Some thoughts after getting mega-rejected...

Applying to College
1

I’m just going to dump a bunch of my feelings in this thread, but I hope they give some other people advice or comfort (or entertainment).

I have a 2360 SAT and 4.80 W GPA. I helped create an app with over 15k users, had an internship with a major political party, took 10 APs, Calc 3, Linear Algebra and a ton of other college-level courses through dual enrollment, had a rec letter from a Harvard PhD, am ranked in the top 15 in my state in my sport, and, on top of that, have a disability. My Harvard interviewer told me, and I quote, “I’m sure you can get in wherever you want to go.”

Here are the schools that rejected (not waitlisted: rejected) me: Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Duke, UChicago (where I was a recruit).

Yup, it’s painful. Very painful. I never expected this, to be honest. Ever since I got a perfect ACT English score in 6th grade, I thought I was Ivy-bound.

But guess what? I feel OK. I still dream big, and I still want to go to grad school and have a great career and create change - and I think I can do this, despite today. I have a very nice scholarship at a top-30 school, and am also waiting for Stanford (who here believes in miracles?).

TL;DR: Things happen, without reasons. But we can adapt.

Or maybe I’m still in Stage 1 of grief.

(Yes, I’m an Asian female. I know.)

2

Your stats are good, but you don’t have any major awards so a bit weak for Asian. Also not being quadruplets hurts you a lot :stuck_out_tongue:

3

Yea, there seems to be a trend going. Not being quadruples hurts.

4

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/good-wife-guide-ladies-homemaker-monthly/1102229062/2680873151887?st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_Marketplace+Shopping+greatbookprices_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP24181

5

Great attitude.

Getting one of those big scholarships at Cal/UVa/UMch/UNC/UCLA/USC/WFU and the special perks and attention that comes with all that often times gives you just as much of a leg up as going to an Ivy/equivalent.

6

I think you DO have great stats and yes you were fine to apply to the Ivy league schools. Not sure I understand what goes on at that level but you do have impressive stats.

Sorry about all those rejections. I am sure it was difficult to have heard them all. I am glad you have a good attitude and I suspect you have landed someplace and I am sure you will do great things.

Best of luck to you.

7

Agree, one problem with being a female is that it’s an anti-hook today - I have two that have amazing profiles and got denied more times today then they could have imagined. The other problem is that we aren’t taking advantage of what you guys offer - that needs to change or the world will continue to be shortchanged. So, as you said dream big and create change - we need it.

8

You have my condolences, skittlebug! You have the sort of stats/resume that most kids could never dream of. Unfortunately that sort of stellar resume leads students to apply to the Lottery Schools, where unless you have some unheard of accomplishment, or have the key demographic they need to fill some slot on their list, you literally have no better chance than a roll of a hundred-sided die. (or maybe worse odds than that, when you realize how many slots are “spoken for” in other ways)

My son applied to two safeties, seven matches and one reach. He got into all of them. Now he has choices along the lines of public/private, in-state/out-of-state, large/medium/small school, religious/secular; in-town, close to home, not-so-close, quite a drive; honors college or not; rah-rah big sports or not; etc. At the time he was deciding where to apply last summer and fall, a lot of those issues were not settled in his mind.

Thing is, every one of the schools could work for him. There was no need to search for reaches that were many states away, or that he had a negligible chance of getting into.

I understand the temptation to “go for it” when your stats are so incredible (and yours are quite amazing!) Hopefully you’ve got some other great choices.

One of my relatives did something similar a couple years ago, had such great stats that he focused his attention mainly on the Ivies. He also had one match that was super expensive. A match that was across the country. And then two “afterthought” safeties.

Well he got shut out of the Ivies, concluded the expensive match wasn’t worth the money, and decided the across the country match wasn’t worth the money/distance.

It’s so odd to me that kids with great stats somehow find themselves going to their “afterthought” school.

BTW he got a great scholarship to the Afterthought School (full ride) and is actually flourishing there and enjoying it!

Best of luck to you, Skittlebug, I’m sure you will flourish somewhere. I am truly in awe of your qualifications! Rest assured, the vast majority of colleges/universities in this nation would be THRILLED to have you! Just not the Lotto Schools.

9

Thank you for your kindness <3 @Trisherella

10

Also skittlebug I re-read your original post and see that you mentioned a scholarship to a top 30 school. That is very encouraging, so no matter what else happens you’re on your way. You will do great things!