Rejection?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Don't despair..</p>

<p>Columbia was my utmost first choice. It was one of five campuses I had visited (University of Delaware, Vassar, Syracuse,Swarthmore) and I was absolutely sure I loved everything about it. I am from a small town and go to a small public high school, and the diversity and convenience of the city was such a plus. And when I get tired of it.. there's always the nicest little campus in which I can go back home.</p>

<p>Why wouldn't I get in? I am second in my class (1/10th of a point away from being valedictorian), will have 13 varsity letters by the time I graduate, have to obtain 75 hours of community service per year for NHS, have had lead roles in school plays/musicals, etc. And with all honestly.. I am an excellent writer. In fact, I intend to be a political journalist for magazines, so therefore the essays were a piece of cake. The SATs? My school prepares us for state testing, so I have never ever done any SAT practice testing. The 600s I received in every section were fairly well for me. Who wants to be absolutely perfect anyway? That's just plain gross..</p>

<p>When I received my rejection letter this week, I wasn't surprised. Nobody from my high school has ever went to an ivy league school. I am a white middle-class female. Unfortunately I can not help my upbringings. I wonder if I was foreign, rich, or was related to alumni (or college graduates period) I would have a better chance; however, this is far from fair.</p>

<p>The thing is.. there are thousands of females out there who have the exact same credentials as me. My teachers were stunned to find out I didn't get in. "What do they want if they don't want you?" they would ask. I asked my self this question at first too, but frankly I don't care. I intend to excell at another university and show that it's not really about the college. It's about the drive, the motivation, and the way one applies theirself.</p>

<p>For all of you who were rejected on Tuesday.. everything happens for a reason. Don't make it seem like you are not good enough. Did you know Dan Rather always sat the bench in baseball and his coach threw him in the right field during the last innings as a joke? Look at him now. Show the world what you have. Don't let rejection discourage you, it should only push you further.</p>

<p>Good luck to all of you...</p>

<p>I know you will go far. : )</p>

2

<p>I would just like to say that your post was a very wise one. It shows how mature you are and how much better you are than those people who obsess over their rejection letters. You are truly letting this motivate you to try harder, and I think that is a greater success than getting into the college itself. I wish you all the luck in your future at whatever direction you wish to pursue or wherever you wan to study, because you truly seem like an able student. Don't ever look back on this incident and think "what if...?" Just keep your head up high and achieve big!</p>

3

<p>
[quote]
Don't make it seem like you are not good enough. Did you know Dan Rather always sat the bench in baseball and his coach threw him in the right field during the last innings as a joke? Look at him now.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm not sure what this shows, other than that Dan Rather probably sucked at baseball and chose a different career because he indeed realized he WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I wonder if I was foreign, rich, or was related to alumni (or college graduates period) I would have a better chance; however, this is far from fair.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Now, you're being bitter. That's just not true.</p>

<p>
[quote]
And with all honestly.. I am an excellent writer.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>
[quote]
I intend to excell at another university and show that it's not really about the college.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It's "excel." And no, your writing, as evidenced by this post, isn't all that great.</p>

<p>
[quote]
so therefore the essays were a piece of cake.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The essays aren't about being an excellent writer. They're able telling a good story and having something to say. You sound like a generic applicant, so you probably didn't stand out.</p>

<p>
[quote]
The SATs? My school prepares us for state testing, so I have never ever done any SAT practice testing.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You can, um, buy a book with 10 Real SATs for like 10 bucks. That's absolutely no excuse.</p>

<p>
[quote]
The 600s I received in every section were fairly well for me. Who wants to be absolutely perfect anyway? That's just plain gross..

[/quote]
</p>

<p>600s are far from "absolutely perfect." </p>

<p>
[quote]
My teachers were stunned to find out I didn't get in. "What do they want if they don't want you?" they would ask.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Someone who can crack 700 on at least one section of the SAT, perhaps? Or maybe someone with interesting ECs? Or maybe someone with a passion for something?</p>

<p>
[quote]
I asked my self this question at first too, but frankly I don't care.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You do care. But good luck.</p>

4

<p>^ Is any of that really necessary to make so explicit?</p>

5

<p>Thank you for the time you spent on that lovely message, Columbia2002 : )</p>

6

<p>I think the thing here is that everything needs to be put into perspective. I'm sure that you're an excellent student in your school, but when you apply to Columbia you're competing with students from all over the world. I mean I had teachers tell students that they can get into Ivies when they really cannot because they don't understand what getting into an Ivy requires. Plus sometimes getting into an Ivy is unpredictable and even the best students get rejected. The only thing you can do is move on and remember that college is not going to dictate your entire life.</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
^ Is any of that really necessary to make so explicit?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Actually, it is. The OP seems to have a fundamental lack of understanding of the admissions process -- thinking that the rich have an edge, being #2 at your no-name school makes you a superstar among the whole country's 17 and 18 year olds, someone has Columbia-worthy essays just because they deem themselves an excellent writer, thinking that SATs in the 600s are sufficient for an Ivy, etc.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I'm sure that you're an excellent student in your school, but when you apply to Columbia you're competing with students from all over the world. I mean I had teachers tell students that they can get into Ivies when they really cannot because they don't understand what getting into an Ivy requires.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Exactly. Funny anecdote that is a lesson for you all:</p>

<p>There was this really nice, but really really really dumb, girl who sat next to me in a class I took in 12th grade. This was an elective semi-academic class, so the "magnet" students were mixed in with regular kids. She probably went to the local community college, if at all, and had no clue about the competitive college process. She asked me about my colleges, and I told her that I was going to Columbia.</p>

<p>She wanted to know if I applied to Harvard (which I embarrassingly did, only because my parents wanted me to and they were paying), and I told her I didn't get in. She was in utter shock. She said "of all the people in this classroom, you should be the one going to Harvard, you're getting the highest grade in this class by far." It just doesn't work out that way.</p>

8

<p>"The thing is.. there are thousands of females out there who have the exact same credentials as me."</p>

<p>I have a fundamental UNDERSTANDING that I am not a superstar in this nation. Once again, thank you.</p>

<p>Even if the rich don't have an edge, your parents were paying for you to go to Harvard! We don't all have this opportunity, and fortunately, it was a blessing that you did.</p>

9

<p>You may not be going to Columbia, but at least you're not a jerk. It'll get you farther than Columbia2002.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Actually, it is. The OP seems to have a fundamental lack of understanding of the admissions process -- thinking that the rich have an edge, being #2 at your no-name school makes you a superstar among the whole country's 17 and 18 year olds, someone has Columbia-worthy essays just because they deem themselves an excellent writer, thinking that SATs in the 600s are sufficient for an Ivy, etc.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You're right. She does have a fundamental lack of understand of the admissions process. That's no reason to be a snob. She's in 12th grade, for Christ's sake. Perhaps it's pretty easy to understand the admissions process if you're coming from an elite school that sends plenty of people to the Ivies each year, but from the point of view of someone going to a school in a small town that sends practically no students to Ivies... well, it's pretty hard to understand the admissions process, especially when you have teachers telling you that they're the best thing they've ever come across.</p>

10

<p>One more thing...</p>

<p>Did you graduate from Columbia in 2002? If so, it is completely unnecessary for you to be picking at the voices of 17 and 18 year olds. I find this a complete waste of time on your part. I don't know about anyone else, but when I am 28 years old I think my family and career will be of primary focus to me, not a posting from a 17 year old who I have never met in my life. </p>

<p>Thanks again for the time spent on your responses though. They show that you truly care : )</p>

11

<p>"That's no reason to be a snob. She's in 12th grade, for Christ's sake. Perhaps it's pretty easy to understand the admissions process if you're coming from an elite school that sends plenty of people to the Ivies each year, but from the point of view of someone going to a school in a small town that sends practically no students to Ivies"</p>

<ul>
<li>not that i endorse the way C02 said what he said, but the OP does seem to have a particularly distorted and naive understanding of college admissions, and C02 was merely providing a spoonful of reality and a proper perspective, he was, as he usually is, rather tactless, but heck he speaks the truth.</li>
</ul>

<p>"it's pretty hard to understand the admissions process, especially when you have teachers telling you that they're the best thing they've ever come across."</p>

<p>if no-one from the vicinity has gotten into an ivy for an extended period of time, it's thoroughly unethical for the teachers to be cajoling her like that, and it's pretty presumptious (and naive) for her to believe that she should get in. a mere google check would reveal that 600s warrant a rejection in most cases, so that represents a lack of proper research. I don't mean to get all robotic on you i.e. that college admissions are mechanical, but there are sanity checks which i'm surprised applicants overlook. you have internationals on this website, who's councellors might not even be able to pronounce 'America' properly, who strive to understand the process and gain a realistic perspective, regardless of how stupid their questions seem. this is indicative of the drive that one competes against in college admissions.</p>

<p>to the OP - best wishes, take the anger and motivation forward and do suceed at college, college apps have been/are/will be a learning process for all of us.</p>

<p>"If so, it is completely unnecessary for you to be picking at the voices of 17 and 18 year olds. I find this a complete waste of time on your part."</p>

<p>it's a paternal instinct that is difficult to understand, that he will never admit to and will probably argue with me about :)</p>

12

<p>amcd, you sent me a PM in which you've responded to my post. I have no interest in replying privately, because I think the entire readership should benefit by seeing my perspective. I'm not going to publicly post what you've PM'ed me without your consent, since you may or may not have intended the world to see it. However, if you would like to continue the debate -- you've raised some interesting issues that are certainly worth discussing -- you are welcome to post a response on here.</p>

13

<p>
[quote]
You're right. She does have a fundamental lack of understand of the admissions process. That's no reason to be a snob. She's in 12th grade, for Christ's sake. Perhaps it's pretty easy to understand the admissions process if you're coming from an elite school that sends plenty of people to the Ivies each year,

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Further to what confidentialcoll said, there's ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE for anyone applying to an elite college to not have a decent idea about how the process worked. I went to a large public high school that sends a handful of people to Ivies, and got zero help from my school.</p>

<p>I learned about the process by reading books and articles. There are several fantastic books written by former admissions officers of elite schools, and they'll tell you more than you'll ever learn from some guidance counselor.</p>

<p>Message boards, like this board (or the Princeton Review's message board -- which was big in my day), were also a great resource for me. The OP is way less informed than many of the other 17 year olds who post here.</p>

14

<p>Yes, it's quite evident that Columbia2002 has no life. He/she seems to not only be ridiculously snobby about the issue, but feels that his/her pathetic comments are actually valued. It's people like Columbia2002 that put an extremely bad name on to the Ivy Leagues. Not all the Ivy students are stuck-up, some are modest intellectuals that will truly be loved by many in their successful futures.</p>

15

<p>^please refrain from personal attacks, contain vendettas in the threads they originate from, or don't bring them up at all. many do value C02 advice and perspective, i attest to learning a thing or two from him.</p>

16

<p>And that's totally understandable. If Columbia2002 had a more counseling approach to his responses rather than being sarcastic and provocative, I think his advice would be more appreciated. Yes, it's sometimes necessary to be harsh on someone if they fail to acknowledge something wrong, but a majority of these people seem to be asking for help or sharing a life experience, not asking to be mocked.</p>

17

<p>"and you just carry on proving my point, thanks for helping me out there..."</p>

<p>ok, if you say so.</p>

<p>"but a majority of these people seem to be asking for help or sharing a life experience, not asking to be mocked."</p>

<p>a majority? -yes, everyone?...sometimes i wonder, noone set out to mock the OP, few people enjoy a naive rant like hers, and many feel compelled to respond and clear up her (and possibly others') warped sense of admissions.</p>

18

<p>I'm sorry, but you also deleted your comment calling me delusional, so don't try and hide the fact that you too can also be spiteful.</p>

19

<p>^if i did, why do you think i did so?</p>

20

<p>Pathetic thing is, you have to keep editing your responses over and over because you realize that you too are contradicting yourself and can't stick to a definite answer.
"warped sense of admissions"
This is exactly what I was referring to by the snide remarks.</p>