<p>Hi all,
I really need some guidance. It's very unlikely I'll get into any of my dream schools after looking at acceptance threads here. My essays aren't great. Turns out, top colleges really don't care that much about entrepreneurs that much. I just feel more and more depressed. These past years I've sacrificed so much for my work, from personal relationships to parties to relaxation time, and I just feel like a complete loser knowing that it's all for waste. I wanted to relax after admissions, but now I feel like I can't. Now I feel like I need to work harder than ever to prove that I WILL succeed, despite all the rejections I will undoubtedly receive. </p>
<p>“I just feel like a complete loser knowing that it’s all for waste.”</p>
<p>It wasn’t all a waste. You’re still going to use that strong foundation that you built. Did you apply to any match or safeties? Are you thinking that you’ll only use/need your strong HS foundation at a dream school? No. That’s not true.</p>
<p>What is your major and career goal?</p>
<p>What schools do you think you can get into and afford?</p>
<p>This is the time when most seniors freak out. They have nightmares about not getting into any schools. Try not to second guess yourself now, but try to keep up your senior grades just in case. It is never a waste to work hard. Hang in there.</p>
<p>Entrepreneurial skills will help you in the real working world - once you get out, so it’s not something “of a waste” at all! I know one guy from my son’s HS who started a business in HS and got accepted to an good-ok school - nothing to go crazy bragging about. But he kept building that business on the side and it kept growing. Gotten additional grants from his college to build that business even more. Those skills will serve you well for life - long after everyone forgets who got into what school. </p>
<p>Entrepreneurial spirit - that can’t be taugh. You are ahead of many right there! Some of my most successful friends are entrepreneurs, and not professionals sitting at a desk, like me. </p>
<p>Here’s some basic philosophy: If you live a good life, you will have a good life, no matter what college you attend. If you live a bad life because you think it will get you into a great college, whether or not you get into that great college what you will have will be a bad life. Nothing could be more stupid and messed-up than to do things you don’t value for themselves because you hope college admissions officers at some super-selective college will value them more than you do.</p>
<p>Now, I am not saying that’s really what you have done. As everyone else has been telling you, what you have done has probably been really valuable, and will give you all kinds of advantages as your life proceeds. And – guess what? – you will probably be able to attend a great college, because there are lots and lots of great colleges, not just a handful.</p>
<p>But your attitude is awful, and you should take this opportunity to learn from your own pain and to screw your own head back on right. Stop living your life to please a bunch of people you don’t even know. (And, by the way, you have no clue what really pleases them anyway.) That only has two outcomes: Bad (you please the other people, but not yourself) and Worse (you don’t please the other people and feel like you have wasted your life). Live your life to make yourself into the best, most engaged person you can. That’s the only way to be a good person, and the only way to be happy. And – bonus! – you will find that’s the best way to get other people to respect you, too. With colleges admissions, les jeux sont faits, but believe me this issue will reoccur time and time again for the rest of your life.</p>
<p>As others have said, there are many ways to create a happy, successful life and college admissions is definitely not the end-all be-all or the determining factor in how your life will pan out. I take myself as an example, I dropped out of college after becoming a single parent, finally went back at age 30 to a small, state university, and got hired right out of college by a Fortune 50 pharma, working right alongside those 20 somethings who went to Cornell and other top schools. </p>
<p>It’s easier said than done for some kids, especially if they worked the hardest, balanced school and great activities & a wonderful heart, raising money for causes they believe in, without being the typical ‘teenager’, distributed ‘time’ and to see classmates getting top schools with just numbers and no personality! </p>
<p>Hopefully a few of these comments will make you feel better + less stressed (and let us know how it turns out please):</p>
<p>—This site, CC, tends to have an overabundance of higher level kids posting versus the general population. What you’re reading in numerous threads here is likely above average stuff / stats.</p>
<p>—If you’ve applied to a safety school or two then no worries. If you haven’t then go apply to several, as a number of schools have rolling admissions and are still open to receive applications.</p>
<p>—There are appx 4,500 universities / colleges / junior colleges in the US. That said, there’s no one “perfect fit” for any student…most students don’t realize that. If only 5% of the colleges in the US would be a strong fit for you, that’s still 225 colleges out there that you’d love!</p>
<p>—If worst case you end up having to choose a college you’re not thrilled with then so what? Attend, give it your best shot, and get involved in more than just classes there. It may end up being a good fit after all. But if not, get good grades and then transfer.</p>
<p>Also, a lot of great schools find that they still have openings in their incoming freshman classes after May 1, so there may be time for a “redo” if necessary. This was the list last year, FWIW: </p>
<p>Take a deep breath, consider applying to a few more safeties that may truly value your unique talents, and console yourself with the knowledge that you’re going to do well no matter where you end up. If you’re truly the entrepreneur you see yourself as, the world is your oyster! :-)</p>