<p>Not to be melodramatic, but these last few months have been the epitome of false hope. At the beginning of the process, my parents were urging me to "reach for the highest" schools possible, and to send applications to an overwhelming amount of top 20 schools. I argued, for literally hours, that I shouldn't apply to that many first-rate schools, but should instead concentrate my energy on the lower top tier to high second tier schools. However, they repeatedly assured me that I would get into them and that I shouldn't listen to the internet. Even though I at first knew I wouldn't be accepted, I eventually started to believe that I would. So for the next few months, I waited with bated breath fully expecting to get into at least one of the ten first-tier schools I applied to. Fast forward to today and I have received about 10 rejection letters, rejection after rejection after rejection. To make matters worse I was waitlisted at my two dream schools, the schools which I wanted to attend not just because of the prestige factor, but because they genuinely appealed to me and which I thought were more along the lines of high matches. In saying all of this, i'm not looking for pity, although I did need to vent. There is always the slim but possible waitlist chance, and I was accepted to my state university even though I would've liked to go out of state because i really don't like it here. I guess I am trying to say that firstly, if you have parents like mine, you should apply to a few reach schools but make sure that you have your bases well covered first, try to apply to more high matches that you would love to go to than high reaches. The effect of an overwhelming influx of rejections, even if expected, can completely demoralize you. Furthermore, don't tell anyone where you are applying if they do not ask, because if you tell them that you are applying to Harvard and get accepted to the College of Underwater Basket Weaving, they might not explicitly show it but they will be disappointed in you. Telling them where you got accepted after that is no fun. Lastly, contrary to popular belief, affirmative action does not allow an under-qualified student to take your spot, and as cheesy as it sounds, follow your heart rather than what other people tell you.</p>
<p>My sypmpathy. But go to the best college that you can, knowing the real bang of life will not begin until after graduation.</p>
<p>@ajoo95, I am exactly same as you. I also get bunch of rejections. The sad fact is that I knew that it is not a good idea to do that(applying to bunch of Top-top schools), but I had to force myself to do it. I also had a hope until I got rejections or waitlist… And, now here I am thinking that I could’ve applied to many match than Top schools. I am at least glad that I am not all alone!!</p>
<p>So very sorry to learn that your parents didn’t know enough about the process to insist that you take the time to identify a safety that you could love more than the one that you have. Loving one or two dead-on safeties is an important message for you to pass on to your friends who are juniors or even further behind you in school.</p>
<p>After May 1, the NACAC list of colleges and universities that still have space will be published, and someone will post it almost immediately here at CC. Every year some very nice institutions turn up on that list, and often more than a few still have financial aid to give out. Watch for it and see if anything would work for you.</p>
<p>If money is an issue, and you truly dislike your home-state public U, spend some time reading through the threads on guaranteed merit-based aid in the Financial Aid Form. A few places are accepting applications until April 1 or even later. If you find a place that looks good, but whose application dates you’ve missed, talk with your parents about taking a Gap Year, and applying to a new list of colleges and universities.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>
<p>my parents were urging me to “reach for the highest” schools possible, and to send applications to an overwhelming amount of top 20 schools. I argued, for literally hours, that I shouldn’t apply to that many first-rate schools, but should instead concentrate my energy on the lower top tier to high second tier schools. However, they repeatedly assured me that I would get into them and that I shouldn’t listen to the internet. Even though I at first knew I wouldn’t be accepted, I eventually started to believe that I would. So for the next few months, I waited with bated breath fully expecting to get into at least one of the ten first-tier schools I applied to. Fast forward to today and I have received about 10 rejection letters,</p>
<p>I’m so sorry. Out of curiousity, what are your parents saying now?</p>
<p>We see posts every fall from kids whose parents are insisting that they will get accepted to top schools. I think in the future when these kids post these situations in the fall, we should tell them to tell bargain with these existing parents to either let them apply to more matches, or the parents will buy the kid the car of his choice if he doesn’t get into any of these “parent demanded” schools.</p>