They usually download everything midnight PST!
@1wanttogotoCMU yup, my counselor updated it around 4 PM and they downloaded it around 12 AM PT
Warning: I have a long, rambly, superfluous, sentimental, repetitive but heartfelt message for y’all to read before decisions. Read at your own risk!
I thought that since decisions about 24 hours away and it is going to be a long night for all of us, I’d finally seize the opportunity to reflect on the college admission process so far and say something I have been wanting to say about the imminent decision:
First of all, congratulations for making it this far! We have all chosen the road to higher education through countless choices we’ve made throughout our lives that culminated into one single application. And that choice in itself is hopeful. I also didn’t think I could last a full week of this tormenting wait when I clicked submit in October but here we are, one full month after and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
As for the decision, there is no denial we are all terrified of the decisions tomorrow. Afterall, we know whatever lied beyond that portal will change the path of our lives. However, this will not be the only thing that will change our lives. Every choice will contribute to defining our lives and us, more than any other person or institution, can shape our futures.
However, the admission verdict is also unnerving because it is a judgment of our value. Contrary to what some well-meaning people try to reassure us with, yes, an admissions decision is absolutely a judgment of our worth. We are completely vulnerable on the application — we dug deep into our guts and presented the most authentic and complete picture of us possible (at least I hope we did, haha). To strip ourselves naked like that and wait for strangers to judge if we are worthy of admissions is incredibly daunting. Every metrics: class rank, test score, GPA, etc. exist to quantify us and every part of the application: essay, letters rec is designed so others can (quickly) judge who we are. Here comes the “however”; the point is not to pretend the admission decision is not an appraisal of our value, but rather deciding whether or not we are going to be affected by this judgment. There is going to be endless, constant judgments about our characters by others throughout our lives, some accurate while most are not. However, are we going to change the perceptions of who we are and what we are capable of from one decision after several five-minute scans of a pile of paper?
Make no mistake, after all the “chicken noodle soup” is said and done, a rejection letter will still cause heart-wrenching pain. Why? because we have genuinely loved Pomona. We have all chosen it as our unequivocal first choice through applying ED and many of us have spent hours imagining an overly-detailed future at this school. It hurts to think that somewhere we have adored so endearingly does not have reciprocal feelings for us. However, I’d say if any of us has to go through this intense pain, go through it with pride. It is evidence that we have given great thought and invested real emotions into this institution, and we have chosen right and followed our hearts to choose it for ED. It is evidence that we have thrown ourselves against our dreams and at least, hey, now we know the outcome.
I’d recommend (not that I am experienced or you should heed my advice, haha) to not try to cover up that deep disappointment and sadness (if it comes to it) and instead, recognize and embrace these emotions. You have every right to feel upset, and part of loving, or being human, is to experience these. Eat some ice cream, cry loudly into the pillows, binge a TV show, then get up the next day and throw ourselves out there for the RD round — the possibilities are just beginning.
I will end my ramble here but I want to give one last, unsolicited, unqualified advice: before you click on the portal tomorrow, where the fateful words are going to lie. Take a deep, hard, long look into yourself. What makes you unique? What are you made of? What are your aspirations? Then, when the decision unfurls in front of you, don’t let it change this.
Finally, best of luck to all of you! I know you will be incredible and magnificent wherever you go.
I’ve succeeded in protecting myself. I’ve spent a full month trying to psychologically defend myself by not looking at anything Pomona related, researching Brown, and constantly reminding me that I’ll get rejected.
I’m proud to say that I’m not anxious today. If I get rejected, I’ll truly be OK, if I get deferred I’ll be happy, and if I get accepted I’ll be SO HAPPY with a slight tinge of regret. A lot better than the first time I thought about getting rejected from Pomona… So basically, I’ve mellowed out both sides of the emotion spectrum. I’m ready for tomorrow!
Best of luck to all! Just because you get into your first choice doesn’t guarantee happiness. You might be incredibly unhappy at when you’re at your first choice school, and you might be the happiest at your safety. No one knows, there are many random factors at play, the friends you make, the atmosphere, your teacher relations, clubs… etc.
I’m just glad that we got to spend some small part of this journey together through this thread. I wish we could all get in, but regardless of what happens and ow many tears tomorrow brings, there is a bright future ahead of anyone who cared enough to be here sharing information and supporting one another.
On a completely separate note, I am looking at Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, and would also like to continue to pursue theatre in some capacity.
I called the admissions office about the first period marking grades and they told me to not worry about it since I go by a semester basis.
anyways, good luck to you all!!
@bluesky11 I go by semester too!!! But its divided into 3 6 weeks rip 
I should’ve raised that question
my semester ends in january so i’m guessing that those grade requests are for those that go by quarterly?
I go by semesters - so 3 terms all 6 weeks, I believe my counselor put in my first 6 week grades.
@1wanttogotoCMU @IllIlllIIllllll Same, I probably should’ve raised this to my counselor and told her not to send the first 6 weeks grades…
If decisions do come out this Fri., it’s Friday today. (GMT+8 zone for me)
One more day and tomorrow, on Saturday wee morning I’ll be told the verdict. Meanwhile, I’ll likely be partying the night away senselessly before the D DAY! Embrace the moment. Yolo!
I wish everyone who chose to ED1 POMONA good fortune wherever we end up.
Rejected, deffered only means OPPORTUNITY, it is not the end rather a beginning of unknown possibilities, guys. So…KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON!
TGIF!!
I’ve been soooo nervous the entire day omg. my stomach has been hurting the whole day, with no apparent reason (aside from nervousness lol)! it’s dinner time and I chose not to eat; I’m WAY too nervous and I’m literally unable to digest anything…
it really is sad to think that tomorrow, a single decision will determine whether I’ll be spending the next 4 years of my life at Pomona OR at somewhere else. oh well…but life will go on, right?! hope i can get over my crush (=pomona) soon… :’)
and @latteice i rly like how u pointed out that rejection / defferal will only mean more opportunities. u right!!!
i’m shaking. less than 24 hours?!?!? wow
@Quiches !!! So beautifully written. You gave amazing perspective and advice. I loved it 
(I showed it to a friend who is in this process too. Really helped us out)
My counselor accidentally showed me everyone else applying to Pomona from my school and their grades and scores. It was the most terrifying experience of my life.
Hah… I’m the only one from my school applying ED (99% sure). Everyone is busy EDing to the Ivies.
@DyingInside omg, that many ppl applied to pomona ED? o.o do u live in socal or smth…?
same with @IllIlllIIllllll – I’m pretty sure i’m the only one who applied ED to pomona. same reason–everyone who chose to ED applied to the ivies.
I’m also the only ED, but she has everyone for RD too. There are also two kids who got recruited for sports.
My school, in the past 3 years, has only had about 40 applicants to Pomona and the senior class is basically as big as Pomona itself, so pretty sure I’m the only one doing ED here.
Heh, I’m pretty sure I’m the only one in my school history to apply to Pomona. Such is life in an obscure international school.
@DyingInside It’s not just about marks and scores 
@1wanttogotoCMU wow, that’s a LOT of kids. our entire schol is a lil bigger than pomona. majority wants to do stem (CS, engineering) / business so they choose not to apply to liberal arts colleges.