<p>After not getting in to my top 3 schools, I am left with 2 options, which honestly have no appeal to me whatsoever. </p>
<p>Barnard - reject
NYU - waitlist
Columbia - waitlist</p>
<p>Don't tell me I needed to apply to more appropriate schools, b/c with a 2210 and a 92UW I should have had a chance at NYU and Barnard. </p>
<p>Now I just don't know what to do. I'm left with Brandeis and UMD - Honors (w/ $8,000 a year), and after visiting both - Brandeis in december and UMD last week - I was left unsatisfied at the prospect of attending either, and now am disheartened at even the idea of attending college. </p>
<p>Of course in the back of my mind there is the fact that I was waitlisted at two schools, but realistically the chance of getting off those is so slim its ridiculous to think of that as a plan. </p>
<p>Another element is that I am taking a (previously scheduled) gap year, and some of my friends who were also unsatisfied are going to apply again next year, but I have no energy left to go through the entire process, and rejection, again. Plus if I did that would I apply early somewhere to boost my chances? </p>
<p>Right now I'm just overwhelmed and confused and completely unexcited to even attend college. I don't expect miracles, I'm just looking for some advice.</p>
<p>I agree with Heavenwood. You have to realize how fortunate you are to even be attending college. Visit the college and maybe it will open your eyes and spark some new interest in you.</p>
<p>I can relate, actually. I got rejected from my top choice, waitlisted at my second and accepted into a handfull of safeties I hate. So I'm going to UMD next year and I'm going to give it a go. If its THAT awful, you can always transfer.</p>
<p>wherever you end up, just go with an open mind. on my freshman hall there were people attending their 'dream school' and people attending their 'safety'. by the end of the first month im not sure you could have been able to tell them apart.</p>
<p>I can also relate. I was SO excited to go to college. I was planning all the stuff i would buy, getting excited, blah blah blah. I thought i had a chance at the schools i really wanted to go to (pomona) but i didn't get in. I have to chose between BU, BC, and CMU. I know a lot of people would love to go there, but i've visited, and i'm not entirely thrilled. </p>
<p>The day I got my rejections from Duke and Pomona, i said the same thing.... i didn't want to go to college AT ALL. I didn't have the energy. </p>
<p>Thing is, you have to try it anyway. Taking a gap year really isn't going to solve your problems, imo. There's a chance you still won't get into the schools you want even if you apply again next year. </p>
<p>So, my advice: go to one of your schools. You'll probably like it eventually, and if you don't, transfer. Go to a great grad school.</p>
<p>Well the gap year for me is about exciting experiences, it just offers up an opportunity for me to attempt to fix my problem. I just don't know if I can face doing it all over again.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Don't tell me I needed to apply to more appropriate schools, b/c with a 2210 and a 92UW I should have had a chance at NYU and Barnard.
[/quote]
You did have a chance. You just didn't get in. "Chance" does not automatically equal "success". You seem to have a sense of entitlement, assuming that things should have gone your way. And for that matter what about your ECs, recs, and essays? Could it be you don't have ECs as strong as others who got in? That your essays could have used a bit of improvement, or your recs not the strongest? Your scores are admirable and show you can do the work, but colleges these days are flooded with good students and so they use extra criteria to winnow it down.</p>
<p>It's not a sense of entitlement its a feeling of wonder when I see friends from my school getting in with much, much less ECs. And as I said above, I had an amazing essay, two English teachers said so and my GC saved it to show to next years seniors as an example. And one of my recs was definitely amazing since we are really close and she told me that she wrote that I was the brightest student shes ever had in 7 years of teaching. Anyway the point is this thread is not about that. I didn't get in and I am aware of that. I'm just asking advice where to go from here, not about the past, which is exactly what the line you quoted was saying. Don't focus on the past. I know I need to move on I'm just looking for a little help.</p>
<p>This thread explains why it is so important to visit colleges BEFORE you apply to them. You shouldn't apply to a college (even as a safety) that you wouldn't be happy to attend.</p>
<p>Just get over yourself a little, and be happy you got into some of your schools on your list. Might you do things differently if you had a chance -- probably -- but then most of us would! This is your first lesson to learn in college! Make an "A" on it and get going! This is called l-i-f-e. You will be happy you made the most of what you have when you get a little more distance between you and the decision. Re-group, and you'll be fine! Really.</p>
<p>I did visit them, and I was okay about them, but just not so excited. And as reality looms forward, even less so. Honestly, there just aren't so many colleges that I could have applied to, that have the religious life I need, and the ease of returning home for religious holidays. Its quite a limited group that my community generally applies to.</p>
<p>Well, what are some things you liked about those top choices? Barnard, Columbia and NYU are all in a great city; Brandeis is just outside Boston. They and Brandeis both offer great liberal arts educations. Maybe you liked some program at Barnard/Columbia/NYU that is also there at Brandeis. Try to think of it like that. And cheer up. =)</p>