Obsessing Over A Top College Acceptance= Unhealthy

Pre-College Issues High School Life
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<p>A lot of high school students are obsessed with getting accepted into a top university. I am one of those people.</p>

<p>As a freshman in my second semester of high school, I already experienced a lot with this obsession.</p>

<p>-I worked my butt off to get the best grades. Eventually, in the first semester, I got a 96/100 (A+) weighted average, just to realize that even my peak is not in the top 10%. Now, I am burned out and being pressured for an upward trend, because I heard that colleges LOVE upward trends. For now, an upward trend is not going to happen, just because I worked TOO hard just centering on that one goal in life.</p>

<p>-I have had fights with my friends about this topic. Yes, fights. Some of my friends want to go to the same schools I want to go to. When I say things like "oh, on college confidential, all of these amazing kids get rejected from Ivy League schools, etc. etc." Or sometimes, I would make it more personal "oh, one of the smartest kids in the senior class got rejected at [insert top school name]." Then, we would get into fights, because they think I am just a downer, who gets depressed, because I just set one goal in my life.</p>

<p>-Emotionally, I already killed myself. Whenever I get 'just' a 90 on a quiz/test, I hate myself, because I think that if I keep 'just' getting 90s that I will never ever get into a top school, ever. I get angry over courseload placements. I get angry over the fact that just some kids have a more rigorous courseload than I do. I get angry that I chose a competitive high school rather than a crappy one. </p>

<p>-I start becoming anti-social. Once you become jealous of people in your class, even if you are friends with them, just because they have more honors classes than you, play a varsity sport and you don't, are already getting regional awards, etc., you just have no choice, but hate others. I mean I just hate some kids in my class, just because they have a chance to outbeat me in grades, SAT/ACT, or extracurriculars. </p>

<p>I want to tell all of you that it's not worth it to stress over college acceptances to top schools. If you don't get accepted into any schools, it's another problem. Just as long as you get into one good, but not great school, you're fine. PLEASE DON'T BECOME ME.</p>

<p>Anyone who have seen an unhealthly chance in themselves just because they obsess over college?</p>

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<p>That third thing sucks. You know it’s an issue when you become depressed over an A-. In moderation however, it can be very benificial</p>

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<p>Aww, esmee, I’m so sorry that you have had to go through all of this! That sounds so tough… You need to enjoy high school while it lasts!! </p>

<p>It does seem like some people on here are WAY obsessed with getting in though.</p>

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<p>I’m glad I’m not alone. I got depressed today when I needed a 91+ on a Pre-Calc quiz to get an A- for the 3rd quarter and got an 80. I still am depressed about it. W/e, so long Georgia Tech.</p>

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<p>I thrive off that competition, **** don’t faze me.</p>

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<p>^ hahaha</p>

<p>you sound as if you were trained to do school work jersey.</p>

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<p>It’s unhealthy. I just do what I do and if it’s in the cards, it’s in the cards but I never did anything for the sake of my application that would’ve been akin to lying.</p>

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<p>It’s only unhealthy if you can’t handle it.</p>

<p>What would be unhealthy is threatening to commit suicide if you don’t get in, or contemplating it. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t get in, but it is very significant.</p>

<p>Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever called the Suicide Hotline and threatened to commit it if he/she wasn’t given entry into the college of his/her choice?</p>

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<p>See, I take the opposite approach. I guess it would lying to say I don’t really care about my grades, because I do, and I want to do well because I respect my teachers (and I almost always like the material anyway). But I got two C+s on calculus tests this year, and I feel great. That was 1st semester senior year, too! (It’s ok, I pulled an A in the class anyway…) But competitiveness about college is just stupid. I’m just focusing on having fun in high school now. (Granted, fun for me includes research and study of postmodern critical theory.)</p>

<p>I know what you mean about jealousy, but I find that really isn’t a problem for me. The problem is that you’re beginning to see others as objects, which is never good.</p>

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<p>^^ no… but that sounds like a funny thing to do on a saturday night when your out with the your friends doing what not. haha actually, that’s the greatest place to prank call now that I think of it.</p>

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<p>+1 </p>

<p>Everything is a competition.</p>

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<p>And also: Does anyone have any tips on how do I get over this upward trend thing?</p>

<p>And just everything?</p>

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<p>Keep on telling yourself that once you get into Harvard, and are surrounded by people who will excel. Once you are in those environments, no matter how hard you try there will always be someone better than you. I think that’s probably one of the biggest things, valedictorians, ASB Presidents, track stars, intel science fair winners etc. have to get used to once they get into a top school</p>

<p>Back to the OP’s original point,… DANGGGGGGGG you’re only a freshman and you already have more insight than I did as a senior last month. It’s good that you realize this sooner than later. After this entire college process my biggest advice would be to just calm down and to try your best at everything. The biggest regret is when you know that you could have tried harder to get that A+, award, better essays etc. Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.</p>

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<p>And there will always be someone worse than you.</p>

<p>That’s the beauty of it. If you are going to beat the game every time, it isn’t fun. You have to win some and you have to lose some.</p>

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<p>Watch Office Space over and over again in a loop until you finally understand the message of the movie. You are almost certainly going to end up as yet another mediocre cog in the machine, never to be unique or special in any way. And you know what? That’s okay. Enjoy the simple things in life. Get over the feeling that a top college is going to change your life. In order for that to be true, you would need to be able to take advantage of more than the number of opportunities available at more average schools. If you don’t have anything better to do than worry about an upward trend, you probably aren’t so talented that you absolutely need a top school to make full use of your abilities.</p>

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<p>So, are you guys all saying that not having an upward trend won’t kill me or even have that much of an affect on my app?</p>

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<p>Oh god, a 96/100! What ever shall I do to suffice such a conundrum? Gee I don’t know, keep doing what you’re doing? Stop worrying about other people’s lives. Just do what you feel is right, don’t compare yourself, just work to the best of your ability.</p>

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<p>Lol… a 96 lowers his esteem. Dude, wake up. A- is competitive enough for most top schools.</p>

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<p>I thought I would quit calling you an idiot, but this post does it.</p>

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<p>^who are you referring to?</p>