<p>Look. Each and every year and on each and every Ivy forum, it gets worse and worse. </p>
<p>Once the first peep of a “Likely Letter” hits College Confidential, it unleashes a torrent of worry, obsessive checking of email boxes, stalking of postal carriers and tens of thousands of looks on threads concerning them.</p>
<p>If you truly are a Brown-level aspiring candidate, let me give you this advice: (I was there too). But you’ll do fine with or without Brown. You’ll either get a Likely Letter or (more than likely) not get one.</p>
<p>You’ll either get accepted or not.</p>
<p>All y’all need to get off of CC and do something constructive or entertaining. You can’t change a single outcome. And even if you’re not on the podium in Providence in 4.5 years, your life won’t be over. It’s your last few months of HS. Go out swinging. Leave no regrets. Ask out that girl/guy you’ve been too shy to approach. What in the world do you have to lose? But sitting on CC trying to analyze every little pip and iota of info about your eventual admission? Really?</p>
<p>Fact is: most of you will be rejected. Boo hoo. But fact is also if you’re anywhere close to being a viable Brown student, then you’re also 99% likely to have a stupendously successful college career.</p>
<p>Stop obsessing on CC. Until you have kids of your own who need college advice, go away. </p>
<p>(said with love – good luck – but really. Go away)</p>