<p>Argh, accidentally deleted my own post. Anyway...</p>
<p>It's okay to hold out hope. If you didn't have any hope at all, you wouldn't have bothered applying in the first place. But no matter how much you tell yourself that the odds are against you, it can be difficult to squelch that persistent little belief that "I might be the one in X who gets in." Unfortunately, there's a very fine line between hope and expectation, and the latter is just a request for heartbreak.</p>
<p>Personally, I suggest going with the "out of sight, out of mind" approach. As much as you're possibly able, stop with the "I will" or "I won't" line of thought and try to let this be a non-issue (easier said than done, I know). Don't visit individual schools' CC boards, don't visit the schools' websites, don't hang university posters all over your wall. When you're with friends, don't start conversations about college decisions, and try to excuse yourself, change the subject, or stay quiet when conversations do turn to the topic. You've heard your friends' opinions, and they were nice, but don't give them the chance to reinforce them. There's no need to self-deprecate...you don't need to disagree and argue that you'll never be accepted...just stay neutral and make it clear that what happens happens, and you'll find out soon enough. </p>
<p>Obviously you're not going to forget about college over the next two weeks. Just try to get used to not having it in your head and your conversations, so that when decisions roll in, you can deal with them on your own terms. I really do know that this is, like I said, easier said than done. But I've seen kids be rejected and have to take posters down, box up sweatshirts, find something else to do with the hours they'd been spending in forums, build up identities aside from just "The kid who's obsessed with ______," whatever...they've staked so much on one acceptance. Rejection, if it happens, is never fun or easy, but it seems gentler if all that you have to do is read a letter, and share the results when and if you choose. When you know what your options are, you can go about throwing yourself into research in preparation for your final decision. You might be surprised to fall in love with one of your other schools, regardless of whether you're accepted or rejected to this particular one. Who knows?</p>
<p>"Out of sight, out of mind" is what works for me, but that's just me. Privacy was my priority. For some kids, having the release of frequent conversation + the comfort of knowing that others are going through the same thing is far more helpful, and hopefully others will be able to offer further suggestions. Good luck during the waiting period + into next year :)</p>