<p>Being at the bottom of the class may be more a function of discipline (hard work) than talent (test scores). Schools do not admit students who they believe can’t do the work. A 2000 SAT student who does all the assignments, readings, and attends all the lectures will likely outperform the party animal with the 2300 SAT.</p>
<p>“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”</p>
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</p>
<p>Sorry, it wasn’t rank it was SAT score, same conclusion. </p>
<p>You can start here. </p>
<p><a href=“Revisiting the Value of Elite Colleges - The New York Times”>Revisiting the Value of Elite Colleges - The New York Times;
<p>““Even applying to a school, even if you get rejected, says a lot about you,”
Mr. Krueger told me. He points out that the average SAT score at the most selective college students apply to turns out to be a better predictor of their earnings than the average SAT score at the college they attended. (The study measured a college’s selectivity by the average SAT score of admitted students as well as by a selectivity score that the publisher Barron’s gives to colleges.)”</p>
<p>^well said gibby!!! And to jaxi101, my S is waiting for his answer on Monday from Princeton! Everybody here on cc that sees his stats thinks there’s no way to for him to get in. I’ve seen kids with perfect SAT and/or ACT being rejected.
To be honest, I rather have my S go to a great state school and then pursue grad school at an ivy. If you get the rejection, just laugh:) NEXT</p>
<p>Dear Jaxi</p>
<p>Not to worry. Your school does not define you. Look at these famous “rejects”. lol
<p>Success is not measured by the school you attend. I promise you that. Wherever you end up, that is where you are supposed to be. I wish you all the best and remember to keep a positive attitude and go with it. Life is short. Don’t worry about things you cannot control.</p>
<p>I think this is a tough time for most high school seniors. I’m waiting for a Princeton decision on Monday. My mom gave me some great advice last night that really helped my state of mind. She told me that even though I should be realistic, there is no point in focusing on the worst case scenario and convincing myself that I will get rejected. That won’t help my mental state. She told me that between now and Monday, I should be hopeful, and if things do not go my way, I will still have other wonderful schools to choose from. I took her advice and today I have tried to have a hopeful mindset instead of a defeatist mindset. And you know what, it actually helps to see the glass as half full! Anyway, what I am trying to say to all the other applicants of ivies/top schools is not to spend these next few days beating yourselves up.</p>
<p>Jaxi, don’t stress over this. You will end up where you are happy. I don’t mean that rejection doesn’t suck–my daughter didn’t think Stanford was even her top choice until they rejected her and then she spent 15 minutes crying in the college advisor’s office–but it’s such a common experience and it’s never personal. One thing that comforted her and may also comfort you: there were lower stat kids who did get in, which underscores the randomness of it. So cry a bit if it helps, then start looking at the positive aspects of the schools that will surely accept you.</p>
<p>If your school has a wall of shame, definitely post your letter on it. My daughter and her friends had a great time writing messages on one another’s rejection letters and getting a laugh out of them.</p>
<p>I happen to be a 3 time Yale grad. The first time, it was the only school I applied to because I wanted to be an actress and made a deal with my folks that I would apply, and if I didn’t make it, I could go to NYC for a year to try to make it in the theater. Dang! Was accepted. Also earned my MFA and JD from Yale.</p>
<p>It wasn’t a fit for me for the first couple of years, and I wondered “what could have been?” if only…</p>
<p>“If only” is a waste of time. I now coach and counsel kids who want an Ivy or other “top tier” school (which really are only top tier if they are top tier for you and your needs). Those who can see that and apply to schools that are more their fit often are happier. And those who apply to an Ivy and don’t get accepted get ****ed for a minute, and then have exactly the attitude of “your loss”. You can’t live in the past or the future. Just be. Be in the moment then move along. Life really is too short to dwell on things that won’t really matter in 5 years.</p>
<p>@ MrMom62</p>
<p>“Schools do not admit students who they believe can’t do the work”</p>
<p>I believe that colleges do their best to assess if the students can do the work, however they are not omniscient. In addition, they sometimes admit students who are borderline to see if they can make it. Inherent in this calculation is the expectation that some will drop out or transfer.</p>
<p>“A 2000 SAT student who does all the assignments, readings, and attends all the lectures will likely outperform the party animal with the 2300 SAT.”</p>
<p>While this may be true, highly selective colleges have a majority of students who have a 2300 SAT and a ferocious work ethic. If this was not true they never would have made it into these colleges in the first place. Students like this are extremely smart, ambitious and won’t let party life derail their futures.</p>
<p>
@Saona63:
That’s a gross misrepresentation of what occurred in the thread you started.</p>
<p>You posted your son’s stats (excellent GPA, good SAT - 2200+, good Subject test scores, 5’s on multiple APs, multiple sports awards, some community service), asked for everyone’s opinion on his chances for Princeton SCEA, and left out one of the most important bits of information on his application – his ethnicity. As a URM (Hispanic), your son has a very good chance at all of top-tier colleges…and something tells me that you know it.</p>
<p>There are no “locks” in the college app process, but posting solid numbers (even for a white kid), having good ECs, attending a great magnet school in FL, and being able to claim URM status…probably place an applicant in the “likely to admit” category. Your son would have to write horrible essays, submit “red flag” recommendation letters, or do something very bad during the interview in order for the admissions committee NOT to look favorably on his application.</p>
<p>As we all know, the SAT/ACT perfect score kids who get rejected by the top-tier universities do not have URM status. At this time in the college admissions game, minority ethnic status is the ultimate trump card. That’s the reality of the situation.</p>
<p>Your son will probably get into Princeton (SCEA), and in April he’ll collect multiple acceptances at the top schools (Yale, Stanford, etc.). He’ll have his choice of several highly competitive schools. And, to be honest, it won’t be that surprising…</p>
<p>To all the high school seniors out there…
Take your rejections and acceptances in stride. In 20 years, you’ll look back on your college experience (at whatever college you end up attending) and you won’t be able to imagine going to school anywhere else. You’ll have a large circle of incredible life-long college friends. You’ll have a great career doing something you love.</p>
<p>Go to college with an open mind. Try different things. Be flexible. Have fun. Work hard. You’ll do great! :-)</p>
<p>I got rejected from Duke today, and I’m not taking nearly as bad as I thought I would. In fact, I would not even say I am taking it “bad.” I got rejected, and that is life. Deal with it. This is the way things go.</p>
<p>I really appreciate your candor @Bartleby007; your post speaks the truth about college admissions.</p>
<p>hm, similar predicament for monday. When I do get rejected (not defered…college I applied to almost doesnt defer), the parents will start laying it into me and start up with the “if you did it my way, you’d have been accepted” (as if that could somehow get me around my joke GPA), even though ultimately I have to do this process rather independently…</p>
<p>Not to detract from the OP, but how to deal with that? I ahve a feeling many others might deal with it too.</p>
<p>Hi, I am supposedly a highly sought after URM. Just deferred from Tulane early action with a 1490/1600. I retook SAT I and received 1590/1600 (not submitted). Heck, I may be denied RD with my new score as well. Nothing is for sure, regardess of what counselors, or the so-called people in the know tell you. Good luck to all!</p>
<p>
Easiest thing in the world. It isn’t your top choice. It’s your parents top choice.</p>
<p>How are they going to deal with it?</p>
<p>FIDO.*</p>
<p>*Acronym from the Army that involves the F word, but still useful advice for the purposes of this thread.</p>
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</p>
<p>Tulane uses “level of applicant’s interest” in admissions. Given your user name, you probably mistakenly applied there as a “safety”, they probably believe you are using them as a “safety” (since you applied EA rather than ED, which they also offer), and they probably believe you are unlikely to attend if admitted. I.e. your academic credentials may be too good for them.</p>
<p>Make sure that your application list has an real safety where you are 100% assured admission and 100% assured affordability. See the sticky threads at the top of the college admissions section (automatic admission colleges) and financial aid and scholarships section (automatic full tuition and full ride scholarships).</p>
<p>I was deferred by Brown today. It’s my dreamiest dream school and obviously I’m devastated - been crying for almost four hours straight. I was expecting this, and I even have an EDII (Wesleyan) lined up, but now I’m not so sure. I tried not to get my hopes up but I apparently have my heart set on Brown. I have absolutely no idea what to do.</p>
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</p>
<p>Schools presumably estimate the chance of successful completion of a bachelor’s degree based on the student’s high school or prior college record. Highly selective schools may be able to assume a very high chance of successful completion, but less selective schools (think of “directional state universities” and private schools of similar selectivity) would realistically have lower expectations.</p>
<p>UCBalumnus your absolutely correct. The next deferrral or rejection will be easier on me. At least I can hope. I will sleep on this one and see how to proceed tomorrow. This process is really a crap shoot. Thank you.</p>
<p>
Actually Tulane does not offer ED, but they do offer SCEA. Otherwise I think your statement was quite correct.</p>