<p>I applied to HYPS and I am nearly 100% sure I am going to be rejected by one or more of them. Still, for some reason I manage to tell myself I am going to get in to them. Do any experienced college kids know how to prepare yourself psychologically for rejection? I am worried that if I keep telling myself I'm going to get in, I'm going to be devastated when I get rejected.</p>
<p>Focus on your other schools and get excited about going to one of them. Kind of write off your reaches in your head, until you get the letter.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>please do tell me you apply to other schools besides HYPS …</p>
<p>Of course, those are just the ones I have my eyes set on.</p>
<p>I think fate is going to lead you to the place where you are supposed to be …</p>
<p>It’s easiest if you assume rejection. Then you’ll exceed your expectations if you get in, and won’t be surprised if you don’t.</p>
<p>Just look at it pragmatically: you can only ATTEND one of them, all were on your wishlist or you wouldn’t have applied there, and you’ll surely end up loving any of them, once you get there, even if it wasn’t your first choice. </p>
<p>Thus, a couple of rejections will save you the anguish of having to choose between all of them. ;)</p>
<p>Remind yourself that these schools are a reach for everyone. If you get in, great. But if you don’t, then you are like the vast majority of the people who applied, and in very good company.</p>
<p>Remind yourself that millions of people lead perfectly happy, fulfilled lives with degrees from other colleges. :)</p>
<p>This is your problem:
Start expecting to be rejected by all of them. I don’t think I will get into one of my RD schools but if I do it will be a nice suprise.</p>
<p>LoremIpsum gave good advice. If you do get accepted to 3 or 4 of them, then you have a tough decision to make. Getting into one makes that easier.</p>
<p>And yeah, I would agree that you are still sort of presuming that you can get into at least one or two. Amazing students can easily get rejected from every Ivy they apply to. It doesn’t say anything about their stats or their character or their app. It is important to be prepared to be rejected by all of them (ie., by getting excited about one of your other schools) because regardless of how good of an applicant you are, it’s possible.</p>
<p>Think about this: your life is just started. If you get into one of them, you are doing OK. If you are rejected by all of them, it is not the end of the world. </p>
<p>A word of caution: If you get into one of them, be prepared for the fact that about 5-10% of the kids who are in your class is born geniuses. They don’t need to study hard. And yet, they are getting all A’s. Don’t be frustrated when it happens.</p>
<p>kxc, why can’t be one of those genius kids, I study hard and I still not sure if I will get an ‘A’ …</p>
<p>I didn’t apply to HYPS, but I did apply CalTech, which is in the same caliber as HYPS, my chance is between slim and none, but I am prepared, lots of safety schools (UCSB,UCI)…
visited UCI yesterday for its campuswide honors program, everything looks very nice (campus, dorm, CS guys, CS program), so actually I don’t mind going to UCI, and it is rank #41 by US News …</p>
<p>I agree with UVA. You seem too confident. That’s a big no-no.</p>
<p>There’s a saying: prepare for the worst; hope for the best.</p>
<p>Also - acceptance or rejection to these top schools seems like an authoritative referendum on who you are as a person and student, but it’s not. If you love learning and enjoy new experiences, you will bloom where you are planted.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>That’s all great advice. The thing is that I know my chances are slim to none, and I try not to be too confident. But it’s just really difficult, you know? Like, I try to tell myself that most likely I will be rejected by all four, but I still hold onto some hope. Doesn’t this happen to anyone else?</p>
<p>Well obviously everyone who applies to a school has some hope that they will be accepted. However, you just can’t expect it to happen, or you’ll be disappointed if it doesn’t.</p>
<p>Do you really like any of your other schools?</p>
<p>Like, I try to tell myself that most likely I will be rejected by all four, but I still hold onto some hope. Doesn’t this happen to anyone else? </p>
<p>no, sirree, we have all given up …
it is looking very hopeless …</p>
<p>Personally, I wouldn’t want to attend a college that wasn’t eager to have me. And when I make my first $100 million, they’re the ones that’ll regret the decision, not me! ;)</p>
<p>Seriously, it’s not the end of the world. There’s always another shot at grad school – it’s the last school on your resume that counts the most, anyway.</p>
<p>I think the easiest way is to convince yourself that you are going to get rejected, then you get surprised if you do get accepted.</p>
<p>Hey OP, I know exactly how you feel! I expect at least one acceptance no matter how slim my chances are. I just don’t want to expect failure before it even happens…which is why I am dreading Mar 30th.</p>