<p>
[quote]
brand_182, there is a correlation between higher IQ and absence of religious beliefs.</p>
<p>Don't take that the wrong way, I think I read it somewhere online.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No offense taken and I have heard the same. As people gain knowledge, it seems that they question more and, when they can no longer get a logical answer out of organized religion, they reject the idea of God altogether. I have been there, done that, and decided that there's something going on out there, but I can't put my finger on it and won't bother wasting my life trying to.</p>
<p>DakotaJ - I agree with you completely. Whatever you believe, if there is a God up there that is interested in what happens to you, He will make the decisions and your prayer likely has no effect one way or the other. We don't know what the future holds, so don't take a college rejection as the end of the world: it might be the beginning.</p>
<p>One year ago this month I was waitlisted from my number 1 choice. Instead of crying and being bitter, I am laughing because I've done so much more at my current university this year, than the 4 years I would've spent at the number 1 school. :)</p>
<p>"you should be thanking God that he has blessed you with the opportunity to even attend some form of higher education."</p>
<p>Not to offend, but... I find that sort of idea to undermine what I've worked for. I haven't gotten to where I am now by divine intervention; I've done it through my own resources and strength of mind, which have resulted from my upbringing. There's an extent to which humans are willing to look for the answer, and when it becomes too convoluted, it seems unlikely and we tend to look to God. I, on the other hand, will continue to prod through the tangles and find really why I am who I am.</p>
<p>Though, of course, you can take a different stand. To each his own. =)</p>
<p>It is absolutley ok to be proud of what you have accomplished. I am not saying that God has made every decision in your life and that you are not responsible for your accomplishments. I have accomplished much in my life as well, and even when I find myself doubting in God I am still thankfull for what I have been given, either by something divine or just by chance.</p>
<p>"Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain."
?Psalms 127:1 ESV</p>
<p>??apart from me you can do nothing.?
?John 15:5b ESV</p>
<p>quoted from the Bible.</p>
<p>This is my last post, so i can get back to guessing if people will get into their dream school or not.</p>
<p>Both DakotaJ and parentofivyhope misunderstood the question. Obviously, people with a 0.0 GPA and the lowest test scores have no chance whatsoever even with prayer. I'm talking about those with highly competitive stats. Did prayer work for those people?</p>
<p>But if the person succeeded, it wouldn't be prayer that did it -- it would be the highly competitive stats.</p>
<p>If you pray, and it works, it's because God found that was the path you should take. If it doesn't work, then God didn't find that was your path. Whether you pray or not, God's going to put you in the direction you should, no? (Despite the freedom of one's actions and all that...)</p>
<p>This is really interesting. I actually wrote my common app essay about my dad being raised in an Evangelical environment before becoming a steadfast atheist in college, and how though he brought me up to be an atheist I've become an agnostic. I personally believe that if there is some sort of God or unifying force in the universe it has neither the desire nor the ability to interfere in the college admissions process. To answer the thread more directly, I did not pray, and I managed to be accepted to my first choice. I assume god will exact his furious revenge upon me for my lack of prayer at a later time.</p>
<p>"Obviously, people with a 0.0 GPA and the lowest test scores have no chance whatsoever even with prayer. I'm talking about those with highly competitive stats. Did prayer work for those people?"</p>
<p>so you're saying that prayer and god's miracles is contingent on marks and gpa?</p>
<p>like adam smith's magical hand, is your god the undergrad admission's crapshoot process?</p>
<p>Haha, yes I prayed and I got into my top choice. However, I didn't just start praying right before I submitted my application. I prayed for wisdom and good test-taking skills throughout high school. Also, for the people who prayed and got rejected...know that what is for you is for you and if God wanted you there the He would have placed you there. If you weren't admitted then you weren't meant to be there no matter how sad this may seem to you at the moment.</p>
<p>Did I pray? No. I've never been particularly aligned to one religion, but when I clicked the submit button, I said "hm, if I actually get in, I'll go to church for the first time"</p>
<p>When I did get in, I went to Ann Arbor, and actually did go to church.</p>
<p>I think people should start posting stats, if and how much they prayed, to which god, and the results.
Based on this information, we will be able beyond any doubt to determine if god exists.</p>
<p>We should add one more to the list:
College Admissions Argument:
(1) I prayed to get into Harvard
(2) I got in, although I am a crappy student
(3) Therefore, God exists</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>Typical College Confidential Argument
(1) I am a great student, I got like 2390, 4.50, tons EC, everything
(2) I was still however extremely concerned about getting in at my first choice, so I prayed all day
(3) OMFG I got rejected
(4) Therefore, God exists, but he clearly hates me !
(4.5) I will probably also be going to hell because he hates me : my match school :(</p>