<p>I was an ED applicant to Penn CAS in the fall of 2001. Like many of you, I had my heart set on Penn. I identified with Penn culture, was excited to utilize specific resources at the school, and felt a deep sense of belonging on Locust Walk. My parents (both graduates of foreign colleges, so no legacy status) were equally excited about the future I had dreamt for myself, and were ready to finance me for the next four years at an expensive private school (no easy task!). My guidance counselor, teachers, and friends all felt that I would have a good shot at getting in. I had truly excellent academic statistics (1500’s SATs, ranked 4th, hardest courseload), great extracurricular activities with awards or leadership roles, warm relationships with my teachers and advisors, and a real passion for life and learning that I’m sure shone through in my essays. There was nothing holding me back from Penn, and it felt like my perfect match.</p>
<p>Nothing holding me back, except for the online rejection letter in December.</p>
<p>Not even a deferral! I moped around in a daze all weekend while news of some friends' ED successes came over the phone. I had built up Penn as the only place where I could achieve my dreams and be truly happy. I was crushed, confused, didn’t know who or what to blame. I couldn’t believe that, for once, all of my hard work and dedication didn’t pay off the way I had expected. I remember this fear taking over, too, as I finished my other applications. I started to think about how it’s statistically a lot easier to get in ED at Penn than RD at several other good schools. So, did my rejection mean that I was not worthy of getting into other good schools? What did I do wrong? Not even a deferral? Was there a fluke in my application somewhere I didn’t know about?</p>
<p>I wound up going to a college which I didn’t think I loved, but slowly wound up embracing. I built new relationships with professors and took on another set of extracurricular activities. I was always a math-and-science kid in high school, but I forced myself to take classes in different subjects, and I graduated, Class of 2006, in a major that had never crossed my mind in 2001. Now, nine years since my Penn rejection, I’m successfully pursuing a career, living independently, enjoying each day, and meeting up regularly with my friends and the love of my life (who was – amusingly – also rejected from Penn).</p>
<p>The main reason I’m on CC is because my sister is a senior in high school, and she has also applied ED to Penn this fall. This was entirely her decision, but I dare say she made a good choice =) She is truly brilliant and hard-working, and has a very competitive application. This will be my second time bracing for an acceptance, deferral, or a rejection on Friday. Sometimes we talk about topics posed here on CC, and it’s really funny looking through some of the comments, advice, and freakout sessions because I remember being just like you. So, here is some advice I have for my sister and you while you are anxiously waiting for Friday (or March or April):</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Getting admitted is not everything, and not getting admitted is not the end of everything. Life will go on… and you will have to continue to work hard!</p></li>
<li><p>The real secret to decision-making: Admissions officers put applications on a wall… then throw darts. Sometimes it’s right on, and sometimes it just doesn’t make sense… but you just accept and move forward.</p></li>
<li><p>You know yourself better than anyone else knows you. Most certainly better than an admissions committee.</p></li>
<li><p>Keep your cool. Relationships between applicants and their parents, applicants and their friends, or applicants and significant others can get weird from now until next spring, and it’s best not to get caught up in any flying of the freak-flag.</p></li>
<li><p>Keep things in perspective. You are smart, kind, and onto a great future. Things have a funny way of working themselves out over time.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Best of luck to you all!!</p>