i'm about to cry. where did i go wrong?!?

Applying to College
1

<p>I just got flat out rejected from Northwestern. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>I have taken:
All honors classes aside from my AP's which are AP Calculus, AP Government, AP Spanish Language, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Literature, and AP Comparative Politics.</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.9
SAT score: 2120
AP Scores: Spanish Language (4), Government (5), Psychology (5), and I will take Comparative Politics, Spanish Literature, and Calculus this year.</p>

<p>I was a swimmer for 8 years-CCSDA Champion, dual state meet qualifier, Metros qualifier, Scholar Athlete, 3 varsity letters</p>

<p>I play saxophone: 5 years running as All County Band principle chair, All State band participant, played in school symphonic band, jazz ensemble, marching band, and wind ensemble as principle chair, 4 superior ratings at Maryland State Solo and Ensemble Festival</p>

<p>I was a dancer for 8 years and passed my Cecchetti Grade Level 3 exam.</p>

<p>I played on a travel soccer team for 3 years.</p>

<p>I now row crew and am ranked third on the team in erg scores.</p>

<p>Community service: 300 hours
Worked as a swim coach and a volunteer at a local hospital.</p>

<p>Essays: My grandmother was a college English professor and said that I wrote very well...better than most college students. I wrote one about my decision to stop swimming, and another about rowing.</p>

<p>Recs: One from my junior year Anatomy and Physiology teacher and the other from my junior year English teacher. Also got one from my counselor. In addition, both my former swim coach and my saxophone teacher wrote letters for me.</p>

<p>Awards: National Merit Runner-Up, Maryland Distinguished Scholar, AP Scholar, Honor Roll</p>

<p>On top of that I was deferred EA from Yale and waitlisted at WashU. I was accepted to Wisconsin and George Washington University. I have friends with lesser stats that are getting into to every school imaginable. I have one friend with a 3.6 and minimal extra curriculars who has gotten into Duke, UNC, Maryland Honors, Carnegie Mellon, and Georgetown. It's just not fair. Anything to make me feel better? :(</p>

2

<p>I’m probably about to be rejected from NU as well, though I haven’t received my email. My stats are far lower than yours.</p>

<p>Not everyone can get in everywhere. I know it doesn’t seem fair, but the process is almost as fair as it can be - because of how random it is.</p>

3

<p>From the Williams College thread (it’s from someone’s rejection letter):</p>

<p>“Next week you’re going to have to start making a difficult decision about where to go to college. I don’t know what you’ll be choosing between, but you’re going to have choices to make, which is a pretty awesome problem to have. And like they say, your college will become your first choice within a month. You’ll love it, and won’t be able to imagine yourself anyplace else. So instead of worrying about what schools will be the ones that reject you, start thinking about the fact that a good few will accept you. You’re playing a lottery that you can’t lose. All that remains is to see which one is your winning ticket.”</p>

<p>Stay positive. ^^</p>

4

<p>Life goes on, there is no reason to live in the past any more just look forward to the future. Both Wisconsin and George Washington are highly respected. Just work hard in college and you will have the last laugh.</p>

<p>BTW I also got rejected by NU.</p>

5

<p>You have great options. Try to look forward and not look back.</p>

6

<p>It is fair…maybe you didn’t read this on their website “Each application is reviewed carefully by several members of our admission committee. To help us make these difficult decisions, we seek information beyond school transcripts and test scores. We take into account your involvement outside of class, as profiled in an activity chart, and read your essays to get a better sense of your interests, thought processes, and writing ability. Recommendations from secondary school teachers and counselors add perspective to your achievements. The qualities we look for in each candidate are independent thinking, a sense of humor, self-confidence, energy, enthusiasm, and an interest in activities, people, and ideas.”</p>

7

<p>damn…saxophon that must really suck
your stats are almost perfect…I don’t know much about northwestern university admissions…but to do so well in high school and then get rejected by a university which obviously meant a lot to you is ****ed up
I really feel sorry for you…all I can say is hang on tight because its gonna be a bumpy ride</p>

8

<p>Honestly, if possible, I would appeal their decision. Your stats are amazing.!! Like, I wish mines were that great. Crazy how many great kids are getting rejected from schools this year. And they saaayy…it’s because of a surge in applicants. B.S. and I’m not talking about a bachelor of science.</p>

9

<p>i didn’t get accepted either. =(</p>

10

<p>If it makes you feel better: I worked at UChicago neuroscience lab AND was a legacy AND was published there and my stats are all above their averages. Rejected. I really am thinking that this year is pretty much about luck…and that’s it. I just got rejected from Cal and Duke and Northwestern (legacy there too). So, I’m probably gonna end up at UCLA…which is really far away from home. My dream school was MIT and I was rejected. I’m hoping for ivies, but after this, who knows? I’ve worked my *** off for college since freshman year and the colleges aren’t even letting us in on why the hell people with NO interest in attending their school (ahem, people from my school who goofed off and whose essays were not even worked on) are getting in.
It’s confusing, and somewhat disturbing.
Best of Luck.</p>

11

<p>saxophone girl: I’m so so sorry. </p>

<p>Right now it’s easy for the rest of us to say that you will be fine and get into another great school because of all your accomplishments and everything, but you know that already, and hearing it for the umpteenth time doesn’t make you feel any less worse right now. It totally sucks when people you think/perceive to be less qualified than you get into more competitive colleges or even the same colleges that you applied to . </p>

<p>I’m just beginning to realize (even though ppl have been saying it for months) that this process really does have a lot of luck involved. It is extremely confusing and disturbing. Just know that you’re not alone!</p>

12

<p>This was posted on the Princeton forum a while ago and I thought it might be helpful…</p>

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13

<p>really, college admissions isnt fair. im sorry you didnt get in where you wanted to go, but do not let one small group of people make you feel like you went WRONG. first of all, re read your post. read every single one of those accomplishments and dont tell me you dont feel proud about what you’ve done. that’s more than most teenagers would ever dream of attempting, and in the end of the day, it is very clear that your a successful person and that you’re bound for even better things.</p>

14

<p>I feel for your situation and honestly this process really is about luck. I personally have a friend who works at the Harvard admission office and she can tell you it comes down to luck. Applicants are sorted out randomly to readers. Their are senior readers who have clout with the admission committee and can fight for the students they love, but their are also junior readers who are straight out of college that have no pull with the committee. Some kids get the vet admission officers and others get the noob with the shabby desk in the corner. Perhaps this is what happened to you that you had a jr. reader who did not have enough pull with the board to plead your case. </p>

<p>I’m sorry that this happened but I hope you do not think this is your fault because you are exceptionally talented and things did not end up the way they should of. This process is pure luck and they might as well put all the worthy candidates in a hat and choose.</p>

15

<p>OH MY GOD. hahahhaha how is that even possible. your extremely well rounded. no worries though. im sure you’ll get into an ivy or something. ****E</p>

16

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<p>I suggest printing this out in a very large font, printing it out and putting it on your bathroom mirror. Read it every time you look at yourself in the mirror. Yes, there are tears to shed and a little railing to the heavens yet to pass… but look yourself deep deep in your own eyes and see your worth first hand. Because trust me, if you don’t see it in yourself, it’s really hard for anyone else to.</p>

<p>Hold your head up.</p>

17

<p>You have been accepted to two wonderful schools: George Washington and Wisconsin. Many people do not have such a great choice. Focus on the positive.</p>

18

<p>Reading stories like this is heartbreaking. Are you still waiting on other schools? Worst case scenario and you aren’t accepted by any of your top choices, do well in your first year of college (keep up your HS grades) and try to transfer for sophomore year. WashU’s transfer rate is about ~20% and NU’s about ~30%.</p>

19

<p>I’m sorry to hear. Try and look on the brightside and pray that you’ll get accepted at Yale and taken off the waiting list at WUSTL. Good Luck.</p>

20

<p>I was getting rejected left and right until I got Cal today. Don’t worry you’ll get into Yale</p>