<p>I don't know. I mean, I understand his frustration, but at the same time, I also realize that working hard isn't enough, it requires a little bit of luck. And in the case of college admissions, luck does play a part in it. Sometimes it is time to just let go and get a grip with reality. It isn't like he failed in life or anything. He would be failing in life if he let this minor fall get a hold of him and erase all his hard work in college and make his experience at UW a major disaster. [Sorry if you are not a he... my bad =)]</p>
<p>listen to hyakku... get out of la-la land, there are PLENTY of people who would give everything to be where you are. You are going to college. Less than 1% of the world's population gets that chance. Just be grateful, and stop griping. I don't know why this thread is even featured...</p>
<p>Well, he doesn't really need you to insult him either. </p>
<p>The OP is going through a hard time and needs a little bit of support. Sure, perspective is always important, but I'm also sure that a lot of us can relate. If we had not been accepted to our dream school, wouldn't we be atleast somewhat disappointed? It's understandable to some degree that the OP is depressed and finds going to UW-Madison a hard reality to accept, but I'm sure that he'll make the best of his situation. I'm not saying UW-Madison is a bad university either, but if he had hoped to attend an Ivy, it is understandable that he may feel unhappy about the result. But, this will pass, and he will probably do fine at UW. :)</p>
<p>Wow, tc, cry more.</p>
<p>I completely, 100% concur with the "grow up" sentiment. You've been accepted at one of the best universities in the nation and yet you still sit here complaining about how bad you have it.</p>
<p>Do you have ANY idea how many other people, MORE qualified than yourself get turned down every year? Instead of coming here and moaning about how much your life blows, and wasting your money on drugs, you could wake up and actually do something useful.</p>
<p>You've got a few weeks of high school left. How about you make use of them. Be a friend to the people you've known for so long. Go have fun. See a movie. Think about all the opportunities you'll have at UW.</p>
<p>I've got news for you. The name at UW might not read as Harvard or P or Y, but it sure as hell has the same opportunities.</p>
<p>Your post essentially reads like this, "I'm one of the millions of kids who doesn't know how to actually find a good college for me, so I defaulted to the Ivy League because I have good statistics." Guess what. That's why you're on the outside looking in. The Ivy League adcoms knew it. Wake up to reality. It'll be there for the rest of your life.</p>
<p>furthering juniorita's post...</p>
<p>I believe there is A LOT of luck involved in the admissions process. There is only so much you can do before submitting your application to a university. Of course I'm not saying admissions is a random selection process (you must be competitive for your application to be even considered), but like it or not, there is a lot of luck involved in this process. The admissions officers reading your papers, although are well trained, are humans. They may overlook something on someone's application, or hey, if they're in a bad mood and are tired, that sucks for the person whose application is being read. Further, some admissions officers may even be partial towards a type of people, etc. So we should all be aware that there is luck in this imperfect process. </p>
<p>Not everyone can go to Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. </p>
<p>So if you've tried your best your whole life to get into a prestigious university but fall short, be proud that you tried your best. Cliche, but true. You should feel proud. </p>
<p>And also, GET REAL! UW-Madison?!?! That's a great school, along with many others that are not on the top of the list. Be sad for a few more days, and get over it. Life goes on. Take a look at what you have before your eyes now.</p>
<p>It's nice seeing this thread featured. Now everyone who is in the OP's "horrid" situation, can read what we have to say.</p>
<p>too bad you were born into the american lifestyle.</p>
<p>Would've been better if you were in japan where you could just get into tokyo University with a good entrance exam score. Even if you fail you can always become a ronin retake! The american college system is screwed up in more ways than one. They take other things into account, but forget academics in the process.</p>
<p>"They take other things into account, but forget academics in the process."</p>
<p>Thats an interesting point Backfire. I never actually thought about that. I mean, here we are firing bullets through our heads to eat, sleep, dream, and breathe in our realms of " I have to get an A!!" and " Oh no! I have only 10 ec's I need 10 more!". I never stopped to think of it in those terms... Interesting...</p>
<p>I'm so sick of people from out of the country trying to comment on things that most people IN this country don't know about. That was a stupid comment. Because they don't base it all on stats its a bad idea? Some schools don't want people who can't handle certain things, like failure. No offense OP, but the way you are handling this situation makes it seem like they made the right choice. No one should fall into depression because they "only" got accepted to one of the top 10 public colleges in the nation, and one of the top 100 or so schools in our world. That's ridiculous. There is no sympathy that needs to be given. With an ~10% acceptance rate people need to realize that everyone who just matches what some website says about a schools stats is automatically in. Again, there is no top 20 school that is a safety for anyone, I don't know why people think because they are smart they are unique. There are THOUSANDS of kids with 4.0s, 2250+, etc.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Well, he doesn't really need you to insult him either.</p>
<p>The OP is going through a hard time and needs a little bit of support. Sure, perspective is always important, but I'm also sure that a lot of us can relate. If we had not been accepted to our dream school, wouldn't we be atleast somewhat disappointed? It's understandable to some degree that the OP is depressed and finds going to UW-Madison a hard reality to accept, but I'm sure that he'll make the best of his situation. I'm not saying UW-Madison is a bad university either, but if he had hoped to attend an Ivy, it is understandable that he may feel unhappy about the result. But, this will pass, and he will probably do fine at UW.
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</p>
<p>HE IS NOT GOING THROUGH A "HARD TIME". A hard time is struggling to survive. A hard time is dealing with losing someone that you loved more than anything above all. He shouldn't even be disappointed. THE ACCEPTANCE RATE FOR SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS IS UNDER 10%. He should WANT to get in, but expect that he may not seeing as how roughly ONE OUT OF TEN people get accepted. These aren't odds that are in his favor, so I don't know what gave him the right to think he was a shoe in or something.</p>
<p>I don't know if this guy is joking, but don't take a Gap year. Go to Madison and see if you like it. Transfer where you like if you don't, but let's get real--Madison is a GREAT school!!!</p>
<p>Wow, at this point, I would be completely confused as to what to do.. lol too much advice coming in. Is he even reading this..? lol</p>
<p>he/she... same diff</p>
<p>Why would anyone want to kill themselves if they didnt get into the college they wanted to go to. I mean, if Harvard knew that their decisions would lead to a mass amount of suicide in teens, then heck, they would have a 90% acceptance rate. Isn't the whole point of college to prepare ourselves for the work force, and to choose a career path, and most importantly to GROW AND DEVELOP? I mean, I understand the hurt of the rejection, but I mean I never contemplated death. I didnt work hard all 17 years of my life just so I can kill myself in the end. If I do not get the last levi jeans in the store, I won't kill myself. I would just go and get another pair of jeans from another store.</p>
<p>Sorry if you meant it in a figurative sense.. but I am not aiming this "rant" at you, I am just generalizing.</p>
<p>I just wanted you to know that admissions can be a hard process. Many people will tell you to just grow up but it is not that easy. Congradulate yourself on the fact that you did get into a wonderful school. It does not make you any less of a person because you didn't go to an Ivy. Hey look at Colin Powell other politicians, leaders, etc. they all went to CC. You are not even going to a CC you are headed to a top notch university. Take sometime to reflect on all that you have done and accomplished.</p>
<p>Just deal with it man. I have 2390, Valedictorian in class, and also some reasonable participation, leadership, and a bit of work experience. Guess what? Rejected from all privates I applied to (Cornell, UPenn, Columbia, Stanford) and I will be going to UCLA. It is perfectly okay to go to a lesser school, but that does not mean you are a lesser person. Hell, face it, half the guys in the Ivy League probably are less qualified that you. Still, there are other factors apart from merit such as race, gender, geography, alumni connections, lying on apps, etc.
I wouldn't think too much about it. I got over it quickly when I realized that doing so hurts my family much more than it hurts me. I caught my mother crying after I got my rejections cause she thought it might have been too traumatic for me cause I sort of got angry and broke the wall with my fist (also hurt my fist pretty badly). </p>
<p>But get over your depression fast. People around you will feel worried. Even if you are depressed, hide it. Another thing, don't stay in your room by yourself if you are depressed. You will sink more into depression because you will trouble yourself with disturbing thoughts. As for the drugs, don't use them. Figure something else out. Exercise or something. Masturbate if you have to (It is a legitimate way to make yourself happy).</p>
<p>By the way, there are some top 20 schools that can be used for safeties like Berkeley.</p>
<p>Also, I am satisfied with UCLA now. I visited and it is nice. Sure, its not as prestigious but hell whatever. Just need to have a lot of fun to make up for the loss in prestige.</p>
<p>I know someone who tryed killed himself, but parents caught him bleeding, and now he's gone completly mad-- in hospital and all. </p>
<p>Also, if you feel depressed, no problem-- just think positive. Trust me.</p>
<p>I would sooner respect someone who went to UW Madison & took advantage of all its rescources, and made it into an amazing experience, than someone who let rejection from a dream school hinder all his potential. Learn to appreciate UW Madison for the wonderful school it is, and try to look beyond what you wanted from those Ivies all along: prestige and reputation.</p>
<p>To the OP:</p>
<p>I hope this post does not get lost in the sea of people telling you to "just grow up". I really hope you get a chance to read what I am about to say and really think about it. (Feel free to PM me if you like.)</p>
<p>YOU HAVE SUFFERED A GREAT LOSS. This really sucks. You wanted something, you worked for it, you wanted the happy ending riding off into the sunset, and it isn't going to happen. You had high expectations and they have been dashed. This is real. People telling you to "just grow up" should "just get some compassion". All human suffering is on its own scale. You are entitled to feel your suffering.</p>
<p>However, you also have to decide what to do next. If it were me, I would do these things:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Call H, Y, P, and whatever schools you wanted to get into. See if someone will give you some feedback on why you weren't accepted. Talk to knowledgeable family or counselors and see if anyone has any inkling. It can be very educational. </p></li>
<li><p>Prestige is important in life. Yes, there are many people who do well without it. Yes, there are people who don't care about it. But although you can certainly live without it, you obviously care, and that's what's important here. If that's what you value, then that's what you value. Don't let people put that down because their values are different.</p></li>
<li><p>Transferring is HARD to do and your odds are very low. If I were you, I would do a gap year (and not kill yourself afterwards, of course!). A gap year will broaden you, give you perspective, and you will not waste a year of your life someplace you don't want to be, spending financial aid money, and dreaming of the Ivy League. I would plan an amazing gap year and then re-apply to the Ivies (taking into account point #1) as well as some safeties that are really great and you would not mind going to. Dig really deep and find schools that you would really enjoy attending. LACs? Sports schools? Music schools? Whatever.</p></li>
<li><p>Get some help for the drug use. You know it's not a solution, but maybe you need to find a community of people who are learning other ways to deal with pain. Try AA, a recovery group, a clinic, therapy, whatever works for you---you need to find some tools for dealing with pain without self-medicating.</p></li>
<li><p>I'm far from an authority on living lightly, and sometimes have difficulty dealing with my own pain of regret. But I do know a lot about having high ideals and about transferring. I think you should feel this pain, learn from it, and hang onto your vision of what your college experience should be.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>"No one should fall into depression because they "only" got accepted to one of the top 10 public colleges in the nation, and one of the top 100 or so schools in our world. That's ridiculous. There is no sympathy that needs to be given. "</p>
<p>hyakku, people don't necessarily get depressed about huge traumatic events. It can take losing a set of keys after a series of minor worries/difficulties to set it off. These people don't choose to be depressed - something in their makeup distorts the reality. What most people see as nothing serious, they see as terrible and life-threatening. So yes, sympathy and understanding are needed. So is professional treatment.</p>
<p>"Transferring is HARD to do and your odds are very low. If I were you, I would do a gap year (and not kill yourself afterwards, of course!). A gap year will broaden you, give you perspective, and you will not waste a year of your life someplace you don't want to be, spending financial aid money, and dreaming of the Ivy League. I would plan an amazing gap year and then re-apply to the Ivies (taking into account point #1) as well as some safeties that are really great and you would not mind going to. Dig really deep and find schools that you would really enjoy attending. LACs? Sports schools? Music schools? Whatever."</p>
<p>You would take a gap year? Not everyone can afford that you know... some people would see that as a bit of a waste actually - a waste of time you could have used studying towards a degree and a waste of money. 'A gap year will broaden you' Do you mean it will broaden his perspective? Or broaden him as in making him wider/fatter? Lol. A gap year isn't for everyone - it's great if you have a serious plan in mind, if you want to get some work experience, are an independent learner and have some ideas of your own that you want to put into practice. Taking a gap year just to give yourself another shot at the ivy league seems like a bit of a gamble to me.</p>
<p>sounds like your friends are *******s to be honest with you</p>
<p>UW is a great school - youll do fine there, and probably will fall in love with it cuz its just that cool (honestly, its great academically, great athletically, great social scene... not prestige as a harvard but if you swing a 3.7+ youll be able to go to any grad school you want)</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
hyakku, people don't necessarily get depressed about huge traumatic events. It can take losing a set of keys after a series of minor worries/difficulties to set it off. These people don't choose to be depressed - something in their makeup distorts the reality. What most people see as nothing serious, they see as terrible and life-threatening. So yes, sympathy and understanding are needed. So is professional treatment.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>No, people keep telling him he needs sympathy and understanding, as I'm sure his parents are too. The point is, its disappointing but theres no way he should be contemplating death, crying and sobbing for days at a time for this. There are children that go days without eating. What about the people who saw their father get his brains blown out by his mother? What about the kids who are raised by abusive adoption agencies? Think about all this and then compare it to this kid, who's so upset because he got into a top 10 public school for UNDERGRAD knowing full well that you are going to get a great education and that you could be using the money you save to attend GRAD school when it really matters. As a rule any top school is going to have a good undergrad program. Period. It just sounds like he wants to be able to say, "I go to harvard" and impress people, because besides that there really isn't much of a difference. On top of this UW Madison is a much more lively and active campus to almost ALL the ivies. They get rated consistently in not only US news rankings for being great public schools, but in playboy and other sites for great parties, women, college town, etc. The op should be thinking about how much of a kick ass time it will be. I can't believe someone even suggested a gap year. What? What happens if he doesnt get accepted then? He makes another post and keeps taking gap years till he gets in? </p>
<p>I want you to understand this. Even if you take a gap year, the acceptance rate is only going to go DOWN. Next year itll be less, and the year after that less. Do you realize that the children of the baby boomers are now all entering into college and if you think this year was tough, wait until the next one.</p>
<p>OP don't be stupid and take a gap year, because if you don't get accepted after that, then what are you going to do?</p>