I thought I'd share with you guys my admissions journey

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm kind of bad when it comes to getting a head start on things. I didn't visit any of the colleges I applied to bar one, and I hated it. I didn't take the SAT for the first time until October of my senior year and I didn't subject any of my apps until the day the were due. But I did put a ton of effort into getting my applications together.</p>

<p>I'm one of the top ten students in my schools and academically, I'm pretty much qualified for the top tier colleges (2370 SAT, 760/790/780 SAT IIs) but in terms of ECs and leadership, probably not. I applied to MIT (EA), Columbia SEAS, CMU, Rice, RPI and some safeties. I was deferred from MIT then rejected during the RD round. I was waitlisted from Columbia, CMU, and Rice. I was devasted; this meant I would have to go to one of my safety schools. Many of my friends tried to reassure me and tell me CMU and Rice waitlisted me because I was overqualified, but I didn't think this was the case.</p>

<p>In the mean time, I decided on going to Tulane and I got psyched to be a part of its campus. I did decide to remain on Columbia's and Rice's waitlists though. And through the advice of some of the people on these forums, I realized the one major flaw of my apps was that my essays really only listed things I'd accomplished or done. I made sure to correct this in my updates to admissions and let them know exactly why I'd fit in their campuses. </p>

<p>I received the shock of my life the first week of May when Rice called to let me know I'd been taken off the waitlist. The conversation started off with the admissions lady asking me if I was still interested in Rice, and if I was concerned that I hadn't visited campus yet. I told her it was a little to expensive to travel from NY to TX to visit if I wasn't admitted, to which she told me "but I'm calling to tell you you've been admitted!" Long story short, I'll be attending Rice University in the fall.</p>

<p>While my story might have ended up the way I wanted it to, the point is that you can be happy regardless of what happens. Two weeks ago, I was 100% content with going to Tulane, which I considered one of my safeties. But I realize that if I had been upset about going to Tulane, I wouldn't have been nearly as psyched</p>

2

<p>Congratulations, I’m glad it’s worked out for you!</p>

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<p>Which is why you should pick your safeties assuming you’ll have to attend them. Overconfident people at my school always get screwed (and by screwed, I mean end up going to our great state U, but still) by applying to our state U as a backup, and then assembling a list of highly competitive schools. It’s the kids with realistic expectations and lists that span all ranges of selectivity that end up with more acceptances in their hand–a valuable thing to have even if you do end up choosing your safety. It’s important to feel a sense of choice, methinks, in the admissions process.</p>

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<p>^ yes, definitely pick a safety you’d attend. You might end up like me, at your safety for financial reasons.</p>

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<p>One thing I need to mention… Just because you’re at your “safety” school for financial reasons, it doesn’t mean you need to tell everyone that. You should be proud of the school you’re attending and not enter with the mindset of: “I’m only here, cuz of financial reasons”. After all, some people at your “safety” might be their “reach” school.
That is all.</p>