My Last CC Post for a while...Thanks, problems, and other stuff

Parents Forum
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<p>So here I am a little less than 2 years after I first joined CC to get advice on the AP World History exam; I am smarter and yet more disillusioned and though I am ultimately disappointed with where I am now, and I am also grateful--incredibly grateful--for all the advice and support you have given me.</p>

<p>I came into this thinking that I was "good enough" for anywhere I wanted to go and that I could go anywhere I wanted. In a word, I was naive. Now, I am jaded, but at least now I know the truth of the matter: that college admissions are hard, tiring, and, yes, at least in my case disaapointing. That being side, I am very thankful for all the advice you CC parents thoughtful gave me.</p>

<p>You found me schools, read my essays, and listened to my ranting, raving, and angst. You helped me whittle down my list, get info on my future (hopefully) profession, and handed out advice on how to play this all-consuming "game." To this, I would like to give you the biggest thanks because, even though I did make some mistakes, I also made many right guesses, and my errors are mine and mine alone.</p>

<p>In the end, I was accepted into all seven schools I applied to, all financial (and therefore admissions) safeties. I received merit scholarships at all, some better than others. Four are midwestern, two are Rocky Mountain, and one is East Coast. One is an accelerated professional school program; three are honors programs. Two are first tier, one is second tier, one is first tier but in the Masters-Regiona category, and three are third tier. One has less than 2,000 students; one has over 20,000. Three are public; four are private. One has a church affilation, though not mine. All offer Japanese; two have pharmacy schools. In the end, for better or for worse, this is me and this is where I'm going next year.</p>

<p>To be honest, I'm not totally happy. Part of me feels like I sold my future for merit money; part of me is bitter about my friends and fellow posters with their "name" acceptance letters in hand. Part of me wonders if I will like the schools I got into, if I made all the wrong choices in this--or all the right ones. I have regrets, yes, unlike those who are having a pitch perfect application season, but I also realize that there are people who are far worse college situations than me, people who got into their dream schools but didn't get the scholarships they needed to pay for it or people who didn't get in at all.</p>

<p>In sum, I'd like to thank you all for teaching my how to play the game, even if I'm not 100% happy with own game plan.</p>

<p>I'll let you know when I make my big decision whatever it may be.</p>

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<p>Wolf - if you're still there, read over your old postings on your visits to your colleges. You have very specific requirements in a college, and I think you did an excellent job researching possibilities. There will always be a certain amount of "what if" thinking about this time, but read those posts. Remind yourself of what made you want to apply there. You're in Texas - few people are going to have much knowledge of what isn't UT/A&M; just accept that mentality. My daughter will go to school Monday trying to choose between colleges that, unless they've talked about it with her before, not one student will have heard of.</p>

<p>I really look forward to hearing your decision, but ultimately I know you will be successful anywhere you choose. Good luck!</p>

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<p>wolf: </p>

<p>Try to recognize that you are just having cold feet right now. You are going to end up at a college that you carfeully chose. You will make new friends, start a new life, get a great education. You will not look back for a minute.</p>

<p>Finances are a reality in life - but they are not all life is. Life is having good friends, great family, wise teachers. It may seem like everyone else is applying and getting into top tier schools with nary a thought about money - but you know what? That does NOT represent the way college admissions works for 99% of the world. You are seeing a very slanted picture here.</p>

<p>Someone accused my son on here once of being a "closet college whore" - and he was - for about 2 days. Then he got over it, and he's been happy ever since, and we now sit back, comfortable with our financial future.</p>

<p>Smile! These are happy times for you, don't doubt yourself.</p>

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<p>Wolfpiper, please don't be so hard on yourself! It sounds to me like you have had a completely successful admissions season -- no rejection letters, no agonizing about waitlists. </p>

<p>Sure, you probably have friends who are understandably proud about the big name schools where they have won admission -- but could you have afforded to go to those schools even if you had gotten in? Would you feel better having to turn down a great school because you can't afford it? </p>

<p>I think you are experiencing normal feelings of let down after a busy and stress-filled year, but you need to keep in mind that you have done tremendously well for yourself. Go visit your local community college and look at all the kids whose best option is to live at home and continue their studies there -- it will give you some much needed perspective. </p>

<p>Your story is the ultimate success story: you did an excellent job of finding colleges that offered you the programs you want, and you also targetted things well to make sure that college would be affordable. Ten years from now when you have a successful career as a pharmacist and you see some of your friends struggling to pay off their loans.... you might realize that the only "mistake" you made was being wiser and somewhat more practically minded at the outset.</p>

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<p>wolf, you might be experiencing buyer's remorse.... don't 2nd guess yourself. what's right for you isn't right for everyone else... if it were, we'd have cookie cutter schools... if you were mature enough to add finances into the equation, no doubt you were thinking somewhat beyond college... who knows! you may be attending grad school where some of your friends would only dream of going or maybe you'll take a different path.... who you are & how you conduct yourself & the effort you put in is an adult yardstick... maybe you recognized this early. be confident in your decision(s) & the temporary bitterness will all but disappear!</p>

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<p>Good luck Wolfpiper. It is not that uncommon, the that let down feeling you have, after you achieve something you've worked hard for, that sort of "is that it?" feeling. I got what I wanted, now is that what I REALLY wanted? Once you've made your decision, and started school, I think you'll be fine. You'll make the transition, make friends, get involved in things you're interested in and you'll feel good about where you are. Right now, you're sort of in limbo. This too shall pass.</p>

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<p>Take what you saved by getting merit money, invest it well, graduate with a tidy sum left in the bank, make a downpayment on a house, buy some stock, or finance grad school at an institution of your choosing. Smile.</p>

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<p>My heart goes out to you. I truly believe you will feel differently once you get to the school and become involved with life on campus. Right now, however, it's hard, especially when others are celebrating for getting in ther "dream schools" (and they should certainly celebrate their success). </p>

<p>Please remember you are not the only one feeling disappointed. Amidst all this celebrating, there are lots of kids who've been hurt. Sometimes the hurt shows on the outside and sometimes they just keep quiet. That hurt can be for all kinds of reasons: regretting the reality of life that restricts their list to certain schools, not receiving the money needed for a particular school, dealing with a large number of non-acceptances, not getting in somewhere wherethey were so sure they would be an admit.... The list goes on and on. </p>

<p>Please do remember how much you've accomplshed. I'm not going to tell you that you can wish the sadness away or that you can will yourself to focus on the positives.....and there are many positives in your situation. Just take it one day at a time, and be patient with yourself. It will get better little by little.</p>

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<p>Good luck, Wolfpiper. I don't know specifically why you are disappointed right now. I loved your 'Christina's World' essay. You are a special young man, very sensitive and intelligent and you will do very well wherever you go.</p>

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<p>Wolfpiper-
please let us know what you decide.
There isn't anything wrong with being a "big fish in a small pond"-</p>

<p>Remember how you felt when you visited Missoula :)</p>

<p>You did a great job, of finding a variety of schools and have great choices! </p>

<p>Take some time away from the CC board for awhile and let the hype die out. Take a break , but come back and tell us what you decide!</p>