rejected from every college?!? I'm hopeless

Hey guys, it’s difficult for me to write this but I don’t know who else I can share my feelings with. I am a fairly decent student: I scored 1470/1600 on the new SAT, I have a 3.7+ GPA, and I have multiple leadership positions that strengthen my resume. I have 400+ service hours from recycling, and I am a National Merit Finalist. So far, the only school I was accepted to was Santa Clara University. Although it is a great school, It’s my safety school, so I was not overtly excited about that acceptance. So far, I have received 4 rejections in a row from Boston College, Washington University in St. Louis, UChicago, and Northwestern. I am starting to lose faith in myself, and I am worried that I might have to go to my safety school. Has anyone else experienced a miracle that brought them good news in the end despite the tough start? I am waiting to hear from Pomona, CMC, NYU, USC, Cornell, Brown, and Columbia.

You were not rejected from every college. You were accepted at SCU which is an excellent school.

You might still get some good news- don’t lose hope! But it does seem like you applied to one safety and all the rest are reaches… Any match schools??

You can only attend one school and you have one acceptance under you belt so what is the issue. You are going to College.

SCU is a great school!

I didn’t want to leave the impression that I feel I am too good for SCU. I don’t think that at all. However, my parents do. My parents (like other Asian parents on CC) aren’t too familiar with the American college system. They only recognize the Ivy’s as great schools. They wouldn’t send me to SCU if I don’t get a good financial package. Thanks for the support

dont lose hope, you are still waiting for answers ,just wait 2 weeks. im pretty sure youll enroll AT LEAST in one of remaining unievristies.

@guamboy I am a parent with a senior going through the college process. I also live in the Bay Area and am very familiar with SCU having family members that went there. I want your parents to read this post.
Santa Clara is a terrific university. It has solid programs in all of its’ colleges and offers great internships with companies in the Bay Area. It has a great reputation and is becoming more and more difficult to get into. It is not uncommon for graduates to go on to work for many of the high-tech companies around here. I also understand the dynamic of Asian parents but I am here to say that if Santa Clara is the only school you get into, go there!! Many of the schools you listed are reach schools. There is tremendous pressure put on high school students to get into the same pool of about 20-30 that EVERYONE is trying to get into. Santa Clara can provide you the springboard to realize your dreams. I hope you have choices but if not hold your head high, you will be fine.

The fact is you applied to one safety and a lot of schools that are reaches for any unhooked applicant. I hope you get some good news in the future (NYU and USC look to be the best possibilities) but SCU is a fine college. My S went to a different Jesuit university and he got a wonderful education and had a great 4 years.

So if your parents won’t send you to SCU, what would they rather you do? Stay at home and play video games?

I would anticipate you may well get into NYU, USC or other schools on your list. I will also reiterate that Santa Clara is an excellent, excellent school and I know many students at the top of their class that went there.

Well every one of those four schools is hard to get into. And three of them are reaches for everyone. You have a school to attend, so be happy. All the others you listed are reaches. Maybe NYU is possible. Good luck.

Edited to add: if you only attend your safety school, be glad you at least have that. For the benefit of others, and I am not trying to bash you, but your stats are a bit low for almost evey school you applied to. If you get into one of the others, you have done very well. It’s always a good idea to have at least a couple of safeties and matches you would be happy to attend and that are affordable.

Do you have options in Guam?

Thank you for taking the time to write this. I am assured that SCU is a great school, and I would gladly attend the school. However, the decision still rests upon my dad’s hands.

Guam is not known for its colleges

hello - i want your parents to read this - I have worked at two of the largest companies in the valley - PYPL and FB - we recruit from Santa Clara - it is a great school - you should be proud of your achievements. good luck.

Pomona is now added on to my list of rejects

You applied to REACH schools; your parents need to be aware of that.

You are not hopeless. Even if you were the valedictorian with a perfect 1600 SAT score, Chicago, Northwestern, Pomona, Brown, Cornell, Columbia - would still be reaches. Last year Brown rejected 84% of applicants with a perfect 800 math score on the SAT, and also rejected.
Did you get wl at BC or was it a straight out reject? I’m not going to lie, the Ivies on your list may not happen, but you have a good shot at NYU. Are you in or out of state for USC?

USC is a private school, so residency does not matter.