<p>I never realized that people would find my unique and educationally rich high school career condescending. I went to the local public school and was president of student council and student senate, regional policy debate champion and head of the business club - but it felt ‘beige’ (everyone else was doing something just as impressive) and almost dishonest because everyone did these things to get into college. If anything, I now go to school for two-to-three times longer than my peers because I learn during the day, at night and on the weekends. I certainly haven’t taken a “I have better things to do” attitude, but rather a “I can do both” attitude. I feel that my eclectic application shows that I have an honest love of learning, but I am glad to know that it can be viewed as something very different. </p>
<p>As for the non-academic part of college, it is of course what I am looking forward to the most. Going to a school where you can find intellectual satisfaction just by talking over dinner has always been a dream of mine, and that is why I applied to these LACs. This is what I felt was missing the most from my time at a traditional highschool.</p>
<p>I know that it’s almost impossible not to second guess these admissions decisions as they trickle in, but try. I’m sure it feels better to think that you were a victim of “Tufts syndrome.” Perhaps you were. OTOH, perhaps the school felt it had nothing really left to offer you given your background, and that that it really wasn’t the right school for you. No school wants to take kids they know are going to be unhappy. In the end, even schools with 80% acceptance rates reject kids, and do it for reasons that have far more to do with who they are than with who you are. In other words, don’t take any single rejection personally.</p>
<p>You sound like a smart kid with an interesting background. If, indeed, nothing works out for next year (which seems unlikely) you have great options, so you are way ahead of the game in that respect. Before you start beating yourself up about this or that aspect of your application being deficient, let’s see what happens with the rest of your schools.</p>
<p>The thing is that almost every school has some decisions that are perplexing. It could be that they didn’t think you would come, or it could be something like the person who read your application was having a bad day, or any one of a hundred factors.</p>
<p>Best not to worry about it at this stage – I’m sure you’ll get into somewhere great.</p>
<p>One other thing to consider is that many schools admit by division (e.g. arts and sciences, engineering, business, etc.) or specific major. Some popular divisions or majors may be much more selective than others.</p>
<p>For example, San Jose State is widely thought of as being only moderately selective, but, for fall 2012 freshman admissions, there are some majors where a 3.5 GPA and 1200 SAT would only barely get in, and there is one major where a 4.0 GPA and 1390 SAT would barely miss the cut. But there are many less popular majors where a 2.9 GPA and 900 SAT in-state would get in, while 3.2 GPA with 1000 SAT out-of-state would get in.</p>
<p>I’m sure it’s been quite a week for everyone on CC… I am waiting to hear back from a couple of state schools, but I have been accepted to my first choice school (though no others so far). It is strange how some things happen.</p>