<p>Maybe it’s a silly question if you live on the east coast or go to a boarding people where many people apply and are accepted to Harvard each year, but in my small Wisconsin town I feel differently.<br>
Whenever I am asked what schools I am applying to, I usually “forget” to mention Harvard and Princeton. I feel like I am a qualified applicant, and there is no reason I shouldn’t be applying, but I feel like people would judge me if they knew. Of the people I’ve told, I usually get one of two responses:</p>
<li>Oh, you’re applying to Harvard? Geez, Smartypants! Are you a genius or something?</li>
</ol>
<p>-or-</p>
<li>Oh, that’s a really really really hard school to get into. (no duh)</li>
</ol>
<p>Both make me really uncomfortable, and I feel like I have to defend myself, so usually I just avoid mentioning Ivy League schools all together.</p>
<p>At my school, many good students go to UW-Madison, so wanting to go somewhere new is a little foreign I suppose.</p>
<p>Ha ha, I’m applying to Northwestern too (along with 5 other kids, one was rejected ED), and I get a lot of “huh, where’s that?” Are you kidding me?</p>
<p>But we have a lot of kids applying to good schools this year, so this whole attitude might change in my area.</p>
<p>i completely know what you mean! it's really awkward, especially knowing that there's a really big chance that you're going to be rejected... you're already going to be disappointed enough, and who wants the extra attention, especially in a small place?</p>
<p>Yeah, I know there is a huge chance you'll be rejected, that applies to ever. However, Harvard DOES accept some people, so why couldn't one of those people be me?</p>
<p>Well, this answer is going to bug you - if you get in and decide to go there, the responses will only get much more uncomfortable when people ask where you go to school. </p>
<p>My advice is to get used to it now, and be proud of where you are applying - not everyone has the caliones to apply to selective schools like Harvard and Princeton - but by telling people you are applying, it proves that you aren't hiding from fear of rejection or something.</p>
<p>Well I'd like to reply...but i guess I'm one of those east coasters where a lot of people apply. On another note I'm pretty low key about my application anyway...i already got into one of my reach schools EA so the questions about where i'm applying have pretty much stopped...</p>
<p>I'm just sort of stressed out about the college process. I can't wait until all my decisions are mailed, and then I can just relax. I don't like talking about college in general. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of all the schools I'm applying to and would be happy attending any of them!</p>
<p>I didn't apply to Harvard, but I have different levels of classification when people ask where I am applying:</p>
<p>If its my friends or some random people: I just say my match/safety schools
If its extended family: I say all the schools except my #1 reach school
If its my immediate family or GC only: I will say all the schools</p>
<p>yeah. all i meant was that around friends or even people i don't know well i generally omit my hardest schools, because you never know how people are going to react. if i do say where i'm applying though, i usually follow it up with a comment like "but we'll see - it's such a toss up". my approach is to just make sure people know you'd love to go there, but you're being realistic and have your feet on the ground. for me, the most important lesson of college admissions is to be enthusiastic about your friends colleges and your match/reach colleges overall - i find that people can get offended really easily and get the impression that you're looking down on whatever their options are, which is certainly not the appearance anyone is trying for!</p>
<p>I would say I also have the hardest time talking to my peers, my closest friends and boyfriend don't even know of all the schools I am applying to. They're going through the same experience, and the most likely to judge and talk, unfortunately. I've already seen how fast students ACT scores have flown through the school.</p>
<p>I have no problem telling people I'm applying to Harvard, but I also tell them I'm most likely not going to get in. Since I'm "the smart girl" at my school, everyone thinks I'll get in anywhere, which is so not true. I mean, I think I have the stats and everything so I at least have a shot, but I'm definitely not counting on getting in. It's going to be awkward when I am almost inevitably waitlisted or rejected...</p>
<p>hahaa i feel like this thread read my mind!!! i didnt tell anyone i applied (my gc inevitably found out as well as the school secretary and my mom). oddly enough i agree with the above post; since i'm "the smart guy" at school according to people, everyone thinks i can get in anywhere and a few ppl called me an idiot for "not applying to harvard". i do however come from a town where no one ever goes to harvard and no one has even heard of the ivy league, so none of those ppl have any idea of what it takes to get accepted there. sadly i dont think i have the stats, but i applied anyways (wont die if i dont get in tho, as is 99% likely)</p>
<p>I don't like telling people I applied to Harvard because it makes me feel a) like they'll think that I consider myself superior to them, which is not true, and b) stupid for applying in the first place, because most likely I will not get in.</p>
<p>You are wise not to advertise your reach schools. People will judge you, and then, if you are not accepted ,they will either feign pity, be smug, or drown you in comforting statements (you really did deserve it, etc.). Since you will be feeling sad anyway, there is no reason to compound the feelings. It's perfectly fine to just skip over HYP schools in your list. Better to surprise them with good news when you're accepted!!</p>
<p>my conversations usually go something like this:
"so where are you applying?"
"10 schools. My top four are harvard, penn, duke, and northwestern."</p>
<p>ugh i hate it. and everyone wants to know. school secretary, nosy friend parents, school staff, teachers, friends, enemies..blah blah blah.</p>
<p>goes like this- Where are you going to school next year?
Me- I hear in March
them- Where do you want to go?
me- Oh, there's so many oppurtunities
them- where did you apply
Me- A lot of places</p>
<p>hahaha, I don't think anyone knows my complete list. but I hate nosy people and haters. its gunna be even more awk if I'm able to matriculate there.....but by then I won't care!</p>
<p>People just kind of assumed I applied to Harvard last year.
The schools I really advertised (Brown + Columbia) those didn't take me and I felt like a dumbass for doing so...</p>
<p>whitelulu i know exactly what you mean and how people make it akward when you tell them things like that. and theres no reason to say "well i probably wont get in". why be so negative about it? be proud about the schools you applied to.</p>