<p>I don't know what to do. I was rejected by Groton and wait listed at Middlesex and Concord. I only have Phillips left and I'll be extremely lucky if its a waitlist even. I feel like crying. I really wanted to go to Middlesex. It is my dream school. I sent them a letter but I feel like I'm waiting for a final rejection. I know my results are because of my horrible SSAT score and my average grades...but I feel horrible because all my friends scored above a 94 and i just feel stupid. My dad is so hurt even though he doesn't like to show it ,and my mom never really played a role in the process and didn't realize how important this was for me. I just feel like a disappointment to my family and myself. Any advice?</p>
<p>Go ahead and cry; it’s alright to do that. I know you must be feeling frustrated, but it’s okay. Everything will be okay. The best advice I can give you is to keep trying to contact Middlesex so that, hopefully, you’ll be accepted. I don’t want you to get your hopes up t hough, because not many people get taken off the waitlist. You’re definitely not stupid if you were waitlisted. It just means that they didn’t have enough room or that they couldn’t support your financial needs. You were fully qualified.</p>
<p>What I think you should do is apply again next year. Work your butt off so that you’ll receive that acceptance letter from Middlesex next year. Work extremely hard to study for the SSATs, and do the best you can in school. Join different activities, and try new things. It might seem like it, but it’s not the end of the world. You can still end up going to your dream college by attending your local school. Like everyone says, you just have to take the initiative to find activities that’ll distinguish you from others. I got waitlisted into the majority of my schools, and I’m going to apply again next year. Also, if you didn’t start early this year, make sure you do that.</p>
<p>You should be extremely proud of yourself for taking the risk, and going through the whole application process. I know that your mom and dad have no doubts that you will grow up to be an amazing, successful person. It’s not the end.</p>
<p>I’m in the same boat. My mom was just crying and I couldn’t take that so I’m back online. It didn’t seem like I was putting alot of pressure on these days, but some part of me wasn’t expecting this many rejection letters (5 rejects, 1 waitlist). Everyone on here has been extremely helpful to me so here’s my two cents for you:</p>
<p>A lot of the disappointment is internal and uncontrollable. Your grades are past and the SSAT are past. I honestly suggest crying, killing zombies, or getting back involved in an EC you do. Feel sorry for yourself and regret all that you could have done. But don’t stay there. Don’t hang onto the thought that you will be removed from the waitlist either. Go out to eat soon and celebrate all that you are and will become. Go see a movie (Silver linings playbook was amazing). Go study for the SATs and rock the college admissions round. </p>
<p>And the obligatory comment: there is always next year.</p>
<p>I’m crying.</p>
<p>Thanks for the support…just got my rejection letter from andover…</p>
<p>I got rejected to 3/4 schools I applied to…and I didn’t hear from Milton yet. I got a 45 percentile on my SSAT, a 93/120 in TOEFL and my grades in school aren’t fantastic. My parents are really disappointed in me even if they didn’t show it. </p>
<p>We traveled to 3 different countries throughout the admission process. 1. America - for interviews and tours. 2. SSAT - They didn’t have it at where I lived. 3. TOEFL - It was too late and I had to go to another country to take it.</p>
<p>I am really hoping to get into Milton even though it was my third choice.</p>
<p>Will I have a lower chance of getting in if I apply next year because I will be applying as a sophomore?</p>
<p>I was in your position last year I stupidly only applied for 1 school this year I applied to more and less known prep schools I got tutoring and I can’t say how much tutoring well help you revise 6 months in advance and apply to small Boarding School. Next month I’m going Boarding School so it helps.</p>
<p>Next year will be even better for all of us, don’t worry. This year was a beneficial experience so that you can learn from your mistakes. Think about all the things you can do this upcoming year. If you really want it, and you work hard for the next 10 months or so, you’ll get there.</p>
<p>@Bianca, if you have the will to try again next year, consider applying as a repeat 9th grader-- it may help your chances. </p>
<p>There are many stories of students who tried again the following year and were successful. This year’s biggest Cinderella story is Ballerina22. She was unsuccessful last year, tried again this year and was admitted to Andover with a full FA package. Another Cinderella story, Mountainhiker’s child. </p>
<p>There is another family this year that tried for the THIRD time and finally received 2 offers-- I am so happy for them. Fairy tales can come true. Hang in there…</p>
<p>Your mom is probably crying because it is so hard to see your child hurt. You have a great attitude and I know you will find a college where you will shine! Don’t give up hope on Groton, let them know how much you want to go.</p>
<p>I got 1/5 and well I expected 3/5 the one that admitted me came today, I thought I would be rejected everywhere, All my 4 letters from yesterday were rejections, I lost hope, but luckily a school gave me the chance, though I must admit it mas not my first choice I now “love the school that loves me” </p>
<p>Dont give up, we can always gat surprises, just as I did 
Good Luck!</p>
<p>I can attest to the “there is always next year mindset”! I was waitlisted at my top school for my freshman year, but I applied this year as an incoming sophomore and was accepted. You never know what the admission committee’s reasons are for not accepting you, and reapplication never hurts. However, I do recommend that you wait until late October to start the application so you have a chance to settle in at your new school. There is nothing more tortuous than pining for something you can’t have!</p>
<p>I’ll share an abbreviated version of our story here, to hopefully help you see that very often things work out for the best in the end:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Two admissions cycles ago (2010-11) we started the process very late (December 2010), and our son applied to just two schools - Exeter and Choate. We chose those two schools based on a combination of their high academics, depth of classes in his areas of interest, and availability of ECs that were important to him. He had excellent stats (test scores, GPA, demonstrated ability in ECs, good recommendations), but we didn’t have time to visit the schools or interview on-campus. We did not request financial aid. He was waitlisted at Exeter and denied at Choate.</p></li>
<li><p>He did not want to give up on the dream of attending a top BS, so we took a few months off to regroup (and to hope against hope that he’d come off the waitlist at Exeter - which he did not), and started the process again in earnest in late summer. We researched dozens of schools, identified more fully what he wanted in a school, worked with a consultant to refine the list, visited 8 schools, and ultimately he applied to four. (We would have been happy for him to attend any one of the four schools - ultimately, it would be his choice where to attend if accepted.) He continued to work hard in his studies, took challenging courses and maintained his good grades. He continued in his ECs and had some nice successes and recognitions.</p></li>
<li><p>Happy ending: he was accepted at all four schools (Ridley College as a Ridley Scholar, Loomis Chaffee as a Loomis Scholar, Deerfield, and Thacher). He is a repeat 9th grader at Thacher, and it is truly the perfect school for him - we can not imagine him at ANY other school at this point.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>And the most important point of this story? When we spent more time, and really focused on “fit,” the original two schools that he wanted so badly to attend didn’t even make his final list of schools to apply to. Other schools - some schools he had never even heard of - rose to the top of his list.</p>
<p>If he had been accepted at Exeter or Choate, he would be just fine, I’m sure. But we are SO very thankful that did not end up happening. Thacher is the absolutely right school for him in so many ways, and what seemed like a terrible disappointment at the time, turned out to be a marvelous gift in the end.</p>
<p>For those on the WL-- well done. If you didn’t have the stuff, you wouldn’t be there-- it can come down to the Adcom create a class and there was a need for a particular skill set (the old “tuba player”) that wasn’t what you brought to the committee table. </p>
<p>I have written a long post on the Wait List board about next steps-- take a look.</p>
<p>For those who didn’t make it. I am sorry. Life has unfortunately handed you lemons-- now the question for you is–will you make lemonade? Your parents are NOT disappointed IN you, believe me-- they are disappointed FOR you. It hurts far worse to see one’s child not get what they want and deserve, than to suffer losses for themselves-- really. </p>
<p>One thing I can promise is that tomorrow is going to happen and what you do with it is up to you. Adcoms make mistakes-- show them that they did so in your case. Nonetheless-- go ahead and have a good cry. It’s ok.</p>
<p>These are really nice stories. And special thanks to ironmom for the words. </p>
<p>I think the biggest lesson to be learned is that so many factors are uncontrollable. Sometimes even things like test scores are harder to control. Maybe something important was happening that day and you were distracted. Maybe the car ride was nauseating. Even grades that happen over a period of time can be uncontrollable. Maybe a big test coincided with ________________________. The point is that a lot of the process honestly comes down to luck.</p>
<p>I echo much of the advice given above:</p>
<p>(1) If you can apply as a repeat 9th grader (or repeat 10th grader), do it! For many of you, it will improve your chances when you reapply. But keep in mind that this is a very personal decision and, for some of you, it might not be the best thing to do. One of the “Cinderella” stories mentioned above involves a student who decided not to repeat . . . after two years of unsuccessful app’s, she applied as an 11th grader and was accepted!</p>
<p>(2) If you had difficulty with the SSAT, identify your weak areas and work to strengthen them between now and next fall. Alternatively, if you had a rough time on the SSAT and would like another testing option, try the ISEE. If you can afford the testing fee, you can do a trial run this spring (there are April testing dates), and see if you perform better on the ISEE. If you do, and the schools you want to apply to will accept it (contact each school and ask!), take the ISEE next fall instead of the SSAT.</p>
<p>(3) “Go study for the SATs and rock the college admissions round.” And I’d add one more piece of advice: If you’ll be an 11th grader next year, and you’re a U.S. citizen (or will be applying for citizenship), go study for the PSAT, rock that, and attend college for FREE!!! (Hundreds of colleges offer substantial scholarships to students who get qualifying scores on the PSAT!)</p>
<p>Whatever your game plan is for next year, you need to do one more thing: make the most of the opportunities you have!!! Challenge yourself in school and out. Work hard in your classes, get involved in school activities, do volunteer work in your community, or get a job! Regardless of what school you attend, be the best YOU that you can be!</p>
<p>+1 to dodgersmom. I got accepted to Choate as a repeat 10th grader; had I applied as an 11th grader, my chances would have been veryyyy low.</p>
<p>etondad: great post - best advice to a child facing disappointment. And yes “tomorrow is going to happen”!</p>
<p>Again…Thanks for all this support…I am still going to try for Middlesex and Concord…but I am going to make sure I study for my SATs really hard and do really well in all my honors classes (YA!) at my public school which is really accomplished as well. I am thinking even if private school was even the best for me too…What’s meant to be is meant to be!</p>
<p>Have you heard from Phillips yet.</p>