<p>gheffty93,
You are not asking for need based financial aid and were not admitted at Colgate, or Hamilton and other schools that are need aware. The biggest mistake that you did in the whole process was that you listened to your counselor who told you that the extra 50 points do not matter and you should not retake the SAT. This is true if you were over the 2200 point mark. Otherwise you had a decent chance to get in top schools. Some of the school counselors are just clueless. My kid’s counselor said that the test scores are not important and colleges do not give too much weight on them. LOL!!! Top schools want to maintain their high score profile because it pleases alumni for their alma mater to have high rankings. Nowadays that the applicant pool has skyrocketed to the moon, it is just too competitive and the adcom can easily find applicants with top scores among 40k students in order to fill 1500 spots. To accept students with low GPA-rank or test scores, the student must have a very exceptional hook/sappy story.</p>
<p>Gheffty is in at GW which is a great spot to be at this point of the season. All other acceptances are pure gravy once you have one good school you like. </p>
<p>Hamiliton is need blind, Colgate is not. </p>
<p>Framed, I have nothing to hold over the OP. I was just giving him a warning because in my 10 years of perusing these boards, I have recognized some of the posters. There are adults who can and do make judgements when they catch a person posting things that they deem inappropriate or feel they are being dissed. I know some parents who have posted over the years who interviewed for colleges and recognized some kids posting here. Someitmes not a good thing. So, yes, I was a bit sharp with the OP, but for a reason that was on his/her side. </p>
<p>I have too many young adult/teen kids of my own, not to mention cousins, nieces, nephews and friends who are going through the gauntlet of college admissions and becoming a self sufficient adult to easily take anything out on a kid who vents. I was warning, not threating, and not warning about myself. I think the OP is fine with what happened and so am I. I like to see “upsets” both in sports and in admissions. I am rooting for the OP.</p>
<p>@Ana1 the test scores surely are not my strong point…I htink my mistake was focusing more on the ACTs to be honest. Timing is quite difficult but my tutor thought I would be better at them. I took the ACTs one las time in December (was doing really well with practicing and getting the timing down) then I got sick the day before. I went in and took them anyways (though I was pretty hot and shaky the whole way so I couldn’t think well). In the end I got a 35 on the english section and did terrible on everything else because I got more sick and lost focus. Anyways, some schools super-score the ACT so my score would be a 30 with that. Unfortunately, Dartmouth does not super-score the ACT. But I was basically right around that 2000 score equivalent. </p>
<p>@cptofthehouse we shall find out in an hour and a half…I am pretty calm because I have no expectations on getting in, but there are some people at my school who are really really worried about it. Surprising really since these are reach schools fore everyone.</p>
<p>OP, I don’t think you should dwell on your SAT/ACT right now. It’s less than an hour until decisions are released. Thinking of the “should have” will make it even worse. Also, you never know. Don’t lose hope.</p>
<p>I’ve been waitlisted, what is the prognosis?</p>
<p>The prognosis is low enough that you should try to love one of the schools that have accepted you. It’s not impossible to get off the waitlist, but the reasons for getting accepted off the waitlist are sometimes less predictable than ED or RD. </p>
<p>If you would truly go there if accepted, send in a brief but well thought out update letter that describes any recent accomplishments or awards, and remind them of what you would contribute to the campus. It won’t be enough necessarily, but it will let them know you are not just an ordinary waitlist wanna-be.</p>
<p>Got denied everyone, thanks for the support and input though! I know someone who did get in, so that just added insult to injury but what can you do. This whole college process is much worse than I was banking on.</p>
<p>Ghetty. I’m sorry, but GW is a school that many kids and parents I know love. You’ll be in an exciting city with a lot of opportunities instead way out here with the cows.</p>
<p>keep your chin up!</p>
<p>best wishes to you in all future endeavors. I am sure you
will succeed!</p>
<p>Don’t beat yourself up over it! This year was had the lowest admission rate in Dartmouth HISTORY because they had a lot of applicants (the highest they’ve ever had). You will do great no matter where you go! Best of luck to you :)</p>
<p>I am so grateful for all my acceptances, but I don’t know what to think. I am just feeling really down about this whole thing, more than I thought I would. I am honestly sitting here going through hindsight and analyzing every little thing I could have done better. The exact opposite of what you are supposed to do. At this point I am thinking of a transfer option. Anyone know how competitive it is? And when can we transfer if we want to? Could I transfer after one semester or would I have to go all of freshman year before I could transfer? I know this is not the ideal way to attack the situation, but I figure if anyone knows it’s the people on this board.</p>
<p>gheffty, I know you’re feeling discouraged now, but don’t start planning a transfer. You need to focus your energy on the schools that loved you as you are now. You have to give your first school a chance. Once you get there, you can try to transfer, but you first have to prove you can get great grades at a competitive school, and that you have something unique to bring to the table. If you don’t convince yourself that GW (or whatever other choices you have) will work for you, then you may be setting yourself up to not even do well there. Put all your eggs in to the baskets of the schools that accepted you … they loved you and appreciate your talents.</p>
<p>How about some venting. Best advice- get connected to someone high up at the school. My son was outright rejected with a 33ACT and 4.0 unweighted (at the top of his class at the time), many EC,s captain of football and at one time a recruit. Rejection was ok since a lot of students are in his range. However, we know a student from his school who was in the 25 percentile of the typical class- at the low end who had very few other activities, did not take the toughest schedule at school at all- and was accepted. The hook, the family knew someone who knew the president and got a recommendation letter. Holistic my eye! Like many things as a life lesson- you don’t really need to work quite as hard as the next pson if you are well connected. I even attended some of Dartmouth’s executive education programs. Never again. bitter yes. Just the way life is sometimes.</p>
<p>@computerdad sorry about your son’s rejection, but there are so many qualified applicants that must be turned down every year because there is just not enough space for all of them. Connections do help, but Dartmouth is very rigorous in their selection process. For example, Dartmouth tells the recruited athletes straight up that they won’t be playing at Dartmouth without good grades, which is very very different than many schools that just give free rides to athletes (anyone notice that almost half of the seniors on the BC football team weren’t able to graduate with their class?) And I also have a friend who would have been a third generation Dartmouth student. His brothers, uncles, father, and grandfather all went to Dartmouth, but he had slightly above average grades and did not get in. My point is, the college selection process can be seemingly paradoxical or even biased, but I think Dartmouth accepts qualified students. Maybe Dartmouth just saw something in this boy/girl that you didn’t? who knows, Dartmouth is looking for a very diverse student body. I completely understand your frustration- I got deferred and then rejected at Princeton, but nonetheless I respect their decision.</p>
<p>@SnowflakeVT hey thanks man, I was so bummed a few days ago. But luckily I am over that hump and honestly couldn’t care less about the Dartmouth rejection now. I know complete flip flop - but I am just looking forward to GW now so thanks for the advice. I have no idea why I was so upset about it, but hey this whole process is a screwy one.</p>
<p>I’m glad you’re over it gheffty93! GW is a prestigious school. Go there and kick butt!</p>
<p>gheffty, consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds. 
A person has to be quite stupid to be incapable of adjusting to changing input by changing their mind…rabid political advertising aside. There is much to take advantage of in DC. Go get it! :)</p>
<p>You should be able to get in. Lately, Dartmouth has been giving out spots for freshman if their essay was great/fantastic. I believe in you! Just don’t be too upset if you don’t get in; not saying that you will though. GW is still a very nice school. Be proud! Of course it doesn’t matter whether or not you get in, but the effort you put into it made it easier for you to succeed in a lot of different things.</p>
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<p>+++++++++++++++++</p>