not to the point of being sick. Or ruining the overall college experience, which is about growing up, socializing on an adult level, and learning to be independent, all mixed in with a lot of fun.</p>
<p>I don’t know if it was love at first sight, but when I walked onto Amherst campus I felt comfortable, like I had been there before. Plus, it was unbelievably beautiful!</p>
<p>Of all places, I got that feeling at UIUC. The campus was really nice in most parts, but the atmosphere was super positive and everyone looked extremely happy to be there. At one point, a student (figuring I was also a student there) held a door open for me when I was still like 20 seconds away, and they asked me how my day was going. At that point, I knew it was “the place.”</p>
<p>Too bad I’m probably not gonna get in. =/</p>
<p>Happened to me at Wake when I stepped on there campus at Wake when I was 12!!! :)</p>
<p>Also felt the exact same way when I visited Brown (my dream school); hoping for the best! ;)</p>
<p>To the person above me, isn’t that a great feeling? It’s awesome when people are randomly nice; wish it happened more often! Last summer when I took a course at Brown, a lady + her daughter asked me advice on how to get into Brown, how the vibe was, was it worth it, etc. Such an amazing feeling!!!</p>
<p>endless recession, I agree with you. Also, my dream school turned briefly and intensely into a nightmare school (sorry to be trite). I thought I wasn’t smart enough, wasn’t classy enough - ran back home. My parents sent me back.
Conversely, it is hard to overcome a feeling of utter alienation at some other schools. One I visited smelt of urine in all the corridors and the notices were mis-spelled. Tough to try to dream of getting in there.</p>
<p>If the “notices” said “Dont uryneat in the corridors” it might explain things.</p>