I know I’m not the only one but I’m dying right now. I’ve submitted all but two of my RD applications but I’m so hung up on one school atm and I literally can’t focus on anything else (e.g. physics homework.) How am I going to survive 3 more MONTHS of this??? If anyone who has gone through this (getting way too emotionally invested in a school and being super excited but also knowing I’m most likely going to be devastated when I hear back) has any advice that’d be great. I feel like my brain is melting.
Oh my gosh I feel the exact same way. I find out February 15th and I submitted my app 3 days ago. I honestly feel like I have nothing to do now besides refresh this forum and watch dorm room tours. I literally can not think of anything else and I don’t know how I’m going to be able to take this
I’m in the same position right now. I’m spending some time looking for/ applying for scholarships to keep my mind off of it #:-S
Hi a senior in college at a good private school here. I was rejected from some great schools but learned to appreciate all my school had to offer before attending. What you need to know id that there are bright students everywhere. Just because you didnt get into your dream school doesn’t mean you won’t be successful. Also dont be weird about it like i know kids that go somewhere just to transfer. Go to your back up and rock it. Also if it helps i looked up famous alumni and was impressed with the school im graduating from (a couple football team owners, athletes, actors, businessmen, etc.). It takes some time but focus on the positives!
In the meantime relax its senior year. Do something fun or write or hang out with friends while you can!
Get out of your own head! Step away from these forums and from that college website. Go out and do fun things with your friends. EXERCISE!
Every time you are tempted to look something up about your dream school, INSTEAD look something up about one of your safety schools. Focus more on those…get excited about those schools, too.
The waiting is really, really hard…but you got this!
I agree about researching colleges you are sure to get in to. Find a great professor at one and read her book. Talk to the honors dept. Read Frank Bruni’s book about the college search. Plan something for your spring break. You will land in a great place.
Let’s assume, perhaps incorrectly, that you will not get into your dream school. Especially if it’s a school with an acceptance rate under 20%, it’s very easy to realize that the odds are against you, that you are competing against even better students than yourself, that they simply cannot admit everyone, and that it isn’t personal. If you are really reaching, you should have realistic expectations that while getting in would be great, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t.
Now pretend it’s May 1, and you have deposited at a good school. You made a sensible list of reach, match and safety schools that you like and can afford. Yes, your dream school would have been nice, but it was always a long shot and you did your best. You made thoughtful choices as to where you applied, and you know the school you deposited at has almost everything that you really want and all of what you need. You look back to today, January 3rd, and kick yourself for having wasted so much energy, thought and time on obsessing about something that you knew was very unlikely right from the start. You realize that your energy would have been much better spent enjoying your final year of high school, doing well in your classes, spending meaningful time with family and friends, applying for scholarships, or simply zoning out in front of the TV.
You tell yourself how glad you are that you weren’t one one of those kids on April 1st who posts on College Confidential about how disappointed you are, and that you are wondering what went wrong with your application, because, again, you know the odds are against you, you did your best, and you applied to a range of schools that you liked and could afford. You feel sympathy for those students who post, because they could have been so much less stressed if they had tempered their expectations, and that instead of needlessly fretting about what didn’t happen, they could be focussing on what will happen, which is that they will be attending a college they like and can afford.
Now you’re back to today, January 3rd. You are really glad to made your post on CC, because some helpful and supportive people gave you some good advice. Yes, you can be a little nervous before you look at your decisions as they come in, but you are very relieved to know that whatever happens, YOU ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! That’s really exciting, and you are very happy that you can get excited about that, instead of wasting time and energy on the unknown.
I was in the same position for a while after I submitted my applications. I spent all of my time on my top choice school’s website, looking at pictures of the dorms, looking at the school’s social media accounts, basically obsessing over it. Luckily, it died down after a little while. You will probably tire yourself out and find other things that will interest you. Spend time looking at other schools to excite yourself in case you aren’t accepted to your top choice. You never know - you may surprise yourself and fall in love with another school! Find something you love about your safety schools so you’ll be happy with your decision no matter what. Most importantly, excite yourself about everything high school still has to offer! Don’t try to rush through this year, and enjoy all the time you have with your friends and classmates. Look forward to prom, graduation, and every other fun activity senior year has in store. Just breathe, relax, and pat yourself on the back for everything you’ve accomplished to get where you are and all the hard work you’ve put into high school. I wish you the best of luck!
This recently revived thread may help: