<p>I definately prayed although I'm sure my parents didn't. I had very good stats as well but was quite worried cause you know how wishy-washy selective colleges can be and I got accepted into my dream school! So praying definately helped for me.</p>
<p>So are you saying that your life is out of your control no matter what you do? that no matter how hard you can work, etc. is irrelevant because God decides?</p>
<p>You have to trust God with that decision. So many people (including me) want to be in control of everything, but you have to leave it to God. He knows the future, but we ask every person (teachers, counselors, etc.) what to do and they don't know what's in store for us.</p>
<p>Well, if it wasn't irrelevant, what would then be the purpose of God?</p>
<p>Nope, I got into my first-choice school all by myself, with no divine intervention :D
But my sister prayed she'd get into MIT, and did. It's ironic since I don't think anyone in my family believes in God.</p>
<p>What an unusual and interesting thread. I've read all with an open mind.</p>
<p>Praying to an "often tempermental Western deity" = LOL, quite a well-turned phrase but also shows mighty limited exposure to religious thought</p>
<p>Prayers can be petitionary or praise, the first kind where you ask for something and the second where you express thanks, honor, or appreciation to God. </p>
<p>There are many discussions about what is appropriate to ask for. It's right to pray for your own health and cure, because you are essentially thanking God for:<br>
(a) birthing you in this century
(b)inspiring scientists who long ago had "luck" (or was it God's blessing? or their hard work that put them into position to be so blessed...which was it?) to win research funding to attain their current stage of medical understanding to help you somewhat
(c) motivating your caregivers with strength to continue helping you get strong again</p>
<p>So even if that prayer doesn't result in medical cure, there was nothing wrong in praying for those 3 things. </p>
<p>On top of that, the process of prayer can give one courage to get through a trial or tribulation, if it organizes your thoughts and helps you make decisions because you've closed out the clutter for just a moment to feel inside what's important to you. </p>
<p>In other words, the idea that God is a grand puppeteer controlling our every move (and those of college adcoms) mechanically from away up on high is only one concept of God. People who pray have many other concepts goign on in their minds. </p>
<p>Some people prayed in the middle of concentration camps when there was no hope because they felt that to abandon prayer was to extinguish their last chance for hope. The human spirit rebels against that throwing-in-of-the-towel. I'm not ready to make fun of anyone who prays or
demean them by saying they engage in useless activity. If people like these who had every reason to give up hope did not, how can I when so much less<br>
is thrown against me to overcome. That's how I think, anyway. </p>
<p>I know someone who got through their 20's by answering most questions with the word "yet" at the end, b/c he knew he was always changing and growing towards new understandings. "Do you believe in God?" "No, not yet." "Do you pray when you're scared or upset? "Haven't, yet." Have you thanked God for all the blessings in your life?" "Um, not yet." Somehow it kept his mind more open without causing him to give up his current positions. I used the same ideas, "Have you given up on God, given all the horrible things going down in...New Orleans, Darfur, global warming.." So I also say, "No, not given up YET" which puts the burden back on God to rearrange some chips and help out a bit. Wake up and get on the job.</p>
<p>I personally operate as though there's a partnership between God and people, so that keeps a balance of responsibility that makes all accountable and praiseworthy. Because of that, I can't share Smurf's confidence that God knows the future, since some of my decisions along the way will change the playing field between now and the future. For me, it's more like a chessboard than a crystal ball, with choices made by both players (God and me) rearranging the board. Probably Smurf feels that God even knows my next move, but that much I don't give over to God. I do trust God to watch my next move and put the next challenge in front of me. I do thank God for giving me some brains, guts and resources to deal with some setbacks and bounce back with a credible "next move." In this way, I think maybe I've hit on a relevant metaphor for this college admissions stuff. </p>
<p>Anyway, all of these are simply different ideas. I don't have a monopoly on them, nor does anyone. If you find courses in college where you study ABOUT<br>
different religions and you think they are not pushing any one, then I recommend that as a way for nonbelieivers to understand what others do, even if you don't, and for believers to gain something other than condescending pity for those who aren't with them.</p>
<p>Good luck to all. I continue to admire your generation for its courage. </p>
<p>If you get to whichever college becomes yours, these are the kinds of questions addressed courses in religion departments. It might be mind-expanding to explore these questions academically, outside the bounds of the teachings you were raised with, be that mainstream religions, evangelicals, agnostic or atheist.</p>
<p>I prayed lol and I got into my first choice :-)</p>
<p>tisthetruth: This is how I know what GOD thought?</p>
<p>GOD is you state of mind, That is why I think the so called atheists also believe in something and can be called to be believer in GOD in a way.</p>
<p>Since GOD is what your subconcious mind think so you know what GOD thoights are.</p>
<p>I hope I was clear enough. Reiterating the belief in GOD or not in it is same.</p>
<p>What you believe in is an idea which is inside your mind only and so you know what the IDEA is about?</p>
<p>So the point is you belief can only come true if you work for it. Just day dreaming without working won't get you anywhere.</p>
<p>Parentofivyhope:
"What you believe in is an idea which is inside your mind only and so you know what the IDEA is about?"
"Since GOD is what your subconcious mind think so you know what GOD thoights are."</p>
<p>Belief is not the same thing as knowledge. Also, are you saying that God exists only in one's mind?</p>
<p>Certainly it exists only in one's mind.</p>
<p>Why the world is full of Fanatics? Because this what they have in mind.</p>
<p>So idea of GOD is only a thinking in the mind. </p>
<p>I'm not saying believing in this idea is bad. But just try to convey that it is just an idea.</p>
<p>A collection of thoughts in your subconcious mind which prevent you to do something that is against those idea or force you to do something that concurr with those ideas.</p>
<p>So ponder yourself and you will reach a conclusion that GOD is just an idea in the mind of one self or not believing in GOD another idea in the mind too.</p>
<p>Prayer did me NO good. Oh well, everything happens for a reason. I still have complete faith in God.</p>
<p>1) Did you or your child pray to God? -Sure did... (I Did.. as in Child)
2) Did you/your child get into your/your child's first choice school? (Iv been wait listed galore.. 9 wait lists... didnt even get into my 9th choice yet..)
EDIT: 3) What was your first choice at the time of prayer? (Umm.. anything aside my backups.. Brown)
4) Do you think praying made a difference? (I cant answer that question properly.. wont answer it..)</p>
<p>This thread must be some kind of joke. April Fools!</p>
<p>Not a joke!: Kdanieli</p>
<p>If you think it seriously this can provide you lot of answers.</p>
<p>Just one more thoughts on the though of GOD being an idea in the mind of the person.</p>
<p>The resoning is if it is not an idea in one's mind then why it differ from one person to another.</p>
<p>The idea in the mind of a Jew is different that in a mind of Catholic which again is differen in the mind of Muslim and so on.</p>
<p>So it has to be an idea. As like any scientific idea originated in the mind of one person gets acceptance into the mind of other persons as facts.</p>
<p>This idea (GOD) originated in the mind of some persons (Christ, Mohammed, other ...) and accepted by others as fact or truth.</p>
<p>But it is still an idea.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I don't think it's fair to pray to get into a specific university. I prayed for God to provide me a university He knew I would be happy at and since I knew God knew best, I trusted He would know best where I should be. It ended up being my first choice, so I was pretty thankful.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Ditto</p>
<p>......</p>
<p>I love this... so much philospohy.</p>
<p>ParentOfIvyHope what is your life philosophy?
Are you an existentialist? Buddhist? Atheist?</p>
<p>hmm.....interesting thread. I didn't pray (I'm agnostic) and I got into my top 2 choices!</p>
<p>p.s. has anyone here read sam harris' Letter To A Christian Nation?</p>
<p>I'm none to say the least. Only a humble human being.
I just try to look for answer, This thread caught my eye and I floated some ideas that came to my mind.
Since everything in this life originates from an idea, some good some bad.</p>
<p>But I'm not against praying as I think it does provide peace of mind as anyother concentrating activity away from the regular day to day activities.</p>
<p>So if a child work hard and then take time to concentrate mind on getting into a particular college ( or set of colleges) with or without an Idea of GOD, I think the child mind will clear many doubts the child have about him/her selves and will provide clear directions to achieve those goals.</p>
<p>I think some call it praying but I will put it as concentration of the mind to an idea.</p>
<p>i think it's downright wrong, selfish, immature, and pathetic to pray for anything that isn't vital.</p>
<p>and to those who think praying may have helped in any way: look at the incongruent stats/praying and outcomes above. theres obviously no correlation between praying and being accepted/rejected.</p>
<p>silly silly silly!</p>
<p>I prayed for my top choice. I got into my top choice. Now that top choice isn't my top choice any more lol.</p>