<p>Hey guys, I've been very anxious and extremely nervous about the countdown to the cornell ED decision. Yes I applied ED because I do love the school and its great academic program. Trust me, I've been coming to this site every 3 seconds to check on updates... and that got me even more nervous i must say lol....</p>
<p>But, today (sunday here), as a Christian, I went to church and listened to a great sermon that actually related to us rite now in terms of getting accepted to a college and such....</p>
<p>and this is what i learned today...</p>
<p>I believe that there is a purpose in life. That purpose is, of course, different for everyone. However, whatever that may be, i just want everyone to know that "God" has a special plan for each every one of you. If you get accepted to Cornell, then Cornell was part of that huge plan. If you get rejected, then there is a greater plan for you waiting right in front of you. Things such as getting accepted/rejected to a college is something we cannot change because you dont know what really goes on in the admission committee. </p>
<p>When I heard this, I became not that nervous about this process anymore because I realized that this decision is merely a small part of the entire life. </p>
<p>I hope you feel a little relieved after reading this message. I know that you'll still be nervous but no matter the result, know that you are still "you."</p>
<p>o ya.. p.s) i don't want anybody to be offended by this post 'cuz you are not a christian or whatever... but I believe that every one of us has been given a special path of their own :)</p>
<p>other ways to let it go:
think of how lucky you are all ready. You live in (arguably) the most prosperous nation in the world. Think of those who are less fortunate than you are. There are people in Africa who worry if they will be able to have their next meal. Some people live so poor they have to worry about finding shelter before it gets cold. Statistics say that every few seconds, someone dies from AIDES (someone brought that up in another thread).
And look at you - sitting there watching a damn clockhand worrying about if you'll get to spend 30000 a year at one of the top 20 or so schools in the owrld.<br>
Happy holidays!</p>
<p>this is definitely my outlook on life...i just hope everyone else will consider it too, b/c sometimes i feel like it's outside pressure that is making me so nervous for this decision, rather than myself.</p>
<p>don't get me wrong, i WANT to go to Cornell more than anything, and I WANT to be accepted, and I chose it without outside interference, i just feel like the impact will be a lot less if it were just me who knew.</p>
<p>This message clearly supports fate over free will, and that is good. However, it hits closer to home for those people that try their best and still get rejected. They are the ones that should read this.</p>
<p>People that don't try really shouldn't take much from it. :)</p>
<p>I am very glad that some people were inspired by this message. I was very very touched by today's sermon too and I just wanted to share this inspirational message with you guys too.</p>
<p>For anyone who is interested in getting more inspired about life in general, I recommend the book "The purpose driven life" by Rick Warren. This book is basically for everyone, christians or not christians, who want to know why they are here on earth and what purpose you are living for. </p>
<p>This book greatly touched my heart when I read it. </p>
<p>I'm praying for all of you guys who applied to cornell and I'm sure good news will come to you! :) </p>
<p>I don't believe god has a plan mainly because God is made up. (I believe a being exists, but far greater than our own comprehension - Humans give themselves too much credit. "God" is merely a translated version of Zeus from the Greek tradition when Christianity took over Rome. It's all made up.)</p>
<p>The important thing though is that it doesn't matter where you go because a) college arbitrary b) it doesn't guarantee success in America.</p>
<p>a) Your life isn't determined by college - Colleges don't select the class which is best for the individuals, but what is best for the college. Dartmouth could fill its entire class with students that got 800's on at least one section of the SATs. It doesn't mean they want these students. When you look back last year, a student with a 2390 got rejected and a student with a 2080 got in. At the same time, two students with similar GPA's and EC's one got accepted, one didn't. It's a totally arbitrary process to full fill the universities needs. So don't let it get you down, as your future success is going to be determined by yourself - how hard you work for what you want.</p>
<p>b) I live in a rich town of some Ivy league educated parents. A friend of mines father graduated from Dartmouth, but he is unemployed at the moment. My neighbor, who went to Hobart, just bought a new pool. Your life isn't going to be set or broken by the college you go to. In fact, DePauw, in Illinois, fields the most fortune 500 executives. </p>
<p>All in all, its nice to get into the school you want, but everything sorts itself out. A school will recognize your talents, you'll get a great education, and then you'll enter the work force. Your legacy will be set not by what school you go to but what you do in your own life.</p>
<p>just wanted to second what xc said...my friend's dad went to cornell, and has been unemployed for years. my dad went to saint michael's college, and we live in a rich suburb. all that matters is that you take initiative in trying to get jobs, research opportunities, etc. yeah, it's probably easier to get a job if you have an ivy league school on your resume, but must of the population doesn't, and you can still be successful if you don't.</p>
<p>"(I believe a being exists, but far greater than our own comprehension - Humans give themselves too much credit. "God" is merely a translated version of Zeus from the Greek tradition when Christianity took over Rome. It's all made up.)" --XC8121
----Wrong , Christianity existed nearly 300 years before it ever had any major following in Rome around the time of the emperor Constantine.
"A friend of mines father graduated from Dartmouth, but he is unemployed at the moment. My neighbor, who went to Hobart, just bought a new pool. "
----Wow, a pool! The ultimate sign of success. When i grow up i want to have a pool so im going to Hobart over Dartmouth!</p>
<p>okay - disprove my entire argument by mocking a single example. That is a good way to prove a point.
Here is what I was illustrating - going to an ivy league doesn't determine your financial status, as those going to non-ivies who work as hard as though who do make the same ( <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/columnist/article/moneyhappy/3949%5B/url%5D">http://finance.yahoo.com/columnist/article/moneyhappy/3949</a> ) , nor even happiness in life (in the times magazine, about graduates who arent happy later in life.)
The neighbor could afford a 75,000 pool, a clear sign of financial success, not dependent on getting into the "right" college. </p>
<p>Converting people from one religion to another can be difficult. Thus the creators will often adopted iconology of previous religions to ease the tradition. Even if Christianity existed 300 years, the notion of god as a big guy with a fluffy white beard is inherited from the image of Zeus.
The holiday of Christmas wasn't originally celebrated - it was adopted from the Pagan holiday sol invictus (wikipedia it). It was a pagan holiday on the 25th. </p>
<p>
[quote]
----Wrong , Christianity existed nearly 300 years before it ever had any major following in Rome around the time of the emperor Constantine.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>He said Zeus, which is a Greek god. The Greek god system was well established MUCH before Christianity.</p>
<p>"That coming from an atheist's point of view epsilon9090 or what?"</p>
<p>What's wrong with being an atheist? Assuming you're a Christian, You're an atheist when considering Zues, Appollo, Amon Ra, Mithras, Ball, Thor, Wotan, the Golden Calf, and the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Atheists just take it one god further.</p>
<p>To the OP I agree with the part about not being in control of college admissions and that if you do get rejected you can do well at other schools. Why does it have to be "God's plan" as opposed to your plan B. I would like to go to Harvard or Yale. If I don't get in, it will be because of the admissions committee, and I(not God) have a plan B for me. I think we control the path for the most part, but certain arbitrary decisions that are out of our control can limit our options.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The holiday of Christmas wasn't originally celebrated - it was adopted from the Pagan holiday sol invictus (wikipedia it). It was a pagan holiday on the 25th.
[/quote]
so i don't understand why america is making such a big deal about christmas and how it "offends" other religions (mainly jews and muslims) when it's pagan aka nothing to do with christianty. seriously, americans need to just chill the **** out.</p>