<p>Exactly HOW prevalent are these rejection horror stories (getting rejected from every match/reach school)? And are there ever some hidden problems that probably screwed them over and simply aren't mentioned on this forum?</p>
<p>For example, last year, when I heard about these two people who got rejected from every match/reach, I was absolutely shocked and depressed. They were smart, quirky, passionate about ECs, and very strong writers. If they didn't have a shot, then why would I?</p>
<p>I later found out that one was taking AP Stat instead of Calc, and wasn't taking any science whatsoever, which according to an on-campus interviewer I spoke with is a pretty big negative. </p>
<p>The other had very weak grades (not just CC-weak....we're talking multiple Cs at an okay public HS) and I suspect that this person didn't research colleges very well, applying to basically EVERY prestigious university because of parent pressure. They hadn't even heard of less prestigious but quality schools like W&M or Rice.</p>
<p>I think I just need some reassurance....I don't want to have another one of those rejection horror stories to share in April...and I'd like to believe that I have a decent shot. But I keep coming back on here and reading those heartbreaking stories and it is seriously freaking me out.</p>
<p>There will be no horror story for you because you’re already in at two safeties. Liking your safety a lot is good enough.</p>
<p>Maybe you should have applied to more than two matches. It is possible for a perfectly good applicant to be rejected from a number of matches. Usually there is an identifiable weakness in the application in that case. Do you still have time to send out some apps?</p>
<p>Superselective colleges are reaches for everybody because a large proportion of excellent applicants get rejected. It’s definitely possible for a strong applicant to be rejected by all of HYPSM, etc.</p>
<p>I can only recall one student who did not get into a reach/match school but in that case the student applied to the most competitive program within the competitive school. As it turned out, the safety was an excellent fit and the student went on to earn a scholarship to graduate school so no horror story, but a bit of a surprise senior year.</p>
<p>From what I have seen, students who are disappointed have generally made the mistake of applying only to a number of highly selective schools, as well as a much less selective safety. If they have a reasonable range of schools, including several realistic matches (and enough schools), it is much less likely that they will end up at the safety. Also, some students overestimate their chances at selective schools (ie, by thinking that a hook will overcome other deficiencies).</p>
<p>Schools are Reach/Match/Safety in a global (average) sense. Results however are individual specific and therefore can vary quite a bit. In your two examples there were clearly problems with the profiles that shouldn’t leave you too surprised that people were rejected.</p>
<p>Reach schools are, well, reaches. By definition you should assume that you have a low probability of success at these schools either because your stats are on the low end and/or the schools have very low acceptance rates. You’re trying to hit a homerun, but most homerun hitters also strike out a lot.</p>
<p>As for getting shut out of match schools, to me that comes down to the acceptance rate at those schools. It’s one thing to have stats that are at or slightly above the average for a given school, but if that school has a comparatively low acceptance rate (<25%) then there’s hardly a guarantee that you’re going to get accepted. For example, Claremont-McKenna, USC and Boston College have fairly similar accepted student profiles (3.7/3.8 - 2100ish SAT), but CMC has an acceptance rate around 16%, USC 24% and BC 30%. Just because your profile is average for those schools doesn’t mean you should assume you’d be accepted at all three.</p>
<p>Applying to college is much more difficult than I thought and much harder than it is in my country… (I’m an international) but I’m really glad it’s all over…</p>
<p>I actually applied to 17 colleges because I’m really really scared I won’t be accepted anywhere…</p>
<p>I probably wouldn’t even be worried at all if it weren’t for CC…my counselor seems (over)confident about my abilities to get accepted as well as the people I had read my essays, and they’re very strong writers…but then I come on here and I just get distressed.</p>
<p>Horror stories usually come from kids with huge holes in their lists, right between uber-reaches and safeties. I wonder if “Love thy match” might be a better mantra for kids that assume they’re HYPSM-bound.</p>
<p>I have a friend who had one reach, 3 matches and 1 safety. The first schools she heard from were the matchs, all waitlisted her. The safety accepted with a hefty scholarship and the reach accepted her (no $$). She went to the reach.</p>
<p>But when the first 3 schools came in, she was horrified and just about a basketcase for a few days before the safety came in and then the reach came in about a week later.</p>
<p>I’ve heard of this kind of thing before. Not to scare anyone, but this happened to our valedictorian a couple years ago. </p>
<p>The boy was incredibly smart, with a 2380 SAT score and a nearly perfect ACT score as well with highest graduating GPA my school has ever seen (All AP classes since Freshman year, and As in all of them). However, despite all this, he was wait listed or rejected from every school he applied to, which were all ivys. Although this kid was clearly smart, it turned out that he really had no life out of school. He didn’t have many solid ECs, had very little community service, and on piece of paper appeared to be more like a robot than a student. Also, he put himself in this situation by not applying to any safety schools or even schools that are still very competitive such as Rice. In the end, I’m not sure exactly what happened since there are a lot of rumors, but the boy somehow found himself a way to Harvard (where he is a student now). </p>
<p>Sure, most students fear, “I’m not going to college!” at some point, but as long as you prepare yourself, and are smart about where you apply, this is easily avoidable. There is really no need to freak out because there is a college out there for everyone. It might not be your dream school, but if you set yourself up right, you’ll go somewhere. Besides, you might actually learn to love a school that you didn’t think you’d like at all once you’re actually there. </p>