It's all about the colleges (and what you make of them)

Applying to College
1

<p>" Bump ba-Bump ba-Bump ba-Bump.</p>

<p>Magnify that threefold and you’ve got the sound of three human hearts beating rapidly in anticipation of college decisions.</p>

<pre><code>4:57 PM … 4:58 PM … 4:59 PM … 5:00 PM
</code></pre>

<p>Just like that, their next four years shown to them in seconds. They finally muster the courage to click the mouse and find out if happiness or heartbreak awaits. They pray for a miracle knowing that it’s not really going to end well - these things almost never do.</p>

<p>Those three kids? Me and two friends of mine. There has to be at least some hilarity in seeing three high school seniors huddled together in an already cramped room and ready to expect the worst at their Dells and Macbooks. Some of the schools among the three of us that we were waiting on:</p>

<ol>
<li>Columbia University</li>
<li>Dartmouth College</li>
<li>Brown University</li>
<li>Cornell University</li>
<li>Middlebury College</li>
</ol>

<p>I mean not to build any suspense: two of us were rejected from Columbia, one of us (myself) waitlisted; only one of us applied to Dartmouth and one of us got in; one applied to Brown and one rejected; one applied to Cornell and one rejected; one applied to Middlebury and one rejected. Personally, I was rejected from MIT earlier this month and waitlisted at both Carnegie Mellon University and Rice University so this was really just another waitlist to add to the pile.</p>

<pre><code>I’m in limbo now.
</code></pre>

<p>There’s that point in between that’s neither here nor there, neither in nor out. It’s where I am now and I must say that it’s a rather nice place. I’ve been able to think long and hard about where am I now and what’s in store for me next. But on the other hand, it’s maddening to not know what’s going to happen next. Two more months before I get a definite answer on anything.</p>

<p>I will admit that there’s some sort of humor in this all that I can’t place my finger on. I think most of us expect a definite yes or no answer and it never even crosses our minds that what we might get is a “kinda-sorta-maybe” type response. That’s how it was for me anyway.</p>

<pre><code>Dear (my name),

We write to inform you that after careful consideration of your application to Columbia
</code></pre>

<p>“****, this doesn’t sound like it’s starting off well,” I’m thinking.</p>

<pre><code>the Admissions Committee has voted to postpone a final decision on your candidacy.
</code></pre>

<p>“Oh, I think I was rejec — oh wait, what?”</p>

<pre><code>Your name has been placed on a waitlist of students to be considered for admission should vacancies occur
</code></pre>

<p>“Ah, well I guess that’s better than an outright rejection.”</p>

<p>I don’t know if this was a genuine we’re-actually-interested-in-you-if-there’s-room waitlist of just a polite rejection but either way, I’m fine with it. This past week has been rough and I’ve been thinking over this whole 7-month college admissions process. I’ve accepted a place on many waitlists but I’ve also moved on. There are other colleges for me that I’ve been accepted to and I’ll make the best of my time there.</p>

<p>I don’t think I’m really in much of a position to be preaching, lecturing, or giving advice on the college admissions process as a whole - it’s only been a few hours since the process was finally finished for me. But if I could go back in time and meet my past self, there are endless amounts of things I’d tell me.</p>

<pre><code>Just join that one orchestra or get some more community service hours in and you’re sure to be bumped from the waitlist to the accept list.
</code></pre>

<p>If there’s one piece of advice I could share with anyone about to go through this arduous process, though, it would be to relax and not stress out. Be yourself. I never did things in high school so that I’d please colleges and I at least half-enjoyed everything I did. Those things might not have gotten me completely where I wanted to be but they also didn’t fail me either.</p>

<p>I’ll finally disclose — and you may or may not care — that I’m most likely going to Tulane on a $100,000 scholarship. See? Things will always work out in the end. There’s a place for everyone - you just have to be proactive and search for it. I think the only appropriate way to end this would be to share this with you:</p>

<pre><code>“To allow other people’s assessment of you to determine your own self-assessment is a very big mistake.” "
</code></pre>

2

<p>Are you gonna take a spot on the waitlist for Columbia? I think you should, you never know.</p>

3

<p>I got waitlisted SEAS and I’m not sure. I still have a few weeks to decide. I might do it just because I’d go if I got in, but I know it’s a longshot</p>

4

<p>I think you should do it. I think if you had applied ED, you probably would’ve gotten in.</p>

5

<p>A nice little story. I enjoyed it. :slight_smile:
I think you should take the spot on the WL-- why not?
Of course, then one should face life as if they had turned it down. Not that it’s really a bad situation for you; Tulane is a wonderful school, and that is some serious money. Good work!!
College admissions were absolutely crazy this year. I heard back from six schools yesterday… I was accepted to one. Never saw it coming.
(Was expecting all rejections.)</p>

<p>I’m sure you’ll be wonderfully happy and successful at Tulane, or anywhere else you may go. At least, you write well!
Good job and good luck!</p>

6

<p>Yes, I’m most likely taking a spot on the WL but not expecting much.</p>

<p>Bumping this so more people will see it</p>

7

<p>I hope you get in. Someone with your academic record truly deserves to go to Columbia SEAS.</p>