So basically I'm freaking out...

Applying to College
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<p>because I'm never going to get in anywhere. </p>

<p>It's true. Tons of people here (Phillips Exeter Academy) got rejected. ***. Exeter's like the top school along with Andover. Go figure.</p>

<p>My GPA is basically dying (9.5 which is a B+ average and out of 11) I think it might be like a 3.8. </p>

<p>Umm...the old SATs I got a 1500. </p>

<p>10th grader (repeating 10th grade actually) </p>

<p>Umm...drama, violin, and harp e.c. </p>

<p>Hats for the Homeless and Cultural Outreach community service</p>

<p>Hispanic male. </p>

<p>And I guess things that make me stand out is that I take Japanese and Russian. And I'm nto taking a science next year which is probably a bad thing. </p>

<p>Any suggestions as to where the heck I should apply so I don't get let down itno a swirling whirpool of self hatred like half the people I know. </p>

<p>Thanks for sitting through that rant. SIGH</p>

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<p>I think this was just some attempt to gloat.</p>

<p>I mean 1500, 3.8...Hispanic?</p>

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<p>Nope. Like I said, everyone here got rejected. Which makes me wish I stayed at public school ><</p>

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<p>Transfer to a public schools?</p>

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<p>Already on the phone about that one. </p>

<p>Ever since the need blind thing happened, colleges are going insane about public school kids. C'est la vie.</p>

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<p>Playing harp is super cool.. but umm.. my advice is don't worry about applying to colleges until the winter of your junior year, at the <em>earliest</em></p>

<p>But that's not what you want to hear...</p>

<p>Be smart about where you apply. Don't count on getting into your reaches.. not everyone can go to a reach. Apply to at least 2 strong 50/50s you KNOW you'll be happy at. For me, those schools were Northwestern + U Chicago. If you can, apply to a 50/50 that is a rolling school. Having an acceptance in hand by January or February will help a LOT with stress levels come April. It will give you invaluable emotional stability. Trust me. I wish someone had told me this.</p>

<p>Apply to a school that's in between a 50/50 and reach (really like a 40/60 i guess lol) that you'd be psyched to go to. For me, that was Swarthmore. Even though in hindsight, it probably should have been more of a reach, lol.</p>

<p>Don't be afraid to apply to reaches, but <em>be realistic</em>. Don't stress out over SAT scores. Prepare for the SATs (know the format of the test and get familiar with the types of questions) but don't get crazy about it. If you get a decent score, DON'T take the test again. It's a waste of time. Your GPA is much more important.</p>

<p>Ask for recs from teachers who know you as a person. I'm hugely skewed towards the humanities but my recs were from my science+math teachers because they know me very well. This is extremely important.. recs can make you or break you.</p>

<p>Do not underestimate the power of a good interview. And <em>always</em> be confident (without being cocky) when meeting alumni/professors/admissions officers/whoever.</p>

<p>Submit your application early. It will alleviate a lot of stress, especially when your peers are freaking out.</p>

<p>Write an essay that flows easily from your mind. Don't edit it too much. Let it be natural, simple. Organic. It's okay if it's not anecdotal. Make it something that <em>you</em> would be interested in reading if you hadn't written it yourself.</p>

<p>In all seriousness, get away from College Confidential and go enjoy yourself for another year and a half. You don't need to start worrying about colleges until second semester junior year, I promise.</p>

<p>Know that acceptance into the top schools is impossible to predict. I sent the same application to five Ivies. I was rejected by Yale and Columbia. Waitlisted at another. And accepted by Harvard and Brown. You never know what will happen. You can never predict what will happen. Shrug off the rejections, forget about the waitlists and be grateful for your acceptances. And be prepared to go to your 50/50 or safety, if that's what happens.</p>

<p>ABOVE ALL, do not take courses/participate in ECs because you think the colleges will like it. If you don't want to take science next year, DON'T. Why would admissions officers want you to have been miserable for the sake of gaining admittance to college? Show them who you really are by pursuing your passions fully.</p>

<p>This got way longer than I thought it would. Anyway. Good luck. I could have used this advice last fall.</p>

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<p>And about your public school comment....... need-blind is a good thing for all involved. It evens the playing field for everyone and gives boarding school students more competition. I wouldn't want to get into a school just because I had more money than someone who might be a stronger applicant than me. It kind of cheapens it.</p>

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<p>Thankssss. </p>

<p>Harp is super cool. </p>

<p>It's just that everyone is pounding about college 24/7. And it's like, Oh, you didn't get into Yale? You stupid kid, go die in a hole. </p>

<p>Blahhh. </p>

<p>Plus, college counselours are like, oh, you won't get in unless you take AP this and that. </p>

<p>It's just so dumb. </p>

<p>Sometimes, I wish college didn't exist.</p>

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<p>I didn't mean it that way. I'm actually hoping on fin aid. It's just that because it's need blind, colleges associate need with public school. So all of us in boarding school get rejected because I guess they want to "diversify" even though we all come from different places. It's whack.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I understand about pressure =T I'm Asian. I don't go to a boarding school though, which probably helps.. I guess if you're at a prep school the thought of college kind of permeates through.</p>

<p>Careful.. you don't want to burn out too early. Work hard but party hard too! Have a happy high school experience :) That'll prepare you for college more than you might think. Too many brilliant kids are distinctly lacking in social skills, lol.</p>

<p>Getting into college has gotten harder and harder.. I hope it works out for you.</p>

<p>(Get off CC! Come back when you're a junior. You don't want to get addicted, trust me :p)</p>

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<p>Omg. Asians have it so much worse. No offense or anything. </p>

<p>Where did you end up going?</p>

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<p>LOL Definately agree with m<em>c. :] Come back when you are a junior. ^</em>^ By the way, does your cc name mean Fire something Cat?</p>

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<p>It means pretty kitty. And the ku was supposed tobe kun, as in, Mr. Pretty Kitty. But it just didn't work. omglol</p>

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<p>


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<p>I'm still a high school senior, actually! My top 2 choices are Harvard and Swarthmore. I have a gut feeling I will choose Harvard but I plan on taking until the very end of the month to decide, lol.</p>

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<p>=] I thought something was weird. o_O; I was like Ku Kun? x.x What the heck? =D Aawww Mr.Pretty Kitty. >D That's cute. :P</p>

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<p>!! I have friends at both. My better friend at Harvard. Just depends though. Like, I think Swathmore is better education because they have actual proffs but you might watn the name to throw around at job interviews.</p>

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<p>"=] I thought something was weird. o_O; I was like Ku Kun? x.x What the heck? =D Aawww Mr.Pretty Kitty. >D That's cute. :P" </p>

<p>Omg. >< lol</p>

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<p>Haha yeah, I'm pretty much in love with both schools. But this is a happy dilemma to have, I'm definitely not complaining! :p</p>

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<p>Omg. Just go to Harvard! Then people will bow down to you on the streets.</p>

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<p>o.o Bowing down to m_c on the streets? >/ Yeah right. >P Knowing me, I don't want to get hit by the car. ^^;</p>