<p>One of my best friends was rejected by her first choice (Swarthmore ED) and waitlisted by her second choice (Bowdoin). She's been accepted to Smith and Earlham with good scholarships, but I still feel really bad for her. She has excellent grades and scores, pretty good activities, and is a talented writer; everyone was sure she'd get into Swarthmore and was shocked when she didn't even receive a deferral. She was my school's only outright rejection in the early round, too, and that didn't exactly make it easier. :(</p>
<p>Cam, both Smith and Earlham have some excellent things going for them. Naturally, I'm a Smith partisan. But if your friend goes to Smith, she may find that she gets more out of it than she would have from Swat.... My D would now take Smith over Yale & Harvard, where she was rejected. (Curiously enough, two of her best friends on an "abroad" program are from Yale & Harvard.) </p>
<p>Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to sharpen some stakes to prepare a defensive position before InterestedDad arrives.</p>
<p>Thumper,
Sending good thoughts out to you for your son. He will get to where he wants to get.<br>
LA</p>
<p>abric, This may seem off topic but getting out and hiking or biking or having a glass of wine with old friends (who do not have kids in college now) or seeing a movie as often as you can during this time helps a lot.</p>