<p>Yes similar case. Out of my 5 schools I got rejected at 3, waitlisted at 1 and got into safety school, though not sure i’ve gotten enough FA to go. There were clearly so many incredible applicants, but I did come top in my class last year and had an impressive on paper profile. I’m a US citizen living abroad, so keeping up with my UK work and doing all the extra US work, and everything else seems kind of pointless now.
I Just hope that the people who did get the places really deserved them and will make the most of the incredible opportunities they’re being given.</p>
<p>Here’s my first and last post, now that my youngest is into college. I am an Amherst alum (yes, it was an 18% admissions rate, even back in the day) and the parent of two children: one Amherst admittee and the other happily enrolled at another LAC.</p>
<p>These words are to the parents reading this.</p>
<p>One of the most important gifts we can give our children is personal resilience. I teach on the graduate level now and see those students with personal resilience as the best equipped to weather the inevitable frustration and rejection that accompany all of the glories of higher education.</p>
<p>Your children, by having been willing to make a run at Amherst admission, have shown intelligence, courage, and commitment. Let’s temper that with resilience so that they can know happiness in their accomplishments, something they will reap long after we are gone.</p>
<p>Oh, and the child that didn’t get into Amherst? He’s a perfect fit at his LAC, delighting us and his professors with his lively intelligence.</p>
<p>I tell everyone who will listen “college is about what you bring to it.” Bring your energy, your intellectual curiosity, and your personal resilience. You will need all three.</p>
<p>Another dad here. My S got rejected from all 6 Ivies he applied to, Swarthmore, Williams and Berkeley. Fortunately, he was accepted at my alma mater, which is a top 10 LAC in US News. I thought he would be better than me because academically he was far ahead. We’re internationals, not requiring aid, but he had a SAT I of 2300 and a 2 subject SAT II of 1580 with 9 As for his O Levels and 5 As for his A Levels. He had won national writing and history competitions and participated in international competitions. I didn’t like his essay - a bit self deprecating - but it was beautifully written and he felt that it was true to him and didn’t want to embellish his words. Originally, I thought he was good enough to only apply to Ivies, but when he got rejected ED from one Ivy rather than being deferred, I asked him to apply to my alma mater, where I believed my hook (and steady donations for the past 15 years) would double his chances. Turns out that was fortunate.</p>
<p>If there was something I would do again and advice I would give international applicants, I think I would have had him apply to Oxford and Cambridge. Looking at his classmates’ successes, I think he would have had a better chance getting into those top schools rather than the Ivies because admission is much more on academics. It’s pretty clear (to me at least) that he would have been a good student at any school, but Ivy admissions is just too subjective these days with all the applicants and the little time they have to evaluate applicants. Cost wise, his LAC is going to run me about USD250K for a 4 year bachelor’s degree, while Oxbridge would have been USD110K and he would have finished in 3 years. Locally, he has been shortlisted for Law School, which together with medical school, is the most difficult program to get into.</p>
<p>I’m slightly disappointed that he didn’t beat the old man, but I’m sure he will have a rewarding experience and my college and that we will share this bond. For my D who applies in a few years, I will take this year’s experience to heart and learn from it.</p>
<p>wow dad1983, you’re son seems like an outstanding student. I’m sorry he was rejected =(. Thats what we’re here for isn’t it haha?</p>
<p>Im still a junior good game</p>