<p>Okay, I am seriously so obsessed about Olin College of Engineering. I spend hours and hours reading about it, looking at pictures, etc. I finished my online app. and sent it in, and just have to get paperwork sent in (thank God deadline was extended to Monday...yes, I'm a terrible procrastinator).</p>
<p>So now, here I am, and I am so attached to Olin. I would be devastated if I was rejected. I don't know if I'll ever get over it because I would keep wondering, "If I were at Olin..." Olin just seems so perfect in every way. </p>
<p>Anyone else worried about getting rejected from the one school they have their heart set on?</p>
<p>As a parent, I feel your pain. I always recommend that you should like/love all the colleges you apply to--not to put "all your eggs in one basket." But my S is also obsessed with Olin--and it's so different that really no other school will suffice! He is so convinced he'll be going there that I'm not sure he's fully invested in the rest of his applications. We can hardly wait until January 31st--at least let him make it to Candidates Weekend--please!
But we are preparing him to love other schools as well--I think I'm the only one who is really worried about the odds of him getting in :(
It would simply be a perfect fit--I just that Olin realizes it too! Good luck!!</p>
<p>As a parent of two children now in college I would strongly agree that you need to "fall in love" with more than one school. Neither of my children were accepted to their first choices but now love their current fine colleges.</p>
<p>Olin is a particularly "dangerous" school to fall in love with given its small size, high standards, and the attraction of free tuition. You should aim for your "dream school" but have a backup "love" or two on the back burner...,just in case. One advantage is that you should hear from them quickly so you can try other schools. I would try to have those other applications ready to go now so that you don't have to do them while feeling depressed if Olin doesn't come through.</p>
<p>Some options that come quickly to mind to consider are MIT, CalTech, Cooper Union, RPI, Cornell, Princeton, Georgia Tech, and the many very strong engineering programs at state universities across the country. One student in my daughter's class whose first choice, by a wide margin, was Olin ended up at Brown instead as neither Olin or MIT returned the "love". You might consider looking at schools with more liberal arts reputations who are seeking more engineering "types".</p>
<p>I certainly hope you get in to Olin though!</p>
<p>ya sius, that's what I'm saying now: Candidate's Weekend please!!</p>
<p>And I know what you mean about working hard on other apps. I'm applying to a bunch of schools, but so far, Olin is the only school whose essays I'm satisfied with.</p>
<p>Parent, thanks for your good wishes. I have MIT, RPI, and Cornell on
my list, but I feel those colleges (MIT especially, which is my #2 choice) are even more 'dangerous'. I feel like I have a better chance at Olin because of my extensive theatre ECs...hopefully.</p>
<p>"Anyone else worried about getting rejected from the one school they have their heart set on?"</p>
<p>Every year here on CC we see dozens of kids who get rejected by the school they were obsessed with only to be accepted by some other great school - sometimes school's number 1's great rival. E.g. rejected by Yale but accepted by Harvard, or rejected by UCLA but accepted by USC, etc. </p>
<p>They usually go through a mourning period during which they readjust their thinking. But in the end they almost always LOVE the school they go to. A few months later it's "Yale who?" or "UCLA? Why would anyone want to go there?"</p>
<p>There are many great schools out there. It's always best to keep an open as possible about which one will work for you, because you'd be surprised at just how flexible and adaptable you really are.</p>
<p>Danger Danger! Being obsessed is a bad idea. Liking a school and having it as your first choice is fine, but obsessing is not. Your future is NOT tied to ONE school. Associating your future with one school is unhealthy, even if you get in, because if you get there and are disappointed or unhappy or dont do very well, then what? Bad idea!</p>
<p>Get a hold of yourself. Put it on the top of your list and apply to several others and then compare the schools that accept you and go from there.</p>
<p>ya i know how u feel, i definitely dont have a 100% chance to my preferred college. i have already planned a lot there, just assuming that i would get in. that would really suck if i didnt get in, but i have a safety school thats not as prestigious, but plenty good enought for me.</p>
<p>I agree with catfishin. Remember, though, that you can love a college that isn't super-selective (like Olin). Dream colleges aren't necessarily extremely selective ones.</p>
<p>Ohhh, don't fall in love with one school. I was obsessed with Columbia last year, and all of my other applications suffered as a result (some of my "why [school]" essays are painful to read now). Learn to love your safeties- I wound up at a school much lower on my list and despite my complaining, I love it with all my heart.</p>
<p>i think one of the big challenges of the application process is to find those less-famous schools that can be a good fit for you. if you can find one of those schools and grow to like or love it before decision time rolls on in, taking the rejection from all the big name, very low admission rate schools can be a lot easier.</p>
<p>cherokeejew- You misunderstood, I think. I believe kyledavid meant that although Olin is extremely selective, not all top choices have to be that selective.</p>
<p>Something to the effect of- "Remember, though, that you can love a college like North Arkansas State that isn't super-selective like Olin."</p>
<p>When I start obsessing about my number one school, I go to the websites of the other schools I applied to, and remember what attracted me to them. I poke around their websites, look at pictures, read about them. After a while, it gets me pumped up about them. And even though I really love my first choice schools, it helps to think of disadvantages. "Wow... it's REALLY cold there! I would be so much warmer at...." Even when it seems like your Number One choice is perfect, there are things you won't like.</p>
<p>Something else I've had to do this entire school year: Don't let yourself on the obsessed-about school's website! There have been many times over the last few months when I'm dying to look at my number one choice's website, but I don't have it bookmarked and I simply refuse to type it in. I think I would be going crazy if I looked at the website. Along the same lines, I refuse to think about what dorm I would be in, or how I would decorate a room like the one I saw on my tour there. I do let myself do that for the other schools, the ones I'm already accepted to.</p>
<p>Senior year I was obsessed with Brown. It was everything I wanted in a school. Problem was that I was waitlisted, then rejected, and I didn't do enough research looking into other schools I would like. I eliminated too many schools without really knowing them. I ended up at a great school, Columbia, but it was not a good fit. </p>
<p>Interestingly, I was much more open minded as a transfer applicant, and I ended up turning down a Brown acceptance to go to Dartmouth , a school I should have applied to in high school.</p>
<p>Kevin, I feel the exact same way about Olin... My sister got attached to this one school that waitlisted her and was pretty much crushed, so I'm trying not to love Olin TOO much, but yeah, that's not working out so well.</p>
<p>I actually have somewhat mixed feelings about CW because going to CW and then getting rejected after actually seeing the school and interacting with it would be SUCH a big disappointment. If I don't get in to CW, I think I can move on without being too upset, but it's the second round that scares me. AHHHHH.</p>
<p>Good suggestion Carpe. Harvey Mudd has freaking awesome weather. YEAH!</p>
<p>Good advice, sarah_brooke. I have to fight the urge to ignore all my other apps until my ED notification comes in, but then I have to constantly remind myself that I will be screwed over if I don't. I do have another wonderful school that I can always aim for if I get rejected or what not. </p>
<p>I'm in the same boat as you, Kevin63. It's really not healthy. ^^; And I always somehow end up on here while I'm working on my apps. We should start our own support group or something, lol.</p>
<p>This is why I haven't (and won't) visited Brown yet. I'm scared to death of falling in love with the college, because it really is all that I'm looking for. But right now I just really like it. If I visit, I'm sure the obsession will follow and I do NOT want that stress.</p>