Eh, I was rejected from a school I considered a match (perhaps slightly more than a match, but definately not a reach), and while I am not especially surprised by it, I would like to know what it was in particular that resulted in rejection (90% chance it was my crap GPA, even though it is right in line with the college’s average). Would I get an answer by emailing them, or do most colleges deal exclusively with this kind of thing over the phone?
<p>Most do not answer such questions at all. This might be out of fear of being sued or because they don't want to get into arguments. The few that will answer such questions tend to answer them to GCs only.</p>
<p>Am I remembering correctly that you had posted a while back that you were thinking that very strong ECs in business would override weak grades or have I confused you with someone else?</p>
<p>Also, if your grades were right at the school's average that doesn't mean that you could count on an acceptance. Usually the average that schools post is the average for their freshman class. The gpa/SAT average for admitted students is higher because the stronger students are in a college's pool, the more likely it is that they will turn down that college for a more competitive one.</p>
<p>Nop, I'm the same one you're thinking of (btw I read in another thread that you are an alumnus of Niskayuna HS - I currently attend there) </p>
<p>Although my GPA is relatively mainstream for the college, my SAT is above the 50%ile. I wouldn't so much say that I expected strong ECs to negate my bad GPA ( though I certainly did hope so ), but I did figure they would make up for a few tenths of a point. What has me worried now is that this was one of the <em>least</em> competative colleges I applied to. I know full well that getting an answer will do nothing to change admissions results, and that I will likely have all my decisions before I even get an answer out of the adcoms, but I'd still like to know why I was rejected with such different (and I would think, far more relevant/meaningful) ECs, when other people who are just typical middle-class clones with the same GPA and lower SAT scores were admitted. (Yes, that is a direct inference that I am better than them)</p>
<p>Greetings, fellow NHS alum!</p>
<p>This is simply a guess: I have noticed that you have described yourself as a loner, and you repeatedly suggest that you feel superior to other people. I also have noticed that you don't like rules. My best guess therefore is that other students probably had better recommendations than you did. It's very probable that even if you are smarter than some students who are getting more acceptances, teachers like those students better, and give them better references. Even though you think that personality and references shouldn't count, they still do count a lot.</p>
<p>In checking the list that you had posted about where you applied, I am wondering whether you applied to any school that you are 100% certain that you can get in and that you also know you can afford. I am asking because you'd also indicated that finances were a concern, and that your family might not be that supportive.</p>
<p>If finances could be a concern, talk to your GC now because you may need to rely on your GC to get you into some public colleges that you can afford. I imagine the possibility of going to a SUNY doesn't thrill you, but it may end up being your best option. </p>
<p>Those colleges that you applied to are expensive, and I don't think that any promise to meet 100% of documented financial need. Even if they did, however, it's likely that what the colleges think you need is less than what your parents are willing to pay.</p>
<p>I am more or less a loner (I dont know how long you've been out of NHS for, but its dominated by preppy clones who all dress the same and share the same interests - certainly not my thing - I get along with adults 10x better than with peers) - and I <em>definately</em> do not like rules (unless they agree with my opinion (because, obviously who WOULDNT care what my opinion is?) (yes, sarcasm)), but my teacher recs were extremely good - I had worked closely with both teachers, and had received consistent As in their classes - of all the parts of my application, I am most confident and certain of the recommendations. </p>
<p>I had been accepted to Syracuse Uni. but the financial aid was $15k short each year - I haggled with them and have a new prospectus in the mail, so I will see how that turns out. </p>
<p>As for SUNY, I pretty much refuse to go to one - I want to spend four years at the same college - I have been bounced from school to school all my life (except HS, which i have attended for all 4 years), and want to settle down and actually get involved in 'normal' life. I am not especially keen on SUNY schools anyway because I want to go out of state (and get away from parents), and because many do not have a very high academic reputation - also, I want to be a polisci major, and a big city is pretty much a requirement of mine for internships and stuff. I realize that when it comes to cost, I may not have much of a choice about where I end up, but I outright refuse to go to a public school.</p>
<p>I empathize with your feelings about NHS. While it's academically a wonderful school, I loathed it and Niskayuna, and never fit in. One of the happiest days of my life was when I left to go out of state to college. Except for two more summers during college, I never lived in NYS again. I love big cities, and our hometown was just too small for me.</p>
<p>I also empathize with your wishing to get away from a dysfunctional family.</p>
<p>Still, looking at your college list, I am wondering if you're going to be able to afford the colleges that accept you. Remember, if it ends up that you can't, you still could go to one of those SUNYs and then transfer. That at least would get you out of the house.</p>
<p>Because financial aid can be a big problem for transfer students, you could transfer out of state to a low cost public institution. Depending on where you'd go, that's possible. Public schools range greatly in quality and in the opportunities that they offer. I suggest that you not totally write them off. At least IMO, it would be better to go to a SUNY public than to end college with $40k plus in debt.</p>