<p>OK, I have a problem. I applied SCEA. As the decision date approaches (6 days!) I've become increasingly...well....EXPECTANT that I'll get in. This, as I'm sure everyone knows, is the WRONG ATTITUDE. I should be sure that I'm NOT going to get in, because, well, the chances are f-ing SLIM. But I've been having dreams that I'm accepted to Yale, started thinking that way... I need to snap out of it! My streak of optimism is getting the better of me! So I have an unusual request to make: </p>
<p>Please, if you've heard any, post your horror stories here. Those of you who are freaking out, please don't read this thread; it will make you freak out more. But maybe there are the elusive few with my problem. Heard about some guy with perfect stats who bombed it? Some discouraging fact about the percentage of deferrals who get rejected? Please, post 'em! Remind me how impossible it is to get in to Yale!</p>
<p>dhcari, my advice is to finish your other apps! :) That will keep you plenty occupied. </p>
<p>Unfortunately for me, and in the spirit of "be careful what you ask for, you may get it", my daughter finished all hers end of September, so I have nothing to suggest she do other than wait.... :(</p>
<p>I don't personally know any Yale horror stories...I would have suggested that you start a "chance me" thread if you want to plummet into a deep depression and seriously doubt your chances based on a few people's comments, but it seems you already did that and escaped unscathed...</p>
<p>You could just look again at the "Listen Up" thread and, instead of seeing it as a hopeful story about a girl who got into Harvard RD, just remember that this girl with strong stats got rejected from Yale SCEA--FOUR YEARS ago. Just think of how terrible it's going to be this year.</p>
<p>OK, that "Listen Up" thread pretty much convinced me. I'll be happy with a deferral... OK, I will NOT be happy with a deferral, but it's what I'm beginning to expect. Thanks. I think. <em>sigh</em></p>
<p>Here's a horror story: I drove to Yale today (S and friend going to a rehearsal) and as I was walking into Dwight Chapel I saw about 30 people crowded around the statue of Woolsey and posing rubbing his shoe, which is supposed to be good luck for applicants. They were posing for photos and laughing, looking very confident. I hope you have all rubbed his shoe!</p>
<p>i heard that the shoe rubbing was a myth, the actual students never do it, and that the shoe is actually terribly disgusting. hahaha, wow, that was a mood killer.</p>
<p>It's pretty darn shiny (go to flickr and type in yale woolsey statue shoe, or something like that). I'll bet students do all kinds of things to that shoe, no doubt about it, but I wonder if applicants would be so bold!</p>
<p>Well, I've rubbed the shoe, but fleetingly, since at the time I was being told that drunk people regularly peed on it... uh... so it was more like I touched it and pulled my hand away quickly. </p>
<p>So maybe I have the best of both worlds. A good measure of luck, but no nasty diseases. I hope.</p>
<p>I suppose, if you really want, I could share two horror stories with you (nothing Yale specific,though): <strong><em>DON'T SCROLL DOWN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE DEPRESSED</em></strong>**</p>
<p>One friend- solid public school- valedictorian- perfect GPA- near-perfect SAT's- great EC's- everone thought she could get in anywhere and she only applied to very good and great schools- some schools were "below" her, but no real safeties- anyway she was rejected from all of them and ended up going to county for a semester before transferring. Some of the just "good" schools told her that they realized they were probably a safety for her (I don't know how though) and they didn't like being considered a safety because a lot of applicants would die to get in there.</p>
<p>Other friend- prestigous private school- same stats- applied to some great schools and some safeties- didn't get in anywhere- after all the rejection letters, his school (a Jesuit school) pulled some strings and got him into Georgetown (obviously also a Jesuit school), but everyone was pretty shocked.</p>
<p>Sorry, but the OP did ask. Remember, those cases are definitely not typical, but I like to remember those stories to remember 1) apply to safety schools
2) the colleges that accept/reject you do not in any way define you- you are an accomplished, qualified person and nothing these colleges say can change that- the decision is a reflection on what the colleges feel they need to a achieve a well-rounded class, they can't take every qualified kid and it's not really a reflection on you 3) feel blessed and happy about the school's you do get into- nothing is sure, but there are tons of colleges who would love to have you and every college has something unique and exciting to offer you- if you truly are this accomplished, you can thrive anywhere (or else you can always transfer :) ) nothing is set in stone- this does not define the rest of your life.</p>
<p>they say "curiosity killed the cat"... they werent kiddin... i scrolled and found myself becoming insta-roadkill... i think ill go dig my own grave now so that itl be easier for my parents to bury me when i die from a heart attack in the mailroom...</p>
<p>And you did :) Don't feel bad about them. They're just making noise. They know they'll end up at Yale or somewhere awesome, and their worries now don't affect that.</p>
<p>cj, as much as i say you crushed my dreams, it was definitely a positive. there's no need for any of us to get cocky or happy, nothing's set in stone until a decision is issued from the college.</p>